What textual evidence proves that Othello is transcendent of typical Christian theology?For instance, many critics say that Othello represent...

Othello is a Turk culturally, but he is a Christian and in
the play, is fighting for Christians. He believes that the Turkish fleet has been
destroyed in accordance with God's will. When he starts to suspect Desdemona has been
unfaithful to him, he becomes somewhat obsessed with the handkerchief and almost treats
it as having magical powers, which would be very anti-Christian. This, of course, is the
work of the devil, in the form of Iago in this play. There are some instances where
Othello refers to Iago as a devil (calls him "cloven foot", "demi-devil" etc.) but Iago
refers to Othello as the devil, often focusing on his
blackness.

Othello believes killing his wife is justifiable
before God because he believes she has been unfaithful, but this goes against
Christianity which preaches love and forgiveness. Christianity would condemn Othello's
murder of Desdemona because the Bible says "Vengeance is mine, says the Lord." In fact,
in the book of Hosea in the Bible, Hosea is instructed by God to marry a harlot (Gomer).
Israel has been unfaithful to God by following other gods and breaking the commandments
which are the terms of the covenant, hence Gomer symbolizes Israel who violates the
obligations of marriage to her husband. However, at the end of the book, God forgives
Israel, and in no way does God even suggest that Hosea should kill Gomer. So Othello's
killing Desdemona is not Christian. 

When Othello learns
that he has indeed killed his wife without reason, he realizes that he is condemned and
calls for his own death.

My view is that Othello is a type
of Adam in that he is a noble man brought down by sin, just like the rest of us. "All
have sinned and come short of the Glory of God." The conflict of the play is who is the
greater "devil" - Iago or Othello? I belive it is Iago because he does not repent,
whereas Othello is moral and does repent. He is sorry for his sin. His killing of his
wife is seen by some as "sacrificial", so Desdemona is not an Eve. She would be more
like a Christ figure because she is innocent, yet she is killed. Even though she is a
woman, she is the sacrificial lamb because she dies for her
love.

I don't know that I personally agree with the
statement that Othello "transcends" Christian theology because this would imply that he
is better in some way. I do think Othello illustrates Christian
theology, but he does not transcend it. He is brought down by sin, so how can he
transcend anything? He does not rise above sin. The way the play ends is tragic because
Desdemona dies and Othello has killed her for no reason. Othello succumbs
to the devil, he does not follow God's instructions to "resist the devil and
he will flee."

Others will have differing views, but this
is how I see it.