"With her signature style, Sharon Putt has done what few of us could ever hope to manage. Putt has crafted an introduction to theology for all of us, making the conversation accessible but never patronizing us and always assuming that, though we are not specialists, we are nevertheless curious, avid, capable learners. Here we are taught, inspired, challenged, and invited into a deeper way of living a gospel life in this world that God loves so dearly, down to the smallest bits, by a person who is, all-at-once, in equal parts, one inseparable from the other, a scholarly theologian, teacher, faithful Christian, and soul-pastor. She unapologetically and unequivocally states that she invites us (and all of her students at all times) to do the hard work of thinking and learning for the specific purpose of transformation."
A Nonviolent Theology of Love: Peacefully Confessing the Apostles Creed
The impetus behind the ease with which the church has periodically justified violent behavior lies in its conceptual image of God as a violent deity. This book emerges out of a passion to think differently--albeit biblically--about the character of God and articulates a theological construction of a nonviolent God--an alternative to any image of God that seems to condone human violence. It calls the church to rethink theology as something other than what might be termed "redemptive violence" and encourages Christians to reinterpret Scripture and traditional theological beliefs in ways that are more faithful to the God disclosed in Jesus of Nazareth.
Students of theology need a fresh glimpse of the love, mercy, and redemptive power of God through Jesus. As it follows the structure of the Apostles' Creed through the various theological topics, this book reminds Christians to share in God's desires for peace and love and to recommit themselves to the call of God to be "ministers of reconciliation" and lovers of both neighbors and enemies even while, at times, responding to violence with nonviolent resistance.
- Publisher Fortress Press
- Format Paperback
- ISBN 9781506424934
- eBook ISBN 9781506424941
- Dimensions 6 x 9
- Pages 325
- Publication Date February 2, 2021
Endorsements
Jaime Clark-Soles, Southern Methodist University
"I highly recommend this book based on the fundamental Christian claim that God is love. The purpose of theology is to help the church live out our faith and this work wonderfully explores the spiritual and ethical dimensions of Christian beliefs."
John Sanders, Hendrix College and author of Embracing Prodigals