54 pages • 1 hour read
How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith
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Index of Terms
Atonement Theory
Atonement theory is a theological concept prominent within both Christianity and Judaism, positing that humans must atone for their sins against God. In Christianity, a key belief is that Jesus died for mankind’s sins and that the crucifixion of Jesus was God’s sacrifice to wash away the sins of humanity. Budde engages with atonement theory in Chapter 4 as she explores how people can learn to be brave in the face of unchangeable circumstances, especially circumstances that cause them pain. The idea that God requires atonement in the form of suffering is one that Budde calls an “appallingly cruel view of God” that is made “somewhat palatable” in the view of God being the atoning sacrifice through Jesus (89). Budde takes it further, writing, “In this light, Jesus’ sacrifice becomes an expression of how far God will go in love for us” (89). Budde’s theological analysis places atonement theory in her broader view of God as a loving creator and a source of faith, comfort, and courage.
Budde is critical of some views of atonement theory that view Jesus’ sacrifice as a complete and transactional act of redemptive suffering. She is not alone in her criticism, as Richard Rohr OFM, an Irish Catholic scholar, writes that the
theory of substitutionary atonement has inoculated us against the true effects of the Gospel, causing us to largely ‘thank’ Jesus instead of honestly imitating him. At its worst, it has led us to see God as a cold, brutal figure who demands acts of violence before God can love creation (Rohr, Richard. “Jesus and the Cross.” Association of Catholics in Ireland, 4 Feb. 2019).
Both Budde and Rohr caution Christians against viewing Jesus’ suffering as a singular event that washes them free of sin and against seeing God as a violent creator. Both seek to create nuance in the view of the atonement while encouraging Christians to emulate Jesus’ teachings of kindness, mercy, sacrifice, and courage in their own lives.
The Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Church is a Protestant, Christian denomination in the United States of America, in which Budde is a bishop. It comprises 108 dioceses that are grouped into nine provinces. The church traces its history to the Church of England, which began in the 16th century after English King Henry VIII split from the Catholic Church of Rome in order to start his own religion so that he could divorce his wife, Catherine of Aragon. During the period of English colonialism, Anglicans (or people who belong to the Church of England) settled in the British Colonies in what is now the United States of America. After the American Revolution, the members of the Church of England in America founded their own church that they called the Episcopal Church. The word “episcopal” means of or relating to a bishop, and the early Episcopalians selected that name to honor the historic ministry of deacons, priests, and bishops in the church. They also changed the constitution of the church to allow bishops to be elected instead of appointed by a monarch, embracing the spirit of American democracy.
Ignatian Spirituality
Ignatian spirituality is a Roman Catholic spiritual tradition that stems from the teachings and beliefs of St. Ignatius of Loyola, a 16th-century Spanish priest who founded the Jesuit monastic order, which values missionary work and teaching. Ignatian spirituality seeks to encourage people to detach from their emotional responses and to instead make decisions based on the discernment of God’s will. Budde engages with Ignatian spirituality’s idea of spiritual desolation and consolation as she discusses the letdowns that come with decisive moments in Chapter 6. Of this idea, she writes,
A key insight is that the feelings associated with both consolation and desolation are instructive, but […] not constant, nor does one reflect reality more than the other. Acknowledging this makes it easier to experience our emotions for what they are, allow them to wash over us, and let them go (154).
Experiencing and then letting go of emotions is a key piece of Ignatian spirituality that Budde encourages her readers to embrace. Both highs and lows, consolations and desolations, and victories and failures are instructive in the journey toward cultivating bravery.
Vocation
“Vocation” refers to a strong calling or deep inclination toward a particular path or profession, as well as the work in which a person is employed. Budde utilizes both definitions of vocation in her discussions of bravery and embracing decisive moments. She views her role as bishop as her chosen occupation and the summons from God that she is called to heed.
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