(via Unreasonable Faith)
I’ve been thinking about this quote from the philosopher Bertrand Russell for a couple of days now, contrasting it in my mind with the apparent eagerness of Ignatius of Antioch to become a martyr for his faith. I’m not sure which of these two attitudes I would more closely align myself.
On the one hand, I greatly respect Russell’s honesty and
humility. What if I’m wrong? There’s no delusion of grandeur in that
attitude, no arrogance. But on the other hand is Ignatius’ certainty – a certainty
which has inspired him to live and to die in the manner of his lord. He is not ashamed. He is not afraid.
“All the ends of the world, and all the kingdoms of this
earth, shall profit me nothing. It is
better for me to die for the sake of Jesus Christ, than to reign over all the
ends of the earth. ‘For what is a man
profited, if he gain the whole world, but lose his own soul?’ I long after the Lord, the Son of the true
God and Father, even Jesus Christ. Him
I seek, who died for us and rose again.
Pardon me, brethren; do not hinder me in attaining to life; for Jesus is
the life of believers. … Suffer me to
obtain pure light: when I have gone thither I shall indeed be a man of
God. Permit me to be an imitator of the
passion of Christ my God.”[i]
The Martyrdom of Ignatius claims to have been written
by eyewitness to his death in the Roman coliseum – though some have challenged
this claim. One argument in this
challenge is that no Christian writer before the 7th century quotes
from or makes reference to the text.
The Roman Emperor Trajan (98 – 117 CE) had recently won a
series of victories over the Scyhthians and the Dacians and “…thinking that
the religious body of the Christians were yet wanting to complete the
subjugation of all things to himself, and [thereupon] threatening them with
persecution unless they should agree to worship demons, as did all other
nations, thus compelled all who were living godly lives either to sacrifice [to
idols] or to die.” [ii]
Ignatius, unwilling to sacrifice to demons and altogether
willing to sacrifice himself as a martyr was taken by ship and overland to Rome where he was brought
to the coliseum and devoured by wild beasts before a crowd of spectators.
His bones – “only the harder portions of his holy remains were left,”
[iii] were gathered up and taken back to Antioch .
I admire Ignatius – but his eagerness (not just a willingness)
to die is surprising, and maybe a little discomforting. Even Jesus, whom
Ignatius wanted to imitate, was reluctant to face his own death. I also admire Russell’s self-critical “I might be wrong…”
approach because I know that I have an incomplete understanding of many
things. I can relate to his uneasiness
with committing himself absolutely (in death) to a potential error.
There’s probably a balance somewhere between these two –
neither a zealous eagerness to die as a martyr, nor a doubting uncertainty,
unwilling to commit to a belief.
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