Notice: This text accommodates potential spoilers for The Snow Woman.
Miren: I’m not an excellent journalist, you already know.
Nacho: [Laughs]…No?
Miren: No… The principles, the… approach… I’m not one of the best at that. However I understand how a lot you undergo when [expletive] your life. Victims don’t should be excellent. We shouldn’t ask that of them. A sufferer is a sufferer. It doesn’t matter in the event that they’re good or dangerous, a pal or daughter.
This quote by investigative journalist Miren Rojo encapsulates The Snow Woman’s overarching theme. Decided to get justice for victims of heinous crimes, Miren does no matter it takes to carry accountable those that would discard human life, even when meaning breaking legal guidelines, violating skilled ethics, or placing herself in hurt’s method. Whereas season one (“The Snow Woman”) sees Miren making an attempt to resolve a case whereas grappling together with her personal previous traumatic victimization, season two (“The Soul Recreation”)—which is this text’s focus—begins together with her in a greater place. All through the season, nevertheless, her need to resolve the case takes an growing toll on her, each mentally and bodily.
Arbitrary Versus Non-Arbitrary Social Relations
I respect the present’s centering of the inherent worth of human life by way of the lens of a dogged journalist desperately making an attempt to uncover the reality.
As a scholar of social and ethical growth, what pursuits me most about The Snow Woman and “The Soul Recreation” particularly just isn’t a lot the present’s how (e.g., its cinematography and performing) however slightly its what. In different phrases, I respect the present’s centering of the inherent worth of human life by way of the lens of a dogged journalist desperately making an attempt to uncover the reality. Moreover, the present has some essential implications for the way we as a society take into consideration arbitrary social relations alongside each secular and sacred dimensions. Implications that, I argue, usually are not too totally different from these fairly taken from Jesus’ articulation of the second best commandment and Paul’s mentioning of love being higher than religion and hope. A Christian worldview prioritizes treating others as ends slightly than means, a theme underscored in Luke 15. Whereas the reality Miren fights to uncover pertains to what actually occurred and who is admittedly accountable, one might argue that, from a Christian worldview, one aim of scripture is for us to find who we actually are.
According to a 2024 paper, “arbitrary social relations” are these relations that may be organized in a different way to attain the identical objectives. These relations can have social or ethical implications. A well-liked instance of the previous is video games, as evident by way of their sturdy cross-cultural variability. Whether or not evaluating adjustments made throughout the identical recreation or between video games, the arbitrary nature of video games is obvious to see and considered as acceptable by the contributors by way of settlement or consensus. Issues come up, nevertheless, when some people don’t agree, or when social relations are altered in ways in which outcome within the immoral therapy of these concerned. Think about, as an example, people with extra energy or authority inside a social group altering the principles of a recreation in a method that deliberately disadvantages or harms the opposite contributors. This sort of “ethical” arbitrariness would seemingly not final lengthy, as these being deprived or harmed would most likely be essential of the adjustments, stop in insurrection, or protest in another method.
By and huge, the latter state of affairs characterizes season two of The Snow Woman, aptly titled “The Soul Recreation.” Regardless that Miren combats types of arbitrary social relations in imperfect and even dangerous methods, her motivations invite theological reflection. Particularly, what animates her is just like what Christ’s parables in Luke 15 recommend ought to animate believers regarding our therapy of others.
The Downside of Arbitrary Social Relations
Luke 15 reminds us that nobody ought to be devalued to the purpose that they’re subjected to arbitrary therapy that negates their individual-ness or personhood.
The issue of arbitrary social relations just isn’t solely a long-standing topic of scripture. Christian philosophers together with Paul Ricoeur (1990/1992), Johannes van der Van (1998), and Nicholas Wolterstorff (2012) have additionally explored a wide range of implications {that a} Christian worldview has for optimizing social relations inside up to date societies and establishments. Furthermore, humanities and social science students have lengthy been involved with the character of arbitrary social relations and the issues they will result in when people are denied their inherent dignity. Drawing on philosophy and psychology, Social Cognitive Area Principle (SCDT; 1983, 2002, 2023) asserts that a technique to consider this distinction is thru understanding a associated distinction between the ethical and societal domains of social judgment. Particularly, SCDT contends that by way of observing, taking part, and fascinated with social interactions, people actively assemble classes (domains) of social interactions geared towards particular ends and ruled by particular standards.
Whereas the ethical area considerations interactions and relationships that aren’t arbitrary, as ethical concerns constrain how we relate to others, societal concerns typically have an arbitrary high quality. And in step with SCDT and different crime drama protagonists, Miren encourages us to replicate on the standards we convey to bear when understanding why we are usually significantly invested in situations when others are handled arbitrarily in a way that elicits ethical concerns, and why we would like these accountable to be held accountable. A mirrored image that can also be inspired in Luke 15’s “misplaced and located” passages.
Though not all standards are understood sufficiently on the identical time in growth, the standards folks use to tell apart the ethical from the societal embrace rule or authority-contingency, generalizability, and alterability. Video games are essential for social group, functioning, and cohesion. Their principal objective is usually to facilitate these social objectives competitively. They’re normally dictated by a algorithm established by consensus, another decision-making course of, or an authority determine (rule or authority-contingent). They may also be extremely native or contextualized, as with the sport involving college students at a selected faculty, or the variability in video games all through the world (non-generalizable). Lastly, guidelines are sometimes amenable to alter so long as sufficient folks agree or the related particular person(s) agree (alterable).
When these objectives come on the expense of others’ inherent dignity, nevertheless, passages like Luke 15 remind us that nobody ought to be devalued to the purpose that they’re subjected to arbitrary therapy that negates their individual-ness or personhood. That is the issue offered in The Snow Woman’s second season, which facilities round a “soul recreation” created by mates at a non-public highschool wherein weak youth are “chosen” to take part in a sequence of doubtless dangerous challenges to measure their religion in God.
From the character of its guidelines to the way in which victims are dehumanized and discarded, the sport tries to destroy the essence of what makes its contributors human (their souls) by way of bodily and religious hurt. These answerable for the sport can simply resolve to hurt them as a lot and so long as they need (implying a type of alterability). And since the “gamers” are made to consider their participation within the recreation can elevate their religion (and thus, their standing in God’s eyes), these in cost also can dictate the phrases of the sport with out concern of revolt or accountability (implying a type of rule or authority-contingency).
Miren’s Quest by way of the Lens of Luke 15
Our value is outlined qualitatively by way of our Maker, and we should always deal with others with this understanding in thoughts.
Returning to Miren’s earlier quote about victims, our disapproval of the immoral therapy of individuals factors to our perception of their inherent dignity. For Miren, this dignity is value preserving whatever the standing of the one who is “misplaced,” be they lacking, lifeless, or forgotten within the sense that justice was not served and is now not pursued. Luke 15 provides an additional religious dimension to being misplaced.
Throughout the chapter’s three “misplaced and located” tales, the overarching theme is that there’s extra rejoicing in heaven over one who repents than over many who don’t must. In different phrases, from a Christian worldview, there’s an inherent dignity of individuals that features but supersedes our membership within the human race. We’re immensely precious to God as a result of we bear His picture, and God yearns to reconcile us to Him in order that our standing as image-bearers is totally realized. By extension, nobody who bears God’s picture ought to be subjected to the form of arbitrary therapy seen within the “The Soul Recreation.”
Given its use of a recreation that treats folks arbitrarily, contrasting the season with Luke 15 could also be significantly helpful for encouraging theological reflection regarding our personal social relations. In his first story (vv. 1-7), Jesus asks listeners to think about Pharisees and academics of the legislation dropping one in all 100 sheep and leaving the opposite ninety-nine to seek out it. Within the second (vv. 8-10), a girl loses one in all her ten cash and diligently searches for it. Lastly, a father loses one in all his two sons (figuratively talking) when he takes his inheritance and leaves residence, returning solely after squandering his wealth because of poor choices; even so, the daddy is jubilant on the son’s return (vv. 11-32). Taken collectively, these tales level to our inherent dignity whereas encouraging us to behave in accordance with stated dignity in {our relationships} with others.
Three options specifically assist illustrate this. First, the searchers (the Pharisees and academics of the legislation, the lady, and the daddy) all range in social standing. Second, the “accounted for/unaccounted for” ratio varies throughout the tales, starting from very small (1% lacking) to parity (50% lacking). Third, the character of the lacking objects varies from animal to inanimate object to human. Jesus appears systematic in his strategy with these parables, interesting to the various issues we worth and the way we relate to them. If we’re relentlessly trying to find one thing precious, then how way more will this be the case for God, who infinitely loves and always pursues us?
Furthermore, simply as these tales spotlight the truth that to God, our value can’t be diminished to a quantitative calculus (e.g., having ninety-nine sheep doesn’t diminish the worth of the hundredth sheep that occurs to be lacking), Luke 15 additionally means that we should always not cut back our relationships with others to quantitative calculations. As a substitute, our value is outlined qualitatively by way of our Maker, and we should always deal with others with this understanding in thoughts.
By distorting the essence of Luke 15, “The Soul Recreation” accentuates the issue of arbitrary social relations rooted within the immoral therapy of others. Two methods these distortions manifest are by way of the (1) conflation of animate and inanimate objects through treating individuals and their need to enhance their religion in God as items on a chessboard for use and discarded on a whim, and (2) an obvious subjective conception of victimization (i.e., these accountable for the sport are prepared to topic the gamers to issues they’d most likely not topic non-players to). Additional, one wonders whether or not the truth that the sport is secretive and presumably solely includes a number of gamers makes it simpler to discard their humanity in methods akin to the sorts of quantitative calculations Luke 15 pushes again in opposition to. This pushback is seen in Miren’s imperfect but relatable makes an attempt to rectify these distortions by way of her extra goal conception of victimization, refusal to take victims’ social standing into consideration, and refusal to scale back any sufferer to an object or statistic. (“A sufferer is a sufferer. It doesn’t matter in the event that they’re good or dangerous, a pal or daughter.”)
Relentless Pursuit because the Answer for Arbitrary Social Relations
All through “The Soul Recreation,” we see Miren working tirelessly to uncover the reality behind an individual’s loss of life and reclaim a sufferer’s dignity, typically at nice skilled and private danger. In Luke 15, Jesus appeals to our dignity as picture bearers utilizing a wide range of relatable tales about issues we worth. Though Miren’s actions happen in opposition to a backdrop of error and fallibility, the parables level us to the One who, in His perfection and goodness, chooses to imbue us with inalienable value and dignity despite our error and fallibility. In instances the place somebody is presumed “misplaced”—whether or not because of others’ actions or our personal—each Miren and Jesus typically agree on the answer to the issue of arbitrary social relations: relentless pursuit.
As those that, in our on a regular basis lives, can concurrently function because the pursued (e.g., regarding our relationship with God) and pursuers (e.g., regarding our relationship with others), we’re always offered with alternatives to work together with others in arbitrary and non-arbitrary methods. Hopefully, exhibits like The Snow Woman remind us of the significance of taking this distinction significantly.
