George Yancy Is Your God Dead

In the article, “Is Your God Dead?” George Yancy makes a compelling argument on the idea of social activism. The argument proposed in the article is influenced by the negative remarks people have made against each other based on gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation. The reason why people like to remark each other negatively is because we do not like to be consider similar. The idea that contributes to this belief is that one person likes to be view better and higher than another person. However, we have been told by religious figures that everyone is made underneath the same image of Jesus Christ. Yancy is trying to achieve realization in his article. In doing so, Yancy mentions various examples of unholy actions performed by people.

Also, Yancy correlates his argument with Abraham Joshua Heschel’s work to further emphasize the key concepts of religious truths on suffering.
In order for social activism to occur, Yancy first mentions the unholy behaviors people have previously made when encountering a person that is overlooked upon appearances. The author states, “I’ve seen you suddenly look away, making sure not to make contact with the unclean. Perhaps you are preoccupied with texting, consumed by work or a family matter…Your refusal to stop, to linger, to look into her eyes, has already done its damage. Your body has already left a mark in its absence, in its fleeing the scene,” (1-2). This example explains a realistic setting when encountering a person that is less appealing, such as a homeless person, that results into turning the cheek to the side in order to avoid eye contact. Instead of being a good Samaritan, we ignore helping the people in need. Ignoring the people in need leaves the damage mark of selfishness and cruelty. Yancy mentions, “When we turn away like this we behave as if our bodies had boundaries, as if our skin truly separated us from the other,” (2). We are failing to see each other as the image of Jesus Christ. We are portraying an image of separation among each other. The sufferings of others are ignored. There are no actions taken upon to make a difference for the people in need.
Heschel makes an argument that the religious truths of suffering are surreal and accurate.

Heschel states, “If there is a shred of life left in your God, full resuscitation might begin with remaining in the presence of that suffering face. If your God is dead, the possibility for a resurrection might be found in attending to the pain and sorrow of that image of the divine there on the street,” (2-3). The sufferings of those in need are found on the streets. As opposed to stopping by and helping out, we continue our day by ignoring the needs of others. If we really are religious as we say we are, then the divine will not be on the streets. However, our God is alive. God created all human beings to be there for one and another. God is challenging all his creations to do the right action on resolving real world problems. The divine on the streets is a test from God to see what his creations will do. Heschel suggests, “we should be mortified by the inadequacy and superficiality of our anguish when we witness the suffering of others, the sort of anguish that should make us weep until our eyes are red and swollen and bring sleepless nights and agonizing days,” (3). As we see the divine on the streets begging for solidarity, it is similar to seeing Jesus on the streets begging for the same thing. We hold our emotions from reality, and do not understand the sufferings of others unless we are placed into their shoes. Heschel’s words are truthful. We put ourselves first, instead of putting the people underneath the image of Jesus Christ first when needed. No one will understand the reality of suffering unless it is experience at

firsthand.
The argument on social activism in Yancy’s article is important. The lives of many people will continue to suffer without social activism. Social activism will end injustice and inequality. Yancy states, “We have failed to deepen our collective responsibility,” (6). The responsibility mentioned by Yancy is taking charge on making a difference in today’s society. Social activism will allow many people to come together and fight for a cause they are highly opinionate in ending. These causes can include homelessness, hunger, human trafficking, and many more. Standing together will unite all odds against each other. Think of how the world will be a much better place if we all work together to create a change and difference. People will no longer suffer while living. Instead, we will live a happy life. We are responsible for our own actions. No one is at fault. Yet, we have to put faith into our own words and actions. Yancy questions, “What would America look like, on that day, if we who call ourselves believers, decided to weep together, hold hands together, commit together to eradicate injustice? We might then permanently unlock our sacred doors, take a real step beyond our sanctimoniousness, and see one another face to face,” (7). Working together will build a relationship of unity and mercy as we see each other underneath the same image of Jesus Christ. The reality is this: “Hundreds of thousands of children around the world are suffering. We all have known about the cruel and despicable violence toward transgender individuals. We know about the magnitude of human trafficking, the magnitude of poverty, and the sickness of hatred,” (6). The suffering of the human life is out there. It is up to the people to stop ignoring these true sufferings and start acting on them. If God was dead, then we will all live in a sufferable and dark world. Yet, this is untrue because God is giving everyone an eye opening of the real world. God presents these world’s issues for us to realize the misfortune some people live upon. This eye opening is an inspiration for the people to take action on and finally do holy good. If we say we are religious, then we should take upon our faith and do the religious right. We are told that we all come from the image of Jesus Christ. We are the divine spirit. It is time to start respecting each other and stop ignoring the issues of others that can be easily fixed. It is our call to do the right.