009: Death Cannot Digest Divinity (Atonement Part 2)

Episode Overview

In this second part of their atonement series, hosts Anthony Parrott and Tonetta Landis-Aina dive deeper into healthier frameworks for understanding the cross, moving beyond problematic theologies toward more life-giving perspectives. They explore concepts like the harrowing of hell, Christus Victor, and René Girard's scapegoat theory while emphasizing how the cross reveals God's radical solidarity with the marginalized.

Key Topics Discussed

1. The Cross as Radical Power Reversal

• Challenges to Christian nationalism
• Power displayed through weakness
• The cross as counter-imperial statement

2. The Cross as Lynching

• Connection between crucifixion and American lynching history
• James Cone's The Cross and the Lynching Tree
• Understanding the cross through the lens of racial violence and solidarity with victims

3. Language Matters: Reconciliation vs. Cleansing

• Translation issues with "atonement" (at-one-ment)
• Being saved from misconceptions about God's wrath, not from God's wrath itself

4. Participation in Atonement

• Co-suffering love (not coercive suffering)
• Local, contextual discipleship
• Christ suffered ahead of us, not instead of us

5. The Harrowing of Hell

• Jesus' descent to free the dead
• Death as prison that cannot hold God
• Early church imagery of chains breaking under the cross

6. Christus Victor

• Christ's victory over sin, death, and evil
• Both spiritual and physical dimensions
• The church as continuation of Christ's victory through acts of love and justice

7. René Girard and Scapegoat Theory

• Mimetic desire and rivalry
• The cross as revelation (not blessing) of the scapegoat mechanism
• Breaking cycles of accusation and violence

Books and Resources Referenced

Books Mentioned

• The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James Cone
• Sacred Self-Care by Dr. Shaniqua Walker-Barnes
• The Wood Between the Worlds by Brian Zahnd
• The Day the Revolution Began by N.T. Wright
• Crucifixion by Martin Hengel
• The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky
• The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

Scholars Referenced

• René Girard (French philosopher, mimetic theory)
• Dr. Shaniqua Walker-Barnes
• Brian Zahnd
• N.T. Wright
• Martin Hengel
• James Cone
• Brian Blount (Black New Testament scholar)
• Douglas Campbell
• Scot McKnight
• Jennifer Bashaw (on scapegoating)
• Chris Green (theologian)
• David Bentley Hart

Key Scripture References

• John 12:20-25 - Jesus on his coming death
• Ephesians 4:8-10 - descent to lower regions
• 1 Peter 3:18-20 - proclamation to imprisoned spirits
• Hebrews 2 - freedom from fear of death
• 1 John 3:8 - destroying the works of the devil
• Colossians 2 - leading powers in parade

Historical References

• Alexamenos graffiti (Roman graffiti mocking Christians)
• Samuel Dewitt Proctor Conference
• Birmingham church bombing
• Lynching Memorial (Equal Justice Initiative)

Memorable Quotes

• "The cross is foolishness and we are faithful to foolishness"
• "Death cannot digest divinity"
• "Christ suffered ahead of us, not instead of us"
• "We are slowly bending the arc of history towards justice"
• "The crucifixion of Christ was not a defeat that was overturned by resurrection. Rather, it was a victory revealed in resurrection"

Contact Information

Instagram: @PastorParrott and @TonettaLandis

Podcast Instagram: @loam.fm

Email for questions: [email protected]

Note to Listeners

The hosts welcome questions for a potential Q&A episode. Send your questions to [email protected] to participate in future discussions about gospel, faith, and social justice.