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The
Concept of Shaheed (Martyr) in the Christian Faith
(The Meeting was
held at PASSIA on Wednesday, 1St May 2002 from 4:00-5:00 p.m.)
[ See Photos ]
Participants:
1) Samia Khoury,
Volunteer.
2) Laila Carmi, Commercial Attachée.
3) Arvid Weinlich, Reprehensive German Association.
4) Bettina Stelling, Caritas Baby Hospital.
5) Nora Carmi, Sabeel.
6) Afraymel Orosalemy, Coptic Church.
7) Munib Younan, Lutheran Church.
8) Saman Khoury, Media.
9) Elie Dibsy, Dental Surgeon.
10) Hanna Hallak, Bethlehem University.
11) Samir Bayyuk, British Consult.
12) Riah Abu El-Assal, Anglican Church.
13) Yazeed Said, Anglican Church.
14) Judeh Majaj, YMCA.
15) Fadia Daibes, PhD Researcher.
16) Gustaf Odquist, Lutheran Church.
Martyrdom under the perspective of western
Christianity
The
following remarks summarize the "impulse-lecture" in a meeting
at PASSIA in Jerusalem on the 1st of May 2002, given by Fr.
Joachim Schroedel, Rector of the German speaking Catholic Communities
in the Middle East and delegate of the Catholic German Bishops Conference
to the Middle East. These remarks include points from the discussion as
well.
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In
Christianity the idea of giving your own life for someone is exemplified
by Jesus Christ who gave his life on the Cross. He was the "witness
of Gods love" because he trusted that God his father would be
with him in his sufferings and after his death. Christians believe
that after 3 days Jesus rose from the dead and therefore is the "martyr
par excellence", the "witness of the love of God".
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This
love of God is eternal, never ending and irrevocable. God is "rahman
u-rahim" in Christianity also. He is merciful and compassionate.
The root of the word "compassion" is "passion"
from the Latin "passio", to suffer. God loves with passion.
He is "passionate". He loved Jesus throughout His suffering
and death and Jesus loves his followers compassionately, i.e. with
passion.
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Those
who follow Jesus are not only following his teachings which were not
very different from the teachings of other Rabbis of his time. The
crucial point is that he lived what he taught. His death was the witness
of the never-ending love of God, the confirmation of what He preached.
Christians follow Jesus because he confirms God's love for us.
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Following
Christ means living as he did. The Latin word "imitation Christi"
is the basis of Christian living.
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To
Christian martyrs death is not a threat because of God's love which
goes beyond death. In the first centuries hundreds of Christian martyrs
were witnesses of God's love by their deaths. St. Stephen, the first
martyr or Proto-Martyr was stoned in Jerusalem at Stephan's Gate (today
bab sitt mariam).
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One
impressive concept of how to live a Christian life is called trias
and has the following 3 components:
• Leiturgia
- liturgy, to serve God with prayers
• Diakonia
- to serve the brothers and sisters who are in need
• Martyria
- to confess in deeds and words Gods unending love
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To
be a martyr does not mean to suffer under oppression silently and
passively. On the contrary being active, outspoken and courageous
could lead to persecution and even death as it did with Jesus Christ.
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There
is no greater love than giving your life for your brother. There are
many examples of this in Christian history. In the 20th century Maksimilian
Kolbe, a Polish priest chose to die instead of a father who had to
take care of his family. The father was to be killed by the Nazis,
but the priest offered his life instead. Kolbe died that the father
might live.
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Jesus
teaches us not to return force with force. (Math 5:44 et al.) Do not
harm your enemy. Conquer hate with love. (Rom 12:21)
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10)
A Christian martyr totally trusts in the love of God, following the
example of Jesus Christ. A Christian Martyr is prepared to be killed
for the sake of truth and justice but he will not kill himself.
Speaker:
Fr. Joachim Schroedel:
The Speaker made it clear that the discussion should be an open exchange
of ideas and not limited to what had been said. Stephanos, the first martyr
in Christianity, spoke from his heart and not from some formal beliefs.
He saw the doors of heaven opening as he died, heaven being the reward
of those who sacrifice their lives. Stephanos did not fight the Jews.
He only spoke about what he believed. Christians believe that sometimes
people may be killed for standing up for what they believe in. Stephanos
was prepared to give his life because of his faith, setting a precedent
for other believers. Jesus is the model of martyrdom while Stephanos is
the first martyr in Christian history.
The
three major pillars of Christianity are praying, serving others and bearing
witness to your beliefs. Christian martyrs follow the example of Jesus
and never become martyrs by killing others. Therefore the crusaders are
not considered martyrs.
Christians
love actively and bear witness to their beliefs. This does not mean that
Jesus or Christians are passive in dealing with brutality. Christians
must react to hatred with active love and kindness. Christians should
not passively accept misery and suffering but should fight brutality with
love and justice.
The
Participants:
Jesus sacrificed himself for all humanity. Christians must stand up for
their beliefs, even if they must die for them. Christians may also sacrifice
their life for their honor. During the Umayyad period Marwan Ibn El-Hakam,
wanted to marry a very beautiful nun who refused because of her vows and
died for her honor. The Christian Coptic Church considers this nun to
be a martyr as she died protecting her religious beliefs.
There
is no greater love than sacrificing one's own life that others may live.
Martyrs should not ask for a reward as their reward is eternal life. Palestinians
who sacrifice their lives by blowing themselves up as martyrs do not ask
for any kind of reward. Churches should make a clear distinction between
terrorists and people who are ready to sacrifice their life for a cause
like Palestine. A terrorist may not kill himself but rather kill others.
The
church of Jesus is a church of martyrdom. In Palestine the church is suffering
and struggling and in that sense it is a church of martyrs. The Palestinian
struggle for liberation and independence is considered to be a just war
by the church in Palestine.
The
crusaders were not martyrs and were not fighting a just war as they were
spreading colonialism. They thought their cause was just because they
wanted to liberate the Holy Land from Muslims. The interpretation of what
constitutes a just war varies from church to church.
The
suffering of some Palestinians in refugee camps has caused such despair
that they prefer to die. This is a problem that needs more attention.
Christianity does not support suicide attacks but condemns the situation
that causes people to loose hope in life and in the future.
The
bible is not the only source of Christian beliefs. Christians can also
look to their 2000 years of traditions. The tradition of martyrdom in
Christianity is very crucial as Jesus is the father of martyrs. Jesus
was never a passive person. He did not treat others badly when he was
badly treated and he often did not accept what others said and did. In
Christianity a martyr believes in an invisible reward. Christians are
called to challenge the systems that oppress them and to act.
The
concept of martyrdom, sacrifice and violence are understood differently
by Muslims and Christians, making this discussion difficult. However both
religions agree that believers must actively promote their beliefs and
be ready to die for them.
Martyrs
in both religions are not looking for a reward but are willing to sacrifice
themselves for a belief or a cause. Some people who blow themselves up
believe that they are achieving a goal that they cannot reach in any other
way. The central question is whether Muslims or Christians should resist
an injustice that is inflicted upon them by force.
The
Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs - PASSIA
Tel: +972-2-6264426 / 6286566 • Fax: +972-2-6282819
P.O. Box 19545, Jerusalem
Email: passia@palnet.com
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