Sacrifice and the Body: Biblical Anthropology and Christian Self-Understanding [Hardcover]

What is sacrifice? For many people today the word has negative overtones, suggesting loss, or death, or violence. But in religions, ancient and modern, the word is linked primarily to joyous feasting which puts people in touch with the deepest realities. How has that change of meaning come about? What effect does it have on the way we think about Christianity? How does it affect the way Christian believers think about themselves and God? John Dunnill's study focuses on sacrifice as a physical event uniting worshippers to deity. Bringing together insights from social anthropology, biblical studies and Trinitarian theology, Dunnill links to debates in sociology and cultural studies, as well as the study of liturgy. Through a positive view of sacrifice, Dunnill contributes to contemporary Christian debates on atonement and salvation.

Introduction;  1 Why Sacrifice? Why the Body?  Part I: Explorations;  2 The Economic Body: Communion Sacrifice and the Kingdom of God  3 The Purified Body: Expiatory Sacrifice and Justification  4 The Generative Body: Covenant Sacrifice and the Resurrection of the Body;  Recapitulation: On Theological Interpretation;  Part II: Dialogues:  5 The Victimized Body: A Dialogue with Ren? Girard  6 The Abused Body: A Dialogue with Feminist Theology  7 The Atoning Body: A Dialogue with Anselm and His Followers;  Conclusion:  8 Towards the Convivial Body: A Eucharistic Trinitarian Theology of Sacrifice

What is sacrifice? For many people today the word has negative overtones, suggesting loss, or death, or violence. But in religions, ancient and modern, the word is linked primarily to joyous feasting which puts people in touch with the deepest realities. John Dunnill's study brings together insights from social anthrolóZ