Christ and Horrors
Who would the Saviour have to be, what would the Saviour have to do to rescue human beings from the meaning-destroying experiences of their lives? This book offers a systematic Christology that is at once biblical and philosophical. Starting with human radical vulnerability to horrors such as permanent pain, sadistic abuse or genocide, it develops what must be true about Christ if He is the horror-defeater who ultimately resolves all the problems affecting the human condition and Divine-human relations. Distinctive elements of Marilyn McCord Adams' study are her defence of the two-natures theory, of Christ as Inner Teacher and a functional partner in human flourishing, and her arguments in favour of literal bodily resurrection (Christ's and ours) and of a strong doctrine of corporeal Eucharistic presence. The book concludes that Christ is the One in Whom, not only Christian doctrine, but cosmos, church, and the human psyche hold together.
- Examines what it might mean for Christ to 'save' humankind from the worst kinds of dehumanizing experiences, and what this implies about his nature and work
- Marilyn McCord Adams expertly marshals a wealth of biblical, patristic, medieval and modern sources to support her arguments
- Provides a penetrating reassessment of central tenets of the Christian faith, ultimately reaffirming their philosophical coherence
Reviews & endorsements
"The reader who works through Adam's tightly woven argument and vivid illustrations to the conclusion of Christ and Horrors will surely appreciate the philosophical and theological reason that she brings to the centrality of the 'bread and wine of Christ's humanity, scarred by crucifixion, glorified by resurrection' and her profound faith--even in light (or darkness) of the worst horrors--that 'consummate horror-defeat in all three stages will complete the consecration of the whole material creation and of its best fruit, humankind' (313)." - Sally Stamper, The University of Chicago Divinity School, Chicago, Illinois
"[A] rich and provocative read."
The Thomist, Ralph Del Colle, Marquette University
Product details
October 2006Paperback
9780521686006
344 pages
215 × 141 × 20 mm
0.48kg
Available
Table of Contents
- Preface
- 1. Christology as natural theology
- 2. Posing the problems
- 3. Sharing the horrors
- 4. Psychologizing the person
- 5. Recovering the metaphysics
- 6. Learning the meanings
- 7. Cosmic coherence: the primacy of Christ
- 8. Resurrection and renewal
- 9. Horrors and holocausts, sacrifices and priests
- 10. Christ in the sacrament of the altar.