Is Christianity a religion for the minority or for the majority? Is the theology better suited to people who are oppressed outsiders, or dominant insiders?
Christianity’s themes of forgiveness and salvation lend themselves best to those in the minority. Final judgment in front of an omniscient God allows struggling groups to face the hardships of Earth. Knowing that ultimately all men will be judged in front of God (the only judge who truly matters), followers of Christianity can have the peace of mind that their suffering on Earth will not go unnoticed. Minorities can find the strength to endure injustices with the knowledge that the bountiful Christian Heaven that awaits them after life on Earth will be earned through their suffering and true faith in God’s love. Salvation is an achievement that does not come from any kind of material gain; in fact it comes from a detachment from material wealth and worldly concerns. These are attachments that minorities do not usually have, making this very philosophy of salvation easily accessible to minorities. Salvation is perhaps the central theme of Christian theology, and therefore the goal of Christian life that minorities can control for themselves. Although they may not be able to control much on Earth, minorities have complete control of their life and afterlife with God.
Jesus’ struggle as the voice of a minority in his lifetime can also be an inspiration to minority groups today. The relatability of Jesus’ life and his teachings to the struggles of minorities exists mainly because the creation of Christianity arose from another minority’s struggle. Seeing Jesus, arguably the main figure of Christianity, endure persecution and hardship makes Jesus and his teachings relatable to minorities hoping for justice within their own societies. As minorities strive to find their own voice in their respective societies, Jesus’ teachings of patience can allow minorities to take hardships as part of God’s plan, or part of their journey to Heaven. Jesus’ famous ‘turn the other cheek’ philosophy can be a source of strength to minority groups facing persecution or oppression. Some sects of Christianity also emphasize the importance of the Holy Family, and familiar networks often serve as main support systems within minority groups.
2 comments:
I agree with you. I think that chrisitanity gave those with unsatisfied lives, a chance to repent for all they had done and change the outcome of thier afterdeath. They can be forgiven for their past actions and start with a clean slate. Since Jesus preached that all were equal, it put the minorities at the same level as everyone else. Emphasizing that eveyone is judged in front of god, therefore, equal.
I agree with you, too. The teachings about salvation and belief in the afterlife definitely reduces material concerns and stress from current oppression the minorities get. However, what I have been wondering & murmuring about in my response is that, then how did Christianity become the religion of majority of people either oppressed or not oppressed? Maybe everyone feels oppressed in some way? Everyone somewhat feels like those miserable majority in Early Christianity?
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