Customer Reviews

Saved from Sacrifice: A Theology of the Cross

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With this book Heim offers a thorough presentation of the "Girardian" perspective as it applies to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. As a friend of mine said who recommended this book to me, once you see it, you won't be able to "unsee" it. The sacrificial motif is all around us. Literature and the arts (and religion and politics et al) are simply infused with sacrificial elements. For anyone who has ever worried about the apparent cruelty of the Old Testament narrative, or felt that the Passion story makes the Judeo/Christian God look like nothing more than a petty diety demanding bloody justice, this is the book for you. Heim does not attempt to create a new systematic theology. Rather, drawing heavily on the writings of Rene Girard, he merely presents the Crucifixion as the ultimate result of the human scapegoating tendency and how Jesus, by his resurrection, broke the cycle of violence and sacrifice and gave mankind a model of forgiveness available to perpetrators and victims alike. Heim also shows how this is NOT a newly discovered "thing" pulled out of thin air. He gives much evidence that the early Christian community understood the Passion's relation to ancient sacrificial practices and how even today primitive societies respond to this in a way that is hard for "modern" people to comprehend. Truly a great book!

I wanted to write a brief review of S Mark Heim's new book. I found a lot of good arguments in this book. He states in the beginning that his focus is on this new insight on the Atoning death of Jesus Christ, that has been put forth by French Philosopher Rene Girard. The Anthropological insights on the ScapeGoating propensities of Human Nature, are right on target In my opinion. Also the fact that people and Nations often unite in the mutual hatred of another to take the stress of their own inner tensions away. Heim writes how in the New Testament Pilate and Herod who disliked each other became friends after a sort, in their Abuse of Jesus. There are many other facets to the arguments of the book. Its one of those books that I will read again and refer to in the future. I need to read it again, for one reason to get a better grasp of the argument being put forth. As just a laymen, it is a bit of hard reading at times, but Heim makes difficult material accessible. I recommend this book, and I hope it stirs some reflection on what the Death of Jesus means for us all. As a Christian who struggles with doubt, I still am convinced that Jesus and Christianity is the worlds only real hope. Not a popular opinion to hold, but one that I think is true nevertheless. Thanks for listening. Richard from Bradford PA.

I am a professor of theology with an interest in the doctrine of the atonement. I recommend this book very highly. It draws on Rene Girard's anthropological theory of violence, interprets key passages from the Bible, surveys the history of atonement thought, touches on historical examples of violence such as slavery, and presents a constructive theological and ethical perspective on atonement. I wish I could make this book required reading for all seminarians.

This is an outstanding book on Sacrifice history, practices, and theological significance. I am a Seminary Grad and wish that this had been in our library when I was a student. I read it when doing research on the subject of "once and for all sacrifice'in the book of Hebrews. The author gives many different perspectives on Sacrifices, including how 'outsiders' often have a negative view of the religious use of sacrifices. Finally, compare all that you know about religous sacrifices and the 'once and for all' sacrifice of Christ, which 'ended' the practice of sacrifices as far as Christianity is concerned.

This is a great read for anyone interested in the theological question "why did Jesus die"or for anyone who has a problem with the concept that Jesus "had" to die for my personal sins and/or to appease God so I can be forgiven. Starts off a little slow and hard to follow as it traces the concept of sacrifice from an historical and cultural standpoint but after about 70-80 pages starts to become much clearer and more interesting with refences to the idea of sacrifice in the Old Testament, i.e., Job, Jonah, Psalms, etc. Really lays out the biblical/theological context of sacrifice, i.e., scapegoating and how the cruxifixion was intended to end what was at the time a very prevalent,violent and destructive practice. Also lays out how the early christian church moved away from sacrificing, i.e., scapegoating, toward a message of forgiveness, reconciliation and community. By the end of the book I felt much clearer about atonement, why Jesus died, etc., at least from a theological standpoint. If the reader is just an average, and pretty much unschooled lay person like myself I recommend reading this book slowly so you can really concentrate on the message and let it sink in.

In the preface Heim asks for the reader's patience--he says that reading the book will be like be circling the summit on the way up, which is a slow process but allows the advantage seeing the mountain from all sides. I can attest that he is right: the book is slow reading at first (I even took a couple week break from it in the middle) but by the end I agree with Heim that "If we were to take the most powerful stories of conversion...the greatest examples of Christian life... animated by views of the atonement like Anselm's, and translate them entirely into the terms that we having been using [in this book]...they would lose none of their power for good. But they would be much less likely to produce negative effects. And they would gain clarity and coherence" (p. 325-326).

The ideas put forward in this book are important for anyone, whether or not you find yourself initially drawn toward a non-violent model of the atonement.

I found this an extremely exciting "take" on the Gospel - a forgotten side to the Cross which is alive and well in the pages of Scripture when the dilemma of sacrifice is understood psychologically/ sociologically/ anthropologically! This is a message the world needs - one that may give much credibility and respect to the Cross and the Bible in the eyes of peace-makers everywhere! - one that opens up the message of the Cross in a way that will touch lives and inspire people to live to God! My own identification with scapegoats and scapegoaters has deepened, and I feel my (lay-) preaching of the Cross has been made so much more relevant and practical. Though I didn't like/agree with the author on everything (e.g. his treatment of forgiveness, his conception of justice devoid of any RESTORATIVE notions, and a much-needed retreatment of the priestly role of Jesus is lacking), there is certainly much to recommend, especially his development of Girard's theory on "sacred violence" from Genesis, through Job, to the New Testament. Shame and Pride: Affect, Sex, and the Birth of the Self

I have been critical of our standard atonement theories. But, this book, following the work of Rene Girard, Gil Bailie and others, is outstanding. It gives so much substance to a number of scriptural passages that have been poorly interpreted or overlooked.

I'd caution readers to be wary of reviews that point out that the author's exegis differs from that of the bulk of previous scholars and theologians. The Holy Spirit guides and inspires, not the crowd. If you seek to find solace in the group, then this book may not be for you. If you want to explore more fully Christ's redeeming work and what it means for creation, then you may want to pick up this one. This book offers a fresh and if you are honest and open, thought-provoking framework for grasping the meaning of the cross. Moreover, it provides a mirror for examining the distortions imposed on traditional soteriology by own fallen human nature. If it makes you uncomfortable, that may be an indication that you are on the right track. You should be uncomfortable when staring Truth face to face.

I liked this book up to a point but felt it was conservative and could have taken the subject in another direction more meaningful to me. The concept of sacrifice was very meaningful to people of that time but is not a meaningful concept for us. About the only way we can use the word "sacrifice" is for someone who puts himself in harm's way to save others. Jesus certainly did that.