In this book Martyn Smith addresses the issue of God's violence and refuses to shy away from difficult and controversial conclusions. Through his wide-ranging and measured study he reflects upon God and violence in both biblical and theological contexts, assessing the implications of divine violence for understanding and engaging with God's nature and character. Jesus too, through his dramatic actions in the temple, is presented as one capable of exhibiting a surprising degree of violent behavior in the furtherance of God's purposes. Through a reappropriation of the ancient Christus Victor model of atonement, with its dramatic representation of God's war with the Satan, Smith proposes that Christian understanding of both God and salvation has to return to its long-neglected past in order to move forward, both biblically and dynamically, into the future.

In this book Martyn Smith addresses the issue of God's violence and refuses to shy away from difficult and controversial conclusions. Through his wide-ranging and measured study he reflects upon God and violence in both biblical and theological contexts, assessing the implications of divine violence for understanding and engaging with God's nature and character. Jesus too, through his dramatic actions in the temple, is presented as one capable of exhibiting a surprising degree of violent behavior in the furtherance of God's purposes. Through a reappropriation of the ancient Christus Victor model of atonement, with its dramatic representation of God's war with the Satan, Smith proposes that Christian understanding of both God and salvation has to return to its long-neglected past in order to move forward, both biblically and dynamically, into the future.

Offers a new model for understanding the atonement, sensitive to both the Chrisitan tradition and its postmodern critics.

Foreword by Willard Swartley "We considered him stricken by God, but . . ." Did God really pour out his wrath against sin on his Son to satisfy his own need for justice? Or did God-in-Christ forgive the world even as it unleashed its wrath against him? Was Christ's sacrifice the ultimate fulfillment of God's demand for redemptive bloodshed? Or was the cross God's great "No" to that whole system? This distinctively panoramic volume offers fresh perspectives on these and other difficult questions reemerging throughout the church today. Contributors: James Alison Kharalambos Anstall Mark D. Baker Sharon Baker Anthony Bartlett Marcus Borg Ronald S. Dart E. Robert Ekblad Michael Hardin Brad Jersak Andrew P. Klager Brita Miko C. F. D. Moule Wayne Northey Nathan Rieger Richard Rohr Miroslav Volf J. Denny Weaver Rowan Williams N. T. Wright

Family counselor and Mennonite pastoral minister Soto Albrecht examines the alarming presence of family violence today, focusing on North and Latin America. She analyses the nature of violence and the many cultural, social and economic factors that lead to it, particularly the patriarchal structure that underlies families.

Powerful essays by Stanley Hauerwas, Richard Mouw, Mark Noll and others challenge the accusation that Christianity is inherently violent.

Leading scholars highlight the growing dialogue between proponents of Radical Orthodoxy and thinkers in the Reformed tradition.