Mumma's End; Et tu, Camus'?

It is possible that one of our greatest stumbling blocks in regards to faith/relationships is our difficulty in dealing with other people as a separate reality and yet as also being essential for our own existence and well-being. To quote Jean Paul Sartre once more, "Hell is other people." Or is it as Dostoyevsky said, " Hell is the loss of the ability to love."?

Similarly, it is quite easy to deal with God as an abstraction or an image/idol as opposed to dealing with God as a separate Person or Personality whose image is nonetheless stamped upon us. So our anthropomorphism and our confusion are the rule and we choose, if only by default, the "Plastic Jesus." It is people, not in the abstract but in reality, that offend us constantly; and whom we constantly offend. Or fear to offend.

Keeping this in mind, I would like to proceed and finish with the interview with Camus, observing the stumbling stone of offense which sadly is the same as for many of us.

"' But Albert,' I said, "haven't you already been baptized?'

' Yes,' said Camus,' when I was a child..... but it meant nothing to me. It was something done to me, no more meaningful than a handshake.'

' Well, the baptism of the child is not performed because the child is faith in God. Christ, which he baby clearly does not have. It is given because God loves the child welcomes him into the family of God. The baptism begins a process in which you begin to grow, even as an infant, into a new life, the gift which has been given to you.'

Camus replied:' But it seems right that I should be baptized now that I've spent these months reading and discussing the Bible with you' -- I had to interrupt, but I could not express my full thoughts. Christian doctrine holds that one baptism suffices; there is no reason for re-baptism. Only if there is some doubt that the person has been given a valid baptism do we re-baptize, and we call it a "conditional baptism." So on one hand, I wanted to deny his request for baptism on the grounds that it wasn't necessary. On the other hand, I sensed that Albert needed the experience. My compromise was to bring up the matter of joining a church and experiencing the rule of confirmation. That proved to be a mistake."

Right away, he jumped on me and said,' Howard, I am not ready to be a member of the church! I have difficulty attending church! I have to fight people all the time after service, even in your church. When I come to your church, when you are preaching, I leave before the service is over to get away from them all.'

I understood that, but I had to stand my ground.' The time will come when you can get away from people who are seeking your autograph or wanting to hold conversations with you about your writings. Perhaps they will simply accept you into the community of men and women. This community will remind you constantly that you are not alone and that you are a member of a communion, a company of both living and the dead all of whom are in the presence of the living God. In any event, are you aware of everything that baptism entails?' I asked, trying to give a little.

Camus shrugged,' My experience is limited to my early church training and the little that you told me,' he said, recalling that baptism is a religious rite performed by a priest or minister on a baby. He puts water on the head of the child and blesses it..... It is a religious miracle of sorts, so that if the child should die, it would not go to hell.' He said that beyond that, he knew very little.

' Yes,' I said.' The baptism is outward and visible sign that an infant has been initiated into the Fellowship of Christ's church. The child not only becomes a participant but also becomes an heir to eternal life. That is to say, physical death will not end the gift which is given through baptism.'

I went into more detail.' In the case of an adult, he may approach alone. The person then stands before the priest or minister as he addresses not only him but the entire congregation....'

I noticed a frown appeared on Camus face, but I continued.' The minister says that baptism is an outward and visible sign of the gift, the gift of the Spirit of God brought into the body and mind of the person being baptized.'

I noticed him cringing again. He must have seen a questioning look on my face because he explained:' For me, baptism and confirmation would be a more personal thing, something between me and God.'

' But baptism and confirmation are both the private and the public commitment to a life with Christ. They are a welcoming into the family of God, which is the church here on earth, both visible and invisible. At the end of the baptism, the minister confirms you as a whole responsible number not only of the family of God, which is personal, but also of the church, which is a community.'

Camus shook his head, leaning back in his chair, obviously disappointed.' I cannot belong to a church,' he said.' Is this not something that you could do? Something just between us?'

I cannot say that I blame him for his hesitation. Camus was one of the most famous Frenchman who alive. His writings touched the disaffection the people of France were feeling after the war. Display of this sort would set all of France abuzz, and many of his fans would feel betrayed. But his trepidation was more than that.

By his very nature, Camus was a man who could never belong to an organized church. He was truly an independent thinker, and no matter how modified his feelings toward Christianity has become, he could never be an active member of any church.

' Perhaps you are not quite ready,' I said. As pleased as I was, I could not fully commit myself to the idea. I would be leaving in a few more days he would have time to contemplate what he really wanted. This was a major decision for both of us, and I wanted to be sure that there were no doubts about his next step. A few more months, we could both be certain that this was the right decision. I laid my hand on his shoulder and said,' let's wait while you continue your studies.'"

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