This challenging work explores the history of the Christian doctrine of atonement, exposing the intrinsically violent dimensions of the traditional, Anselmian satisfaction atonement view and offering instead a new, thoroughly nonviolent paradigm for understanding atonement based on narrative Christus Victor. 
The book develops a two-part argument. J. Denny Weaver first develops narrative Christus Victor as a comprehensive, nonviolent atonement motif. The other side of the discussion exposes the assumptions and the accommodation of violence in traditional atonement motifs. 
The first chapter lays out narrative Christus Victor as nonviolent atonement that reflects the entire biblical story, though paying particular attention to Revelation, the Gospels, and Paul. This biblical discussion also touches on the Old Testament story, Hebrew sacrifices, and the book of Hebrews. Following chapters place narrative Christus Victor in conversation with defenders of Anselm and with representatives of black, feminist, and womanist theologies. These discussions expose an accumulation of dimensions of violence in the several forms of satisfaction atonement. 
A final substantive chapter analyzes the inadequacy of all attempts to defend Anselm against the recent challenges raised by feminist and womanist perspectives. This analysis lays bare the violent dimensions of satisfaction atonement, which can be camouflaged but not removed. In light of this discussion, Weaver argues that the view of satisfaction atonement must be abandoned and replaced with narrative Christus Victor as the only thoroughly biblical and thoroughly nonviolent alternative. 
A provocative study that cuts to the very heart of Christian thought, The Nonviolent Atonement will be of interest to scholars, students, and pastors.

The Nonviolent Atonement

Religion & Spirituality

Weaver, J. Denny

Christian Books & Bibles

Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

A provocative study that cuts to the very heart of Christian thought, The Nonviolent Atonement challenges the traditional, Anselmian understanding of atonement ― along with the assumption that heavenly justice depends on Christ’s passive, innocent submission to violent death at the hands of a cruel God. Instead J. Denny Weaver offers a thoroughly nonviolent paradigm for understanding atonement, grounded in the New Testament and sensitive to the concerns of pacifist, black, feminist, and womanist theology. While many scholars have engaged the subject of violence in atonement theology, Weaver’s Nonviolent Atonement is the only book that offers a radically new theory rather than simply refurbishing existing theories. Key features of this revised and updated second edition include new material on Paul and Anselm, expanded discussion on the development of violence in theology, interaction with recent scholarship on atonement, and response to criticisms of Weaver’s original work. Praise for the first edition: “The best current single volume on reconstructing the theology of atonement.” ― S. Mark Heim in Anglican Theological Review “Weaver provides an important contribution to atonement theories by seriously inserting the contemporary concerns of pacifist, feminist, womanist, and black theologians into the centuries-old christological conversation. . . . A provocative but faithful proposal benefiting any student of christology.” ― Religious Studies Review “A noteworthy contribution to the literature on the atonement. Weaver provides a useful critique of the history of atonement motifs; he does a fine job of placing Anselm’s theology in its historical context; he creatively fuses a singular biblical vision from the earthly narrative of the Gospels and the cosmic perspective of the Apocalypse; and he attempts to relate discussions of the atonement to Christian social ethics.” ― Trinity Journal “This is a superb succinct survey and analysis of classical and contemporary theories of the atonement, ideal for students and general readers. . . . A clearly written, passionately expressed introduction to current debates on the atonement. . . . Excellent resource.” ― Reviews in Religion and Theology

This bold new statement on the nonviolence of God challenges long-standing assumptions of divine violence in theology, the violent God pictured in the Old Testament, and the supposed violence of God in Revelation. In The Nonviolent God J. Denny Weaver argues that since God is revealed in Jesus, the nonviolence of Jesus most truly reflects the character of God. According to Weaver, the way Christians live -- Christian ethics -- is an ongoing expression of theology. Consequently, he suggests positive images of the reign of God made visible in the narrative of Jesus -- nonviolent practice, forgiveness and restorative justice, issues of racism and sexism, and more -- in order that Christians might live more peacefully.

The Nonviolent God

In this pioneering work, J. Denny Weaver analyzes late 19th century Mennonite and Amish thought on atonement, an issue of concern for all Christians. He maintains that these Anabaptists did have a theology, displayed in the lived faith and in their writings, but it was threatened by the satisfaction theory of atonement. "Thoroughly documented. . . . An excellent historical background for continuing analysis."--C. Norman Kraus, in the Foreword.

Keeping Salvation Ethical: Mennonite and Amish Atonement Theology in the Late Nineteenth Century (STUDIES IN ANABAPTIST AND MENNONITE HISTORY)

Politics & Social Sciences

Sociology

Herald Pr

When Becoming Anabaptist appeared in 1987, it was the first major study to incorporate the new history of multiple beginnings and a diverse Anabaptism into a synthesis of meanings for the late 20th century. J. Denny Weaver’s attempt was welcomed and widely acclaimed by scholars and by church leaders alike. In this second edition, Weaver provides a “masterful treatment of his beloved Anabaptist vision” (William Willimon, in the Foreword).

Becoming Anabaptist: The Origin and Significance of Sixteenth-Century Anabaptism

History

World

Herald Press

God Without Violence: Following a Nonviolent God in a Violent World

Playing off a five-year-old boy's question concerning whether parents would put their son to death on a cross, this book plunges headlong into the ongoing debate about the character of God. Following the historic faith confession that God is revealed in Jesus, the book's first chapter sketches the life and teaching of Jesus. That life, which reveals Jesus' rejection of violence, calls for an understanding of God in nonviolent terms. Weaver thus invites us to embrace a nonviolent atonement image, which stands as a direct challenge to the inherited atonement images. Deriving theology from the narrative of Jesus also leads Weaver into discussions about the very nature of theology, the character of the Bible, the divine violence in the Old Testament (as well as the purported divine violence in the book of Revelation), and a rethinking of historic Christology. Each of these discussions has implications for life today--implications for economics, forgiveness, violence, gender discrimination, racism, and more. The book is thus an introduction to foundational issues of theology and ethics, suitable for church discussion groups and introductory college classrooms.

Cascade Books

Playing off a five-year-old boy's question concerning whether parents would put their son to death on a cross, this book plunges headlong into the ongoing debate about the character of God. Following the historic faith confession that God is revealed in Jesus, the book's first chapter sketches the life and teaching of Jesus. That life, which reveals Jesus' rejection of violence, calls for an understanding of God in nonviolent terms. Weaver thus invites us to embrace a nonviolent atonement image, which stands as a direct challenge to the inherited atonement images. Deriving theology from the narrative of Jesus also leads Weaver into discussions about the very nature of theology, the character of the Bible, the divine violence in the Old Testament (as well as the purported divine violence in the book of Revelation), and a rethinking of historic Christology. Each of these discussions has implications for life today--implications for economics, forgiveness, violence, gender discrimination, racism, and more. The book is thus an introduction to foundational issues of theology and ethics, suitable for church discussion groups and introductory college classrooms. ""Inviting us to 'live the story of Jesus' and to 'join the conversation' the Bible posesabout the character and identity of God, Denny winsomely guides us in reading the Bible as revealing a nonviolent and loving God.This is a wonderful book for Sunday School or discussion groups--accessible andcompelling in its presentation of a coherent theology that resonates withthe best of our contemporary values."" --James Rissler, Pastor, Atlanta Mennonite Fellowship ""Denny Weaver pulls together various strands from his long-term, fruitful project of reconfiguring theology in light of biblical nonviolence. This accessible and forceful call to a substantive engagement with nonviolence challenges us to embody Jesus' way of peace in thought and deed--consistently and practically. A timely and coherent message for the twenty-first century."" --Ted Grimsrud, Author ofInstead of Atonement: The Bible's Salvation Story and Our Hope for Wholeness ""Drawing upon his groundbreaking work in narrative theology inThe Nonviolent AtonementandThe Nonviolent God, J. Denny Weaver has now written a practical, accessible guide for ordinary Christians on its implications for the most important issues of our day: economic justice, racism, gender equality, and care of creation.This book is a must-read for any serious Christian concerned about living the way of Jesus in the midst of our violent world."" --Scott Anderson, Executive Director, Wisconsin Council of Churches ""In this fresh and superb work, J. Denny Weaver challenges the church to loop back, again and again, to our Christian roots found in the story of Jesus. By some miracle he was able to write an accessible resource and also intertwine several of his key theological contributions from former books into one text. Read this book with others, and expect a meaningful conversation to open around how we can embody the narrative of Jesus for our time."" --Drew G. I. Hart, Assistant Professor of Theology, Messiah College; Author of Trouble I've Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism J. Denny Weaver is Professor Emeritus of Religion at Bluffton University, Ohio. Among his recent books are Becoming Anabaptist (2nd ed., 2005); Defenseless Christianity (co-authored, 2009); The Nonviolent Atonement (2nd. ed., 2011); The Nonviolent God (2013); and John Howard Yoder: Radical Theologian (co-authored, 2014)."

Wipf and Stock

God Without Violence, Second Edition: A Theology of the God Revealed in Jesus

Playing off a child's question concerning whether parents would put their son to death on a cross, this book plunges headlong into the ongoing debate about the character of God. The church confesses that God is revealed in Jesus. This book explores the implications of that radical claim. Jesus' life reveals his rejection of violence and calls for an understanding of God in nonviolent terms. Weaver thus invites us to embrace a nonviolent atonement image, in contrast to our inherited atonement images. Deriving theology from the narrative of Jesus also leads Weaver into discussions about the very nature of theology, the character of the Bible, the divine violence in the Old Testament (as well as the purported divine violence in the book of Revelation), and a rethinking of historic Christology. Each of these discussions has implications for life today--for economics, forgiveness and restorative justice, violence, gender discrimination, racism, and more. This second, expanded edition of God Without Violence is an introduction to foundational issues of theology and ethics, suitable for church discussion groups and introductory college classes.

This book argues that for John Howard Yoder both theology (in particular Christology) and ethics are expressions of the meaning of the narrative of Jesus. All such statements are relative to a particular context, which means that theology and ethics are always subject to reaching back to the narrative in order to restate the meaning in new and ever-changing contexts. This methodology is visible in Yoder's Preface to Theology, which has been little used in most treatments of Yoder's thought. Yoder has been characterized as standing on Nicene orthodoxy, criticized for rejecting Nicene orthodoxy, called heterodox, and designated a postmodern thinker to be interpreted in terms of other such thinkers. None of these characterizations adequately locates the basis of his methodology in the narrative of Jesus. Thus John Howard Yoder: Radical Theologian aims to go beyond or to supersede existing treatments with its demonstration that Yoder is a radical theologian in the historical meaning of radical-that is, as one who returns to the root. For Christian faith, this root is Jesus Christ. Parts II and III of the book explore the sources of Yoder's approach, and its application in several contemporary contexts.

John Howard Yoder: Radical Theologian

Grimsrud, Ted

Mast, Gerald J.

Zimmerman, Earl

Walton, Zachary J.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Weaver, J. Denny. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Weaver, J. Denny

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Weaver, J. Denny. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Nonviolent Atonement

The Nonviolent Atonement

The Nonviolent God

Keeping Salvation Ethical: Mennonite and Amish Atonement Theology in the Late Nineteenth Century (STUDIES IN ANABAPTIST AND MENNONITE HISTORY)

Becoming Anabaptist: The Origin and Significance of Sixteenth-Century Anabaptism

God Without Violence: Following a Nonviolent God in a Violent World

God Without Violence: Following a Nonviolent God in a Violent World

God Without Violence, Second Edition: A Theology of the God Revealed in Jesus

God Without Violence, Second Edition: A Theology of the God Revealed in Jesus

John Howard Yoder: Radical Theologian