SOURCE: "The Parable of the Lord and Servant and the Doctrine of Original Sin" in Julian of Norwich's "Showings": From Vision to Book, Princeton University Press, 1994, pp. 83-106.

In the excerpt that follows, Baker examines several of Julian's revelations in detail, focusing on the vision that derived from the biblical parable of the Lord and the Servant. The critic suggests that Julian's interpretation of this vision diverges from traditional emphasis on sin and punishment, and instead uses the story to demonstrate forgiveness and redemption.

One of the most striking features of Julian of Norwich's solution to the problem of evil is her refusal to attribute wrath to God. She insists in Revelation Thirteen that God ascribes "no maner of blame to me ne to none that shalle be safe" (13.27.407) ["no kind of blame to me or to anyone who will be saved" (225)]. And she commences Revelation Fourteen by...