John Howard Yoder: Radical Theologian

John Howard Yoder: Radical Theologian' shows 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, so that theology and ethics are 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 – but also relates his theology to the personal accusations that clouded his later years. For Christian faith, this root is Christ. Parts II and III of the book explore the sources of Yoder’s approach, and its application in several contemporary contexts.Table of Contents"List of ContributorsForeword -Marva J. DawnPreface -J. Denny WeaverIntroduction -J. Denny WeaverPart One: The Orientation of John Howard Yoder’s Theology1 Christology: From the Root -J. Denny WeaverPart Two: Sources of John Howard Yoder’s Theology2 Sixteenth-Century Anabaptist Roots -Earl Zimmerman3 Harold S. Bender, Anabaptist Vision, and the Goshen School -Zachary J. Walton4 Oscar Cullmann and Radical Discipleship -Earl Zimmerman5 Deconstructing Karl Barth -Gerald J. MastPart Three: Extending John Howard Yoder’s Theology6 Jesus to Paul -Ted Grimsrud 7 The Free Church as Body Politics -Earl Zimmerman 8 Pacifism as a Way of Knowing -Gerald J. Mast9 A Nonviolent Public Ethic -Glen Harold Stassen10 Interfaith Conversations: Judaism to Islam to Hinduism -J. Denny Weaver and Earl Zimmerman11 A Model in Conversation with Black and Evangelical Theology -J. Denny Weaver and Gerald J. Mast 12 Reflections from a Chagrined ""Yoderian"" in Face of His Sexual Violence -Ted Grimsrud 13 Sin and Failure in Anabaptist Theology -Gerald J. MastConclusion -J. Denny WeaverA fterword: To the Next Generation of Pacifist Theologians -Lisa Schirch BibliographyIndex"