Truly, Christ guides few of the blessed among the century through the forest passage. Great article- give unto your friends the lamp once shattered and walk with them through the mist.
Having only read it in the German, I find the translation of Forest Passage leaves out a lot. Waldgang brings with it the idea of the Waldgaenger - the outlaw, the man expelled from society who can be killed with impunity, the Australian term bushranger seems closely related, or the term ‘going bush’. So the Waldgang suggests very much stepping outside of society and the ‘protections’ of the law.
“Jesus died outside the gate, to sanctify the people by his own blood. Let us go to him outside the camp, bearing the insult which he bore. For here we have no lasting city; we are seeking the one which is to come”
I am embarrassed to say here that I didn't, ahem, know anything at all about Ernst Junger, though maybe (maybe!) I've heard the name. Maybe. Self-education has left me with considerable gaps in knowledge, and I'm amazed at this gaping omission! In addition to a beautifully-written article, you have done at least one fool the service of introducing him to a great man and his work. I especially appreciate how you artfully tied one quote to the next so seamlessly. Thank you!
Thank you! Some of my other articles here are analysis and book reviews of his work. If you enjoyed this article, I think you'll really enjoy my Man and Auto-man series.
Many saints and martyrs have taken the forest passage, not least of them Blessed Franz Jägerstätter. An Austrian peasant farmer whose particular charism was learning from his mistakes, he was beheaded by the Nazis for his conscientious objection. His life was the basis of the movie A Hidden Life and was recently profiled on New Polity podcast series, Political Saints.
On the topic of death I am reminded that Christ Himself willingly gave up His life: not only in the sense of going to the Cross with His wills, but also in that He did not simply succumb to His wounds. Rather, He declared that it was finished and then gave up His life of His accord. This we see echoed throughout Scripture in the NT.
Going to have to take notes next read through of the Gospels and mull this over more.
"In his poems, Hölderlin saw Christ as the exhalation of Herculean and Dionysian power..." And he elaborates on an analysis of Christ conquering death through the ultimate dignified death. Definitely in line with what you're thinking and feeling.
Truly, Christ guides few of the blessed among the century through the forest passage. Great article- give unto your friends the lamp once shattered and walk with them through the mist.
I have been meaning to read The Forest Passage again for some time. I should get on that.
It's a short but powerful read. I wanted to let his prose shine in this piece; it's Jünger day after all. I'm just here to thread the needle for him.
Would the Thomas Friese translation be recommended? Or another?
The writing is indeed powerful and prescient.
Yes, all these quotes come from the Thomas Friese translation.
Thanks.
It was a good piece and you accomplished that.
Having only read it in the German, I find the translation of Forest Passage leaves out a lot. Waldgang brings with it the idea of the Waldgaenger - the outlaw, the man expelled from society who can be killed with impunity, the Australian term bushranger seems closely related, or the term ‘going bush’. So the Waldgang suggests very much stepping outside of society and the ‘protections’ of the law.
Dang, now I guess that I have to finish reading The Forest Passage
“Jesus died outside the gate, to sanctify the people by his own blood. Let us go to him outside the camp, bearing the insult which he bore. For here we have no lasting city; we are seeking the one which is to come”
I am embarrassed to say here that I didn't, ahem, know anything at all about Ernst Junger, though maybe (maybe!) I've heard the name. Maybe. Self-education has left me with considerable gaps in knowledge, and I'm amazed at this gaping omission! In addition to a beautifully-written article, you have done at least one fool the service of introducing him to a great man and his work. I especially appreciate how you artfully tied one quote to the next so seamlessly. Thank you!
Thank you! Some of my other articles here are analysis and book reviews of his work. If you enjoyed this article, I think you'll really enjoy my Man and Auto-man series.
Many saints and martyrs have taken the forest passage, not least of them Blessed Franz Jägerstätter. An Austrian peasant farmer whose particular charism was learning from his mistakes, he was beheaded by the Nazis for his conscientious objection. His life was the basis of the movie A Hidden Life and was recently profiled on New Polity podcast series, Political Saints.
On the topic of death I am reminded that Christ Himself willingly gave up His life: not only in the sense of going to the Cross with His wills, but also in that He did not simply succumb to His wounds. Rather, He declared that it was finished and then gave up His life of His accord. This we see echoed throughout Scripture in the NT.
Going to have to take notes next read through of the Gospels and mull this over more.
From the page after the one I quoted;
"In his poems, Hölderlin saw Christ as the exhalation of Herculean and Dionysian power..." And he elaborates on an analysis of Christ conquering death through the ultimate dignified death. Definitely in line with what you're thinking and feeling.