SFS: Introduction and Chapter 1

Not alot of time today, but I'm getting the bare bones down here.

SUMMARY:
Heim's work is concerned with the cross, which is only one aspect of Christ's work and its ability to deal with interpersonal evil. Specifically, Heim's book addresses all of this with regard to one form of scapegoating (9). Heim sees the cross not as securing forgiveness, but as representative of it. The cross shows God's commitment, it does not "win" it.

The book takes on three parts:
1. Uncovering scapegoating violence throughout human history;
2. The passion narratives as telling the saving work of Jesus, but still affirming that his death should not have happened. (This works with different levels of the narratives.)
3. The story of the early church: How do communities function without sacrifice?

Heim's work focuses on the ability of God to establish a new community, not by continuing violence, but by stopping all forms of scapegoating and sacrifice.

In chapter 1, Heim raises many of the criticisms leveled against penal substitution and sacrificial atonement themes and also the pastoral benefits found in such atonement thinking in order to deal with them both. His book is a commitment to taking both positive and negative seriously and to wage a new way with both.


COMMENTARY:
In a rush today, so not lots to add. The book is cleverly written--pastoral in tone. It is not polemical (unlike Weaver) and it is creative (like Boersma). If you are not familiar with the work of anthropologist Rene Girard, you will become so as this work is heavily indebted to him.