Stricken by God? Nonviolent Identification and the Victory of Christ

Brad Jersak is a teacher with Fresh Wind Canada and theListening Prayer Community. He is also the author ofCan You Hear Me? Tuning In to the God Who Speaks.

Michael Hardin is the director of Preaching Peace, LLC,founder of the Institute for Peace Theology, and a memberof the Colloquium on Violence and Religion.

René Girard
"This wonderful book is must reading for those who want to keep abreast of current thought on atonement theory. The essays in this work consider whether the suffering servant of Isaiah was truly 'stricken by God.' . . . A rich variety of analyses whose common thread is that violence comes from man and not from God."

Stanley Hauerwas
"Satisfaction theories of atonement have had the negative results of isolating Jesus' death from his life and resurrection. We are therefore fortunate to have this book of essays that challenges that isolation by connecting Jesus' death with the restoration of God's peace, making possible a new reality in the world."

Brian D. McLaren
"Stricken by God? is a highly important contribution at a critical time, bringing together a range of thoughtful voices who raise important questions and pose needed and well-defended answers."

Ted Grimsrud
"It is difficult to overstate the importance of this collection. . . A good part of the power of Stricken by God? comes from the impressive diversity of its authors. These essays prove that crucial work in articulating peaceable approaches to atonement is being done across the theological spectrum — and they further that work in powerful ways."

S. Mark Heim
"In the search for constructive rethinking of the cross, this book is a mother lode of resources. The stature of the contributors, the focused clarity of the conversation, and the urgency of the topic make Stricken by God? a work that will be accessible and transforming for a wide audience."

Gregory A. Boyd
"Stricken by God? is as fine a collection of scholarly essays on the atonement as one can find in print. This book offers insightful, compelling, and refreshing alternatives to penal substitution and is a must-read for all who care deeply about how Jesus' death saves us."

Theological Studies
"The operative and apt word here is kaleidoscope. Not only is the collection a mix of genres, theological perspectives, and disciplines of expertise, but the shapes keep changing. Different authors tackle different issues, from biblical exegesis to ritual performance. We do not find here a coherent approach or 'school of thought.' Rather, we can dabble in a variety of conversations around 'problems with atonement,' thereby gaining a good introduction to the concerns and innovations at large in today's theological world. . . Because of both the innovation it represents and the controversy it is likely to engender, Stricken by God? is well worth the investment of time and money."

Interpretation
"This fine collection of twenty essays proposes a new paradigm for understanding the doctrine of the atonement in the twenty-first century."
 
Theoforum
"A rich anthology. . . . Full of exciting and interesting ideas that will engage Christian theologians of many stripes in a rewarding and compelling conversation."
 
Trinity Journal
"This is a helpful work for those who are keen to explore the issues related to the violence which is inherent in Christ’s work on the cross in the context of a violent world."