Introducing Atonement Theology

Models of salvation 1. The cross (not) as an image in the early church. (Jesus Good Shepherd) Brock and Parker Saving Paradise http://savingparadise.net And http://www.jesuswalk.com/christian-symbols/goodshepherd.htm Ransom: At-one-ment Matthew 20:23-33 Mark 10:40-50

Graffiti found near the Palantine Hill in Rome. Discovered in 1857. Dating: 1st to 3rd century.

Alexamenos Worships (His) God

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexamenos_graffito

Ireneaus of Lyon
As a man caused the fall, so a man must cause the restoration. He must be a man able to sum up (recapitulare) all the human species in Himself, so as to bear the punishment of all, and to render an obedience that will compensate for their innumerable acts of disobedience.

Constantine and the Cross

The Incarnation as central 4th and 5th centuries (Councils, ousia, natura) The human problem is that we are disconnected from the divine. Jesus Christ reconnects humanity to divinity by combining both natures in his person. He is both fully human and fully divine.

MEDIEVAL ATONEMENT THEORIES

Time Line Ecumenical Councils: Protestant Reformation Constantinople Anselm of Canterbury Council of Trent Nicaea Chalcedon | Peter Abelard & Heloise European Renaissance ______ _____ __________ _______________________________________ 325 381 451 1033--1109 10791142 1500s (4th & 5th Centuries) (11th and 12 Centuries) (16th century)

Early Middle Ages Timeline

The reign of King William the Conqueror: The Battle of Hastings and the defeat of Harold Godwinson The Building of Norman castles in England including the Tower of 1066-1087 London in 1073 The imposition of Continental European Feudalism upon England 9th September 1087: William the Conqueror dies near Rouen, Fr. 1087-1100 The reign of King William Rufus (son of William) William invades Wales and builds castles on the borders

The reign of King Henry I (William Rufus brother), Anselm becomes 1100-1135 Archbishop of Canterbury in England, Anselm in conflict with Henry and often in self-imposed exile The reign of King Stephen (nephew of Henry I) 1099: First Crusade. Jerusalem is re-taken from the Muslims on the urging of Pope Urban II 1135-1154 1118: The Knights Templar founded to protect Jerusalem and European pilgrims on their journey to the city 1147: Second Crusade

Social & Political Context

European Feudal Society:
Hierarchy Allegiance Obedience Honor Restitution

Our Texts in Their Context

The Middle Ages? Fair enough. The DARK Ages? Not entirely!
By the middle of the Middle Ages, (10th to 12th centuries, aka the High Middle Ages), Europe was lively and creative place:

The Norman Conquest of Saxon England

The Battle of Hastings (1066)

The Emergence of Courtly, Romantic Love

Troubadours

Lancelot and Guenivere

The Crusades Richard, the Lionheart

The Capture of Richard, 3rd crusade, 1189-1192

Robin Hood & his Merry Men

1154 First written record of Sherwood Forest William de Grey - Sheriff of Nottingham, waged war on the outlaws in Sherwood Forest Robin Hood named in folio 103 of registrum premonstratense 1266

The Translation The of Aristotle by Arabic Muslim scholars into Latin

1304

Early Gothic Architecture

Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris Begun: 1163 Completed: 1250 (Notice the Romanesque architecture on the far (left end) and the Gothic architecture behind it and continuing to the right side end.)

The Role of the Church

Medieval life & the Dominance of the Church
The only institution to survive
the collapse of Rome Only repository of learning; only literate persons in society Made very wealthy through collection of taxes and gifts for benefits and favors Held enormous political power
Power of the purse Power of excommunication

Great Schism: 1054

Theological/Philosophical Context:
The Relation between Faith and Reason
Faith = What the Church Teaches Truth is defined by Authority

The beginnings of "Scholastic Theology

school theology that is, monastic centers of learning as the only educational institutions

Web Resources on Medieval Europe

Netserf: http://www.netserf.org/ Internet Medieval Sourcebook: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/sbook.html The Cloisters, Fort Tryon Park, NYC Part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art http://www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Art/introduction.a sp?dep=7 Music: Anonymous 4 Website

Anselm of Canterbury 1033-1109

A Few Quick Facts:

Born: Aosta, Northern Italy Became Abbot of Monastery, Bec, Normandy, France
Important Works: Monologion and Proslogion (treatises proving the existence of God) Cur Deus Homo? (literally, Why the God-human?) or Why did God become a human being and die on the cross to save us?

Anselm's Theological Presuppositions and Method:

Fides quarens intellectum: QUEST Faith seeking understanding. Credo ut intelligam: ORDER I believe in order to understand.

Anselm's Christology
The Satisfaction Theory of The Atonement

Cur Deus Homo? How do we understand the faith statement: God became human in Jesus Christ to save humanity from its sins?

Anselms Answer to Cur Deus Homo?

Within the Feudal Context: (500CE-1500CE) Human are created for blessedness Sin thwarts the purpose of creation Sin is an affront to God's honor. Sin creates an obligation. Thus, humanity owes a DEBT to God

Anselms Answer (cont.)

Assumption of a moral order to universe:
God cannot forgive the debt.

Assumption that all our good acts we already owe to God:

Humans cannot pay it.

The only being who can reconcile the debt must be divine and human:
Jesus Christ, fully human/fully divine, suffers on the cross to pay our debt.
[Note how Anselm takes for granted the Christological formula of Chalcedon]

Critical Thinking about Cur Deus Homo

What is persuasive about Anselms idea?

What is problematic about Anselms idea?