In chapter 9 of Jesus Before Christianity, The Kingdom and Solidarity focuses on the discussion of solidarity and it's part in the development and building of the Kingdom of God. The chapter starts out by Nolan talking about how solidarity is one of the most fundamental concepts in the bible. Solidarity, also known as collectivity by the Hebrew scholars, is a term used to describe the actions of a group or family that acts as a corporate being; the group acts as one, their actions are identified as a whole, much a like a team or group of people today.
The Jewish community, then in the time of Jesus and also today, have always displayed a great sense of solidarity. The basic unit of collectivity was the family. The family included the extended family and all relatives, blood or not. Nolan discusses how the family identified themselves as a whole and that actions done to one member of the family were felt by all. An eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth was the cornerstone of the family's or groups principles. We can associate this principle today with the Mafia or other gangs. The mafia image has been popularized in mainstream culture through films like "Goodfellas" and "The Godfather" series. These films show how solidarity and group identification can be taken to the extreme, nonetheless still great examples of solidarity in our world today. Many people today base their identities on loyalties and prejudices of race, nationality, culture, class, ancestry, political party, religion, and others.
One of the main points of this chapter that Nolan discusses is the differences in the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan. Both Kingdoms have solidarity and group collectivity, but they have fundamental differences in their ideas. Satan's Kingdom is based upon the exclusive and selfish solidarity of groups, where the Kingdom of God is based in the "all-inclusive" solidarity of the human race. Nolan then goes on to discuss how the "loving your enemy and your neighbor" is to experience group solidarity. Treating your enemy or neighbor as yourself is to experience group solidarity. Jesus extended his hand to all, outsiders and enemies, so we just try to do the same.
Another main point that Nolan brings up is the difference is reciprocal love and true solidarity. Loving someone who loves you back has no virtue. As Nolan states, "Jesus is appealing for an experience of solidarity with humankind, and experience that is non-exclusive, an experience that is not dependent on reciprocity because it includes even those who hate you, persecute you, or treat you badly." Jesus even abandoned the main solidarity to family to make those strangers and outcasts into his brothers and sisters. Jesus loved all people and had solidarity for all humankind. He loved everyone for what they were, and he loved everyone he met one at a time, for their own person.
Nolan closes the chapter with the definition and explanation of compassion. Compassion is the human emotion that all humans feel when they realize another person's need. The parable of the Good Samaritan shows how compassion can be moving and create action. Compassion is necessary for solidarity to exist and for the Kingdom of God to be built here in our lives.
The last paragraph of Pat’s summary reminded me of the graveyard scene in the movie, “A Walk to Remember.” She asks him if he has faith, and he says “no there is too much bad shit in the world “and she responds with, “Without suffering there would be no compassion.” This line sums up Nolan’s chapters on solidarity and suffering. Many people always ask questions such as, “Why does God let people suffer?” , “Why do bad things happen to good people?”, and “How can there be a God if all this evil exists?” God lets people suffer, so other people can do Gods work, by supporting them and showing kindness. Without the bad, we wouldn’t know good.
ReplyDeleteSolidarity means that you feel a connection for a certain group of people; that you are “solid” or part of the group or its cause. Pat makes a great point: true solidarity requires agape or love without reciprocity. Martin Luther King, Jr. often made this point when fighting racial prejudice in the United States. King said love your enemy instead of hating him and you will eventually break down his defenses so that he can feel love and understanding for you. Pat, you are right on when you say that showing compassion to a group of people that are disadvantaged, oppressed or just different than you are is the first step to achieving solidarity with them. We all need to try to walk in somebody else’s shoes. The video clip “A Walk to Remember” is a great illustration of how teenagers often fail to have compassion for teens who are different and make them feel like outcasts.
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