No Dull Passion

Kairos Journal today posts an article on Empty Churches and the Dull Dogma of Christianity?, quoting from Dorothy Sayers' Letters to a Diminished Church, including this:

It is the dogma that is the drama—not beautiful phrases, nor comforting sentiments, nor vague aspirations to loving-kindness and uplift, nor the promise of something nice after death—but the terrifying assertion that the same God who made the world, lived in the world and passed through the grave and gate of death. Show that to the heathen, and they may not believe it; but at least they may realize that here is something that man might be glad to believe.

Speaking of drama, I had the pleasure of viewing this past Palm Sunday the 1927 silent film King of Kings, at a spacious movie theatre, with live musical accompaniment. It was beautiful, dramatic, terrifying, and it's what I believe with all my heart, God help me. It wasn't enterntainment, so no popcorm for me. The Passion in this film is about the powerful sacrifice of Christ and glorious resurrection. No symbols, please. How dull. "Suffered under Pontius, was crucified in the flesh, and rose again in the flesh." It's bad enought give a child a stone instead of bread, but the liturgical equivalent of  an Easter bunny instead of the Risen Lord?

More from Sayers here at Kairos. A blessed Easter this week to all (except the Orthodox, like me, who wait this year until April 27!)

Comments

[Bill R]

Every time I break out in a fit of optimism about "conservative ecumenism," I'm brought down to earth with the realization, "Wait--we can't even agree on a date for Easter!"

[Susan Davis]

But Bill, we DO agree on the fact of the Resurrection, and that is what is important.

(Besides, we Orthodox have the patience to wait until you Western Christians come round right!)

[Bill R]

"But Bill, we DO agree on the fact of the Resurrection, and that is what is important."

Amen. We all agree it was on Sunday!

[Tony]

Wouldn't it be more accurate to say we can't agree on a calendar?

Western or Orthodox, the formula for determining the Sunday of the Resurecction is the same. The difference is we Orthodox still use the Julian calendar for church feasts.

Tony

[Nick]

Which is kind of silly, given that we all know its a solar calendar and that it is out of whack against the solar year. Also, given that it was supposed to be a Sunday appearing at least somewhere near Nissan 14, the Julian calendar can't get quite even get that quite right. The Orthodox have some amazing things to share. Unfortunately one of their greatest strengths (perseverance to maintain their traditions) also is one of their greatest weaknesses. Such is humanity.

[Jim Kushiner]

"Also, given that it was supposed to be a Sunday appearing at least somewhere near Nissan 14, the Julian calendar can't get quite even get that quite right."

While I agree that the Julian calendar situation is problematic, with respect the point above:

Nissan 15 (Passover) this year falls on April 20.
Which is closer? March 23 (Easter in the West) or April 27 (Pascha in the East)? (I don't believe this works out this way by design, but it's the way it frequently works out.)

[Peter Gardner]

From what I understand, relative to the Gregorian Pascha, the Julian Pascha drifts slowly later. Meanwhile, the Jewish Pascha drifts slightly more slowly later.

Also, I have been told by a Jewish friend that there are two points in the Jewish calendar that are solar -- the beginning of the annual prayer for rain, and the once-every-28-year blessing of the sun, and both of these are on the Julian calendar. So if the Jewish calendar is to be imitated, the Julian calendar does a better job of it.