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.

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