The Heterodox Yoder [Hardcover]

The Heterodox Yoder provides a critical rereading of Yoder's corpus through his own conviction that discipleship is, most basically, ethics. Tracing the development of Yoder's theological foundations through to their final role in redefining Jewish-Christian and ecumenical relations, this volume explains why the appropriation and use of the language of politics eventually constrains Yoder's ethical vision to the point that it reframes Christianity within the limits of social ethics alone. Because this vision self-consciously excludes or, at best, relativizes many of the claims of orthodox Christianity (including but not limited to the ecumenical creeds), Martens concludes that Yoder's Christian ethic is best described as heterodox. [T]here has been an influx of recent books on Yoder that has ensured that the significance of his work will continue to be engaged. Most of those books try to help us better understand Yoder. Martens tries to help us understand what may be some troubling trajectories associated with Yoder's work. He has, therefore, written a book that all who are concerned with the significance of Yoder's work must take seriously. I confess I remain unconvinced by some of Martens' criticisms. Nonetheless, this is a book that should be taken seriously. --Stanley Hauerwas Gilbert T. Rowe Professor of Theological Ethics Duke Divinity School [S]ince his death, the swell of interest in John Howard Yoder's contributions to Christian ethics--as seen in the many constructive appropriations of his work--has shown no signs of dissipating. Dispersion, however, is finally surfacing with Paul Martens' rather unorthodox reading of Yoder. . . . By carefully identifying and critically examining in Yoder's corpus a trajectory toward practices and politics and away from beliefs and creeds, Martens offers a provocative-and I think helpful-argument that should stimulate and inform future waves of scholarship about or indebted to Yoder. --Tobas Winright Associate Proflc