Catholicism: The Only True Extremism, Part I

In today’s ideologically polarized society, the term “extremist” is bandied about with increasing frequency by pundits, politicians from both sides of the aisle, and bureaucrats in order to paint those with opposing beliefs as dangerous and untrustworthy, as holding a belief that is outside the acceptable realm of “mainstream thinking.” The tactic of socially eliminating opposition and avoiding the discussion of ideas is by no means a new one, but it is dangerous in that it leads easily to group think and does not actually solve any problems.

Catholicism is an easy target for this tactic, as we can see in the Department of Homeland Security document that labeled Christians and “those who hold pro-life views” as potential terrorists. Jesus, Founder of the Catholic Church, created scandal at the moment of His conception as His Blessed Mother was an unmarried pregnant girl in a strict Jewish society, and eventually was killed for the ideology He was teaching. If we take an honest look at the life of Christ and the history of His Church, it can be concluded that Catholicism is the most extreme religion ever established, and is the only true alternative lifestyle.

Practically every part of Jesus’ life notated in the Bible is involved in some sort of scandal that disturbed the equilibrium of Jewish mainstream religious thinking at that time. As previously mentioned, Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit in a quiet, unmarried young woman who was merely betrothed at the time. Jesus’ birth was scandalous, as His mere Presence caught the murderous attention of King Herod, who ordered the death of all boys aged two and under just to ensure the death of the menacing infant King. After Christ’s tumultuous and gloriously humble entrance into humanity, He disappears for thirty years and lives unassumingly with His parents.

After returning to public life, Luke 4:16 tells us how Christ was ultimately rejected by His hometown Synagogue and narrowly escaped death. Already His Presence had stirred the passions of those around Him and caused scandal. It is important to note how Jesus, in only a few mentions in the Gospel, twice escaped death and made Himself the center of intense interest and scrutiny. Although we know that He attracted large crowds of followers, healed the sick and took care of the poor, it is safe to say that Jesus’ early life and public ministry was wrought with scandal and intrigue. Few historical figures made such an impact in such a short time.

Jesus’ public life went against acceptable social and religious teaching. He created scandal by eating with and socializing with the dregs of Jewish society; tax collectors, prostitutes, and sinners. What modern politician seeking office would be seen associating with those whom modern society deems disgusting and repulsive? Who would Christ visit in today’s day and age? Jesus also went about the multitudes of people giving hope, healing the sick, and changing their hard hearts towards love and forgiveness. He publicly humiliated the religious and political leaders, the pharisees, by exposing their hypocrisy and demonstrating their deviousness. His teachings broke through the empty adherence to a long list of religious rules and breathed His Spirit into the hearts of the people. Loving an enemy was and is an extremely scandalous teaching.

Jesus never apologized or looked back on His ways. At the end of the Bread of Life Discourse in John Chapter Six, it says that “many [of] his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.” Jesus did not call out to them and assure them He was only speaking figuratively and metaphorically. He did not change His mind or take it back. He merely looked at His Disciples and asked them if they were going to leave as well. Telling a large group of people that the only way to salvation is to consume the flesh and drink the blood of the orator is not the best way to establish a meaningful public ministry, at least according to “conventional wisdom.” Despite that, Jesus is still the most recognized and most extreme historical figure today.

Jesus managed to soften the hearts of the sinners, the poor, and the hopeless and turn the self-described learned and religious against Him. His scandalous, extremist life culminated in His death. Again, according to worldly wisdom, getting put to death by the establishment is hardly on the checklist to start a world-wide religion. The Pharisees were the religious and political rulers of the Jews, even as they were controlled by the Romans. They were threatened by the large crowds of followers that Jesus attracted and were certainly not unaware of the potential for religious rebellion against their rule. It was necessary to paint Him as a blasphemer and remove Him permanently from the picture.

The extremism of Jesus and His teachings is unlike that which is depicted in today’s divided society. Although He ran screaming and yelling into the temple in Jerusalem swinging a rope like a whip (imagine how today’s media would cover that one), despite the fact that He referred to the Pharisees as a brood of vipers, even though He said in Mathew 10:34 that He came not to bring peace, but a sword, Jesus still never advocated for people to kill in His name. He never encouraged His followers to terrorize the innocent or to make of themselves a suicidal sacrifice while shedding the blood of others. The Divine became man not to merely lower Himself to the level of humanity corrupted by Original Sin, but to raise humanity to the level of the Divine.

From a merely human perspective, it can be surmised that the source of Jesus’ perceived extremism is the clash between His Divine Perfection and our fallen nature through Original Sin. Until the Son of God became Man, humanity was given over to sin and death. Jesus came to us in order to raise humanity back to the Divine, back to it’s lost inheritance.

In the next installment of this series, we will examine the lives of some Saints and will ultimately discern what the extremism of Christ means for us in today’s world.