Apologetics Quote by Robert Barron
““Now Christianity proposes a completely different account of how history comes to a climax and what precisely constitutes the new order of the ages—which helps to explain why so many of modernity’s avatars, from Diderot to Christopher Hitchens, have specially targeted Christianity. On the Christian reading, history reached its highpoint when a young first-century Jewish rabbi, having been put to death on a brutal Roman instrument of torture, was raised from the dead through the power of the God of Israel. The state-sponsored murder of Jesus, who had dared to speak and act in the name of Israel’s God, represented the world’s resistance to the Creator. It was the moment when cruelty, hatred, violence, and corruption—symbolized in the Bible as the watery chaos—spent itself on Jesus. The resurrection, therefore, showed forth the victory of the divine love over those dark powers. St. Paul can say, “I am certain that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, nor any other creature can separate us from the love of God,” precisely because he lived on the far side of the resurrection.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Catholicism and the New Age, Robert Barron, 2015
The quote argues that Christianity offers a unique climax of history through Jesus’ resurrection, portraying divine love triumphing over chaos and oppression, which explains modern critiques of Christianity.
In simple terms: Christianity sees history ending with Jesus’ resurrection, showing divine love over evil.
Recognize the power of love over suffering.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal grief
- social injustice
- spiritual seeking
- academic debate
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does the resurrection shape moral action?
- Can divine love overcome all evil?
Some view the narrative as metaphorical, limiting its literal impact.