Jesus would have joined the anti-corporate Occupy movement protestors says Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
In an article for the Christmas edition of the Radio Times magazine, Williams considers the slogan ‘What Would Jesus Do?’, with particular reference to those involved in the recent events at St Paul’s Cathedral.
“The Jesus we meet in the Bible is somebody who constantly asks awkward questions, especially questions addressed to religious people, moral people and rich people – all the sorts of people involved at St Paul’s,” the Anglican Primate said.
Encouraging us to ask uncomfortable questions of ourselves, the Archbishop also urges us to do some self-examination: “There are places in the Bible where Jesus prods us to ask ourselves about our motives before we embark on grand gestures. Are we doing this for the sake of the real issue, or for an audience?”
“What changes the world isn’t a single formula for getting the right answer but a willingness to stop and let yourself be challenged right to the roots of your being,” Williams said.
The magazine article was not Williams’ first involvement in the anti-corporate protest movement. He said last month that the demonstration marked “a widespread and deep exasperation with the financial establishment.”
The City of London Corporation, which owns much of the land around St. Paul’s, has taken legal steps to try to get the protesters moved. But the Occupiers have vowed to remain until the Olympic Games in the British capital next summer, and perhaps beyond.
“Christmas tells us two big things. First, what changes things isn’t a formula for getting the right answer but a willingness to stop and let yourself be challenged right to the roots of your being. And second, we can find the courage to let this happen because we are let into the secret that we are in the hands of love, committed, unshakeable love. I hope that something of that great secret will find its way into your celebrations this year.”
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