Is the Cross a Symbol Christians Should Now Lay Aside?
So where does this leave us, Jews and Christians? Two peoples, two vantage points on a single symbol. I find myself groping for a way of healing the rift, some means of a Christian retrieval of the cross that might make it less of a scandal (in a sense Paul never intended) to Jews. But is this possible? Many would say it is not. Among those who argue against the retention of the cross as a pivotal symbol of Christian life are theologians whose interests generally lie outside the domain of Jewish-Christian dialogue. Delores Williams, for example, argues that Jesus’ death on the cross could be used, consciously or unconsciously, to legitimate brutalization. Her objections are threefold. First, Williams contends that insofar as Jesus is understood to be crucified as a surrogate for sinful humankind, his death can give credibility to those who would use others, such as African-American women, as surrogates for tasks belonging to them. This was most apparent during the period of slavery, wh
