[April 1999 journal entry]
‘Resurrection’ is not the anchoring cornerstone event around which the integrity of my life is built and stands/falls. ‘Resurrection’ is not the anchoring cornerstone event without which a life well lived is a meaningless goal.
- This position differs with the ‘religious’ T/O paradigm position expressed by the apostle Paul and other writers/ings in Christian scripture.
- This position is consistent with the record of faithful lives of integrity lived by Jews (and others) before and concurrent with the development of the Christian teaching/doctrine re ‘resurrection’. (Note ‘resurrection’ is not a teaching in Jewish scripture.)
- This position permits ‘resurrection’ to be a gift and an experience to be anticipated for whatever it may be, rather than a doctrine the acceptance or rejection of which divides/separates and rather than an experience that is expected as an ‘entitlement’.
- This position proposes that ‘Jesus’ does not teach those around/following him that everything stands/falls on his resurrection. Instead, this position sees ‘Jesus’ as concentrating on the reality and credibility implicit in his willingness/determination to maintain his integrity even if he is rejected, persecuted, and/or killed.
