Marginality and Liminality

One of my questions about the place and role of the Church and of local churches in society at large is its attitude towards those on the margins of society. It seems fairly clear from the Gospels that Jesus embodied a view of the world that was predisposed to the poor and marginalised.^[1] It is important to note, for example, that when Jesus reads from Isaiah 61 in the Nazareth synagogue, he stops in the middle of v2, declaring the Year of the Lord's Favour (in resonance with the Jubilee and Sabbath years of Lev. 25) for the poor, the brokenhearted, the captives and the prisoners, but not initiating the day of God's vengeance.^[2]

Here is the real question, though. If the Church, and local faith communities in particular, are going to rise to the challenge of following in the footsteps of Jesus, what should their attitude and praxis be to the poor and to 'sinners'?^[3]

There have been many responses to this question over the history of the Church. In many circumstances they question has been ignored, and the so-called 'prosperity gospel' is the modern descendant of this tradition. However, there are notable historical incarnations of the Church that have placed identification with the poor and maginalised as a core value and principal expression. Notable groups include the Donatist, Waldensians, Franciscans, Lollards, Anabaptists, among others. One of the most powerful representations of this in our time is Fr. Elias Chacour and his work to bring peace between Israelis and Palestinians. For Chacour, poverty is not an issue of charity from the rich towards the poor. Rather it is about indentifcation, recognising that we are bound by each other's destinies - both of us together, or none of us at all. Frequently these faith traditions and communities have become margnialised themselves.

The reason for asking this question is to pose a further question of lingusitics. Are the terms 'marginal' and 'marginality' helpful terms in tackling this issue?

My friend Noel left me with a thought this morning about the possible alternative terms 'liminal' and 'liminality.' Liminality is complex but potentially very helpful concept. It has the sense of boundary, as with a 'marginal' state, but it also brings an emphasis on transition, both dwelling in and moving across a threshold.^[4]

It is this aspect of 'dwelling in the cracks' and 'living in placeless places' that makes me wonder whether this might be a more helpful concept for faith communites. Since so many people in the places where we live dwell in the cracks of society. Surely our call, as followers of Jesus and simply as co-humans is to liminal living, to understanding life as a liminal journey.

Footnotes