libellatici sacrificati bopiekanti joeri homi anja


The debate
between tricksterism and martyrdom
as the most honored and most valuable response to oppression was in the air as a living and active cross-confessional issue at the time that the talmudic literature was being composed.

During the Decian persecution,
there were even many Christian libellatici who prided themselves on their cunning and their escapes, that is, Christians whose libelli (certificates of having sacrificed) had been obtained by trickery.

[This according to a letter from Roman presbyters to Cyprian: for the distinction between libellatici and sacrificati, as those who had actually sacrificed see also Cyprian's explicit
It is, therefore, manifestly callous and cruelly overrigid to insist on including amongst those who did offer sacrifice those who merely obtained certificates. For in the case of a person who acquired such a certificate he may plead for himself:
"I had previously read and I had learnt from my bishop's preaching that we should not offer sacrifice to idols and that a servant of G d ought not to worship images. And so, in order to avoid doing this action which was forbidden, I seized an opportunity which offered itself for obtaining a certificate."
Cyprian does, however, go on to say that "even though his hands remain undefiled and his mouth unpolluted by any contact with that deadly food, his conscience has nonetheless been polluted" and prescribed certain forms of penance.

How different, after all, is this from Rabbi El'azar's claim that he doesn't sacrifice because he's old and afraid of getting trampled in the temple?

The cebate over flight is striking in its fundamental assumption that escape ~ as opposed to apostasy ~
might be a possible alternative for a Christian.

See also the discussion of Clement of Alexandria: in the 4th century, we find Athanasius (also in Alexandria) justifying his flight before the persecuting "Arians" in his Apology or "Defense of his Flight":
"The Saints Who Fled Were No Cowards"
Of a truth no one can possibly doubt that they were well furnished with the virtue of fortitude. For the Patriarch Jacob who had before fled from Esau, feared not death when it came, but at that very time blessed the Patriarchs, each according to his deserts.
And the great Moses, who previously had hid himself from Pharaoh, and had withdrawn into Midian for fear of him, when he received the commandment,
"Return into Egypt,"
feared not to do so.
And again, when he was bidden to go up into the mountain Abarim and die, he delayed not through cowardice, but even joyfully proceeded thither. And David, who had before fled Saul, feared not to risl his life in war in defence of his people; but having the choice of death or of flight set before him, when he might have fled and lived, he wisely preferred death. And the great Elijah, who had at a former time hid himself from Jezebel, shewed no cowardice when he was commanded by the Spirit to meet Ahab, and to reprove Ahaziah. And Peter, who had hid himself for fear of the [other] Jews, and the Apostle Paul who was let down in a basket, and fled, when they were told,
"Ye must bear witness at Rome,"
deferred not the journey; yea, rather, they departed rejoicing; the one as hastening to meet his friends,
received his death with exultation; and the other shrunk not from the time when it came, but gloried in it,
saying,
"For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand."

The debate was in common, the accent of the decision, however, less so.
These libellatici had to be readmitted to the Church as penitents after the persecution, whereas the rabbinic tricksters are heroes.

Cyprian himself left town without sacrificing.


Je ziet hier dus in feite
eenzelfde soort van patroon
in allerlei verschillende 'mydibijbelverhaaltjes'
die duiden op het ontwijken van zinloze executies,
het jezelf opofferen als het niet anders meer kon voor 'de goede zaak':
ofwel je ontwijkt zinloze confrontaties door een vorm van 'dekmantel', of
je kan niet anders dan het risico aanvaarden van een 'eervolle dood' als 'heiliging van de Naam'.
De volksverhaaltjes, bijgelovigheid, voor ons ongerijmde wonderen
& mysterieuze woorden, gelijkenissen,
verhullingen & 't betrachten van
een juiste manier
van handelen.

Als je door die
'sluiers' heenkijkt, dan kom
je gewone mensen
tegen 'zoals
wij'
...
engel
blozen
cool!
23 jul 2008 - bewerkt op 23 jul 2008 - meld ongepast verhaal
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Asih, man, 80 jaar
   
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