Freedom and Suffering (1959, Marsh Chapel, Boston, MA)
Description
In the Freedom and Suffering series, Thurman explores the woven-together tapestry of freedom, death, grace, and more. The sermon series paints a picture of human beings as both free and fallible. However, even in our imperfection and failure, we are not without the mysterious support of God, who judges us beyond our account of wins and losses. Thurman ultimately suggests that freedom, and the suffering that comes with it, brings texture and adventure to our lives, and is the way by which we discover meaning and dignity for ourselves.
Date
1959
Contributor
Descriptions by Rodell Jefferson III.
Collection Items
Freedom and Suffering, Part 1: Freedom and Failure, 1959 November 8
In Part 1 of this sermon series, Thurman claims that freedom and failure are twins. The gift of life is also the gift of failure, which is also the gift of freedom. Without the ability to choose, there can be no failure. Thus, human beings are free and fallible creatures. The ultimate and inevitable failure for a living organism is death. Thurman says that the human spirit must confront death and failure. From this confrontation arises a new perspective on life, a renewed understanding of…
Freedom and Suffering, Part 2: Freedom and Grace, 1959 November 15
In this second sermon in the Freedom and Suffering series, Thurman adds grace into his discussion on freedom and failure. Human beings have the freedom to fail again and again, however we never fail totally and absolutely. In this there is grace. For Thurman, grace is our experience of something dealing with us beyond balance and beyond merit; it is an unexplainable outpouring that sustains, redeems, and reassures us. Grace is found in God who does not give up on us, who sees us beyond the…
Freedom and Suffering, Part 3, 1959 November 22
In this third sermon in the Freedom and Suffering series, Thurman focuses in on the suffering aspect. Suffering is the common experience of human beings, and perhaps all living beings. Thurman says that the Christian tradition itself was born out of pain and suffering, and represents the human project of squeezing optimism from pessimism. Thurman adds that we are always trying to deduce the logic of our suffering, but even still there are times when the balance of reaping and sowing does not add…
Freedom and Suffering, Part 4, 1959 November 29
In the fourth and final sermon of the Freedom and Suffering series, Thurman takes his exploration of suffering a step further. Thurman suggests that we must learn to be worthy of our suffering. We should not seek out suffering, but when it comes to us, we must search for the meaning and dignity in it. Thurman also considers that human beings can only suffer because we are capable of loving. To love is to identify with another's suffering, to enter into it and yet remain as ourselves. Religion,…
Collection Tree
- Freedom and Suffering (1959, Marsh Chapel, Boston, MA)