Crucifixion: was it illegal?
This has to be one of the oddest lawsuits on record. A group of Christians in Kenya are trying to get the Crucifixion of Christ ruled illegal, citing as respondents the Emperor Tiberius, Pontius Pilate,the Jewish Chief Priest, elders and Teachers. Oh, and King Herod. The Kenya Civil Liberties Union has joined the proceedings as amicus curiae (friend of the court). There is dispute about the "urgency" claimed.
On one level this is benign, if eccentric: the advocate says he seeks to challenge the abuses in criminal prosecutions, by showing the origin of them in this particular injustice. On the other hand, read the list of respondents again. It opens the door to some pretty nasty anti-Semitism of the kind common in the Middle Ages.
And what, exactly, do they see as a good outcome? A posthumous pardon for the Son of God?
You can't blame the Catholic Church this time for this idiocy! A ridiculous piece of buffoonery like this simply brings all genuine Christianity into disrepute and gives the atheists another stick with which to beat their straw men.
Posted by: Geoffrey Smith | 13 Sep 2007 16:22:01
If the Kenyan's can't sort out Arap Moi's illegality, how on earth will they sort out God's Law?
Posted by: Ian | 15 Sep 2007 01:34:20
Would a posthumous pardon for the Son of God undo his work of penal substitution?
Posted by: Christopher | 15 Sep 2007 08:50:41
This actually raises a big theological question: Did Christ come to Earth to die?
If Pilate had followed through with his finding of non-guilt in Jesus and released him instead of Barabas, would another way have been found to kill the Son of God?
Posted by: Cosmo | 15 Sep 2007 23:22:34
May I point out that it is practically impossible that the Jewish community, High Priests or anyone else, could have been reponsible (even indirectly) for the crucifixion.
Despite beliefs to the contrary, capital punishment was in practice against Jewish law, as witnesses were needed in all cases. The Bible was not taken literally, but was attenuated by use of Oral Law.
This is, by the way, why the present State of Israel abolished the death penalty, which they had inherited from the British Mandate, as soon as they became independent in 1948.
I realise that this statement might cause a storm, but it is the truth.
Posted by: Dr. Irene Lancaster FRSA | 16 Sep 2007 21:51:12
But Irene, didn't they hang Adolf Eichmann in 1962?
Posted by: Christopher | 17 Sep 2007 13:46:30
Yeah Irene,
What do you call house demolition while the occupants are inside if not capital punishment for what their relatives did.
Or what do you call shooting dead palestinian kids for what the older ones did if not capital punishment.
Face it Irene, the nation state of Israel is nothing to do with God, and because they retain the cherem on Jesus neither are its people.
Nonetheless, Jesus was murdered in Sodom & Egypt,
Posted by: Ian | 18 Sep 2007 10:56:49
Now I see.
Posted by: Ian | 20 Sep 2007 00:57:16