ANNUAL FORTY DAY FAST
for the
TRUTH OF GOSPEL NONVIOLENCE
Principle of Non-Contradiction
Two contradictory propositions cannot be true at the same time and in the same sense. Between two logical and meaningful propositions “X” and “not X” there is no middle ground. If one is truth the other is false.
Benedict XVI
Without the principle of non-contradiction morality would be impossible…Contradictory things cannot be means to salvation.
If in kataphatic Christian systematic theology, moral theology and pastoral theology antithetical statements could be true, it would mean that the statement “Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the living God, Lord and Savior” and the statement “Jesus is not the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the living God, Lord and Savior” would both be true. It would mean that “Thou shall not commit adultery,” and “Thou shall commit adultery,” are both true. “I exists,” “I do not exist,” both true. Jesus teaches, “Love (agape) your enemies;” Jesus does not teach, “Love (agape) you enemies.” “Put up your sword” and “Do not put up your sword”, “Love your enemies” and “Do not love your enemies,” “Love as I have loved,” and “Do not love as I have loved” are all teachings of Jesus, are all not teachings of Jesus, but all of the aforementioned are true or are not true. Chaos! Sheer chaos!
Yet, it is the flagrant violation of the principle of non-contradiction that the Constantinian Churches foist upon their memberships when they justify—as being in conformity with the Nonviolent Jesus of the Gospels who teaches a Way of Nonviolent Love of friends and enemies as the Way of discipleship— war, capital punishment, abortion and enmity. When Gandhi notes that the only people in the world who do not see Jesus as nonviolent are Christians, he is addressing the glaring lack of human and spiritual credibility—not to be confused with political and economic clout— the Constantinian Church has in the minds and hearts of the overwhelming majority of the people of the world. (Only 18% of the world’s population is Christian on paper.)
Honestly, if Jesus had taught and commanded, “Kill your enemies” and “Hate your enemies,” how many of the Church leaders who today are defying the principle of non-contradiction to justify in the name of Jesus Christians engaging in war, capital punishment, abortion and enmity, would be defining the principle of non-contradiction as they are today and saying Jesus taught and commanded, “Do not kill your enemies,” and “Love your enemies?” Zero!
There is nothing more futile and pathetic than bishops, priests, ministers, pastors and Christian theologians, who refuse to accept the Nonviolent Jesus of the Gospels and His Way of Nonviolent Love of friends and enemies, trying to justify themselves by building an elaborate logical-theological house of cards on the sand of having first abandoned the primordial logical principle of non-contradiction, e.g., “Love your enemies,” is the truth of Jesus and “Do not love you enemies,” is the truth of Jesus.
If only the costs of their trying to put reason’s mask on blatant Christian infidelity were not so horrifying for so many so often.
-ECM
