Saved from Sacrifice: A Theology of the Cross
Saved from Sacrifice: A Theology of the Cross
Overview
The 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 Rene 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.
Description
In order to highlight the dimensions of his argument, Heim carefully and critically draws on the groundbreaking work of French theorist and biblical scholar Rene 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.
Editorial Reviews
"This is an excellent work that leaves me hoping for a sequel."
Daniel L. Migliore
-- Princeton Theological Seminary
"Drawing extensively from Ren? Girard's analysis of the scapegoat mechanism, Mark Heim has written a not-to-be-missed work on the unmasking of sacrificial violence by the biblical witness. He offers stunning interpretations of Old and New Testament texts as he marshals his argument that the event of the cross narrated in the Gospels is universally significant not because it repeats the deadly cycle of sacrifice present in all societies and in all religious ritual and myth but because it reverses this cycle and rescues us from the practice of scapegoating sacrifice and the violence it both hides and perpetuates. This is a theology of the cross in a bold new key."
Robert J. Daly, S.J.
-- Boston College
"
Saved from Sacrifice provides what, for example, Mel Gibson's
Passion of the Christ is disappointingly unaware of -- a
theology of the cross. Heim saves us from having to think of God as a cruel sacrifice-demander; saves us from the terrible consequences of thinking that God wanted his Son to suffer terribly; reminds us that the passion is not what God the Father did to Jesus but is what we did to Jesus; and saves us from the terrible 'theological' consequences of thinking that God actually wanted, willed, or demanded the violent things that were done to Jesus. If, for example, God does violence in order to achieve a good end (our salvation), should not we, in imitation of God, also be willing to use violence to achieve what we see as good?
Saved from Sacrifice saves us from such a profoundly distorted view of God and Christianity, and it challenges us to refocus our attention on a more authentically Christian view of the transforming mystery of the cross of Christ. This is one of the most important and profoundly needed books to appear in our day. Its unveiling of the inherently un-Christian nature of all violence is desperately needed in our contemporary world."
Carol Zaleski
-- Smith College
"
Sacrifice. It's the most stirringly profound and most cruelly misunderstood word in our spiritual lexicon. S. Mark Heim has performed a great service in providing a lucid, learned, ecumenical appraisal of what sacrifice has meant and continues to mean today. A Girardian who truly appreciates the atonement theologies of the past, Heim enables Christian readers of all viewpoints to renew their humbled awareness of the cross as the sacrifice to end all sacrifices."
J. Denny Weaver
-- Bluffton University
"
Saved from Sacrifice will surely prove one of the most important of recent analyses of atonement and violence as well as the most thorough from a Girardian perspective. Its restatement of an atonement motif holds out the promise of productive conversation with other strands of theology."
Gabriel Fackre
-- Andover Newton Theological School
"In this provocative work Mark Heim sees with a Girardian eye what may be unnoticed aspects of the atonement. While this is no substitute for classical understandings of the work of Christ, the reader is urged to follow Heim's search for a yet-to-be discerned dimension of the doctrine."
James Alison
-- Catholid theologian, priest, and author
"Mark Heim has given us both a very accurate reading of the thought of Girard as it relates to the cross and a superb reworking of the doctrine of atonement. He shows how the only way through the knots of bad atonement theology is to a richer and more conservative understanding of the truth revealed by the cross. He has the ability to read texts and doctrines stereoscopically, making available and alive the way in which two apparent opposites (Christ's death was not a sacrifice at all, and it was the one true sacrifice) are both true and illuminate each other. He has a real theologian's ability to dwell on the knife-edge of interpretation and tell the truth. His study of what others have said is always deepened by his own superb readings of texts from scripture and his bringing alive of insights into the complexities of human relating. If, as it deserves, and as I very much hope,
Saved from Sacrifice becomes the standard atonement textbook in the training of a whole generation of preachers and ministers, then the quality of our preaching and of our Christian living will have received an enormous fillip."
Theological Book Review
"Heim's work is an impressive example of the power of Girard's analysis. He recognizes that this perspective does not do full justice to all the dimensions of the cross but convincingly demonstrates the significance of this angle on atonement."
Theological Studies
"A remarkably rich yet coherent reading of Christian theology and history that does more than simply compile what others have said."
Interpretation
"Heim offers a fresh and very welcome understanding of the saving significance of the cross. I would enthusiastically commend this book for all who are engaged in theological education and pastoral ministry."
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The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
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- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
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The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
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We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
Overview
The 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 Rene 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.
Description
In order to highlight the dimensions of his argument, Heim carefully and critically draws on the groundbreaking work of French theorist and biblical scholar Rene 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.
Editorial Reviews
"This is an excellent work that leaves me hoping for a sequel."
Daniel L. Migliore
-- Princeton Theological Seminary
"Drawing extensively from Ren? Girard's analysis of the scapegoat mechanism, Mark Heim has written a not-to-be-missed work on the unmasking of sacrificial violence by the biblical witness. He offers stunning interpretations of Old and New Testament texts as he marshals his argument that the event of the cross narrated in the Gospels is universally significant not because it repeats the deadly cycle of sacrifice present in all societies and in all religious ritual and myth but because it reverses this cycle and rescues us from the practice of scapegoating sacrifice and the violence it both hides and perpetuates. This is a theology of the cross in a bold new key."
Robert J. Daly, S.J.
-- Boston College
"
Saved from Sacrifice provides what, for example, Mel Gibson's
Passion of the Christ is disappointingly unaware of -- a
theology of the cross. Heim saves us from having to think of God as a cruel sacrifice-demander; saves us from the terrible consequences of thinking that God wanted his Son to suffer terribly; reminds us that the passion is not what God the Father did to Jesus but is what we did to Jesus; and saves us from the terrible 'theological' consequences of thinking that God actually wanted, willed, or demanded the violent things that were done to Jesus. If, for example, God does violence in order to achieve a good end (our salvation), should not we, in imitation of God, also be willing to use violence to achieve what we see as good?
Saved from Sacrifice saves us from such a profoundly distorted view of God and Christianity, and it challenges us to refocus our attention on a more authentically Christian view of the transforming mystery of the cross of Christ. This is one of the most important and profoundly needed books to appear in our day. Its unveiling of the inherently un-Christian nature of all violence is desperately needed in our contemporary world."
Carol Zaleski
-- Smith College
"
Sacrifice. It's the most stirringly profound and most cruelly misunderstood word in our spiritual lexicon. S. Mark Heim has performed a great service in providing a lucid, learned, ecumenical appraisal of what sacrifice has meant and continues to mean today. A Girardian who truly appreciates the atonement theologies of the past, Heim enables Christian readers of all viewpoints to renew their humbled awareness of the cross as the sacrifice to end all sacrifices."
J. Denny Weaver
-- Bluffton University
"
Saved from Sacrifice will surely prove one of the most important of recent analyses of atonement and violence as well as the most thorough from a Girardian perspective. Its restatement of an atonement motif holds out the promise of productive conversation with other strands of theology."
Gabriel Fackre
-- Andover Newton Theological School
"In this provocative work Mark Heim sees with a Girardian eye what may be unnoticed aspects of the atonement. While this is no substitute for classical understandings of the work of Christ, the reader is urged to follow Heim's search for a yet-to-be discerned dimension of the doctrine."
James Alison
-- Catholid theologian, priest, and author
"Mark Heim has given us both a very accurate reading of the thought of Girard as it relates to the cross and a superb reworking of the doctrine of atonement. He shows how the only way through the knots of bad atonement theology is to a richer and more conservative understanding of the truth revealed by the cross. He has the ability to read texts and doctrines stereoscopically, making available and alive the way in which two apparent opposites (Christ's death was not a sacrifice at all, and it was the one true sacrifice) are both true and illuminate each other. He has a real theologian's ability to dwell on the knife-edge of interpretation and tell the truth. His study of what others have said is always deepened by his own superb readings of texts from scripture and his bringing alive of insights into the complexities of human relating. If, as it deserves, and as I very much hope,
Saved from Sacrifice becomes the standard atonement textbook in the training of a whole generation of preachers and ministers, then the quality of our preaching and of our Christian living will have received an enormous fillip."
Theological Book Review
"Heim's work is an impressive example of the power of Girard's analysis. He recognizes that this perspective does not do full justice to all the dimensions of the cross but convincingly demonstrates the significance of this angle on atonement."
Theological Studies
"A remarkably rich yet coherent reading of Christian theology and history that does more than simply compile what others have said."
Interpretation
"Heim offers a fresh and very welcome understanding of the saving significance of the cross. I would enthusiastically commend this book for all who are engaged in theological education and pastoral ministry."
Condition Guidelines
Books - New and Used
The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
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