Last edited Fri Jul 10, 2015, 04:30 PM - Edit history (3)
on a clear case of Jesus acting like a racist and a megalomaniac.
You may be interested to know that this particular story is always a topic of discussion at seminaries, because it shows Jesus in a very unfavorable light. Potential ministers need to deal with the story. While most apologists spin it as you do, others have met the story head on. The takes on the story run from "proves Jesus was human and that this was a learning moment for his human side," to "yep, it's racist, even considering the times."
What no Xian seems to consider is that the story simply reflects the beliefs that were rampant (and are still rampant) in religions that grow out of paternalistic, misogynistic societies. This is myth-spinning at the most-insulated and -tasteless level. This is a story written by men, for men. There's really no divine lesson being taught here - no deeper, hidden message to discern. The lesson YOU derive above is heavily influenced by man's enlightenment, and has nothing to do with the actual words and actions of Jesus in this story.
No matter what apology you provide for Jesus, the fact remains that for whatever reason, he treated this woman with disrespect that I dare say you would find appalling were it practiced by your run-of-the-mill human being. Imagine any human being who had it within their power to cure this woman's daughter with a snap of their fingers subjecting a concerned mother to refusal after refusal to help her, calling her a dog, and only relenting and deigning to help her after she groveled at their feet, assuaging some megalomaniacal belief that she somehow "earned" their help through a demonstration of "faith" that was based entirely on her degrading herself before them. Yeah, I'd think we'd all say that was disgusting behavior...unless it's Jesus! Then, it must be OK, right?
And BTW - you may also want to consider the racism, bigotry and misogyny that is present in The Law as presented in the OT. That would be the same Law that Jesus said was FULLY in effect until heaven and Earth passed away. Ergo, his dealing with this woman - just like his parable of the Good Samaritan - serves in the main as an exception to the rules of a Law that is still very much in effect, at least in Jesus' mind. That is, if you take Jesus at his word.
You might check out this article that sheds a different light on the story of the Canaanite woman:
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davidhenson/2012/09/jesus-was-not-colorblind-racial-slurs-and-the-syrophoenician-woman-lectionary/
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