Saved from Sacrifice: A Theology of the CrossThe cross has long been not only a scandal but also a profound paradox: filled with saving significance and power, it is at the same time a sobering tragedy. In Saved from Sacrifice theologian Mark Heim takes on this paradox, asserting that the cross must be understood against the whole history of human scapegoating violence. In order to highlight the dimensions of his argument, Heim carefully and critically draws on the groundbreaking work of French theorist and biblical scholar René Girard. Yet Heim goes beyond Girard to develop a comprehensive theology of the atonement and the cross through his fresh readings of well-known biblical passages and his exploration of the place of the victim. |
Common terms and phrases
Abel accused actually Anselm anti-Semitism antisacrificial apocalyptic atonement theology become Bible biblical tradition blood book of Job Cain Cain and Abel chapter Christ Christ’s death Christian anti-Semitism Christus Victor church cial collective violence conflict crisis cross crowd crucified crucifixion described divine dynamic early Christian effect elements event evil explicit fact faith fice Gnostic God’s Gospel of John Gospels guilt human innocent interpretation James Alison Jesus Jews Job’s Jonah killing kind lence Lord means ment mimetic murder myth mythic offering passion narratives peace persecution persecutors person perspective prophets Psalms punishment reality reconciliation redemptive religion religious René Girard revelation righteous sacred violence sacrificed sacrificial practice sacrificial violence Satan saving scapegoat scapegoating sacrifice scripture sins social story substitutionary substitutionary atonement suffering Testament thing tian tion truth turn unanimity victim vindication Walter Wink wrong