S. Mark Heim

The cross has long been not only a scandal but also a profound paradox: filled with saving significance and power, it is at the same time a sobering tragedy. In Saved from Sacrifice theologian Mark Heim takes on this paradox, asserting that the cross must be understood against the whole history of human scapegoating violence. In order to highlight the dimensions of his argument, Heim carefully and critically draws on the groundbreaking work of French theorist and biblical scholar René show more Girard. Yet Heim goes beyond Girard to develop a comprehensive theology of the atonement and the cross through his fresh readings of well-known biblical passages and his exploration of the place of the victim. show less

Proud to say I studied with Heim at Andover Newton. He would definately not remember me. Having long chafed at atonement theologies that focused on blood and the paying of a price to an angry God Heim's work is such a breath of fresh air. I greatly appreciated the scope of his argument, guiding us through the historical and sociological facets of Girards argument. Heim then applies this to the Bible taking us through many examples and in a variety of passages. Heim then looks to Christian show more History. The death of Jesus was not meant to be the greatest of sacrifices but an end to sacrifice. Not the requirement of an angry God, but the offering of a suffering servant meant to end the human practice of sacrifice. I am not summing it up well. go read the book. It is again, theology on the edge, not trying to repeat orthodoxy. My only disappointment is that Heim seems to shy away from the trajectory of non-violence and pacifism. show less