The Wisdom of the Cross: Essays in Honor of John Howard Yoder

by Stanley Hauerwas (Editor), Chris K. Huebner (Editor), Harry J. Huebner (Editor)

Few recent Christian thinkers have been as widely influential as John Howard Yoder (1927-1997). Encompassing a teaching career of more than thirty years and such landmark publications as The Politics of Jesus, Yoder's life and thought have profoundly impacted students and colleagues from a broad range of disciplines.

Genres: Theology

506 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1999

About the author

Stanley Hauerwas (PhD, Yale University) is the Gilbert T. Rowe Professor of Theological Ethics at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. He is the author of numerous books, including Cross-Shattered Christ, A Cross-Shattered Church, War and the American Difference, and Matthew in the Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible.

America's Best Theologian according to Time Magazine (2001), though he rejected the title saying, "Best is not a theological category."

Reviews

[Kyle Christian]

While I find it hard to write a Goodreads review on an anthology as wide spread as this, devoted to a such a brilliant mind as Yoder’s, I wish to try.

These essays do not lack in critical, insightful, and meaningful wrestling with their subject matter. Each is well crafted to articulate the depth of Christian thinking, the importance of faithful reflection, and the best of Christian praxis.

While not all of these essays are directly on response to Yoder’s work, they remain insightful and informative; and offer a challenge to any who would approach them who is certain of their own tightness of thought. I found myself rethinking and reflecting my own answers and questions even when I agreed with the conclusions of these authors before reading them.

I firmly consider myself a pacifist, and believe that it is the responsibility and rightful path for all Christians to be pacifists dedicated to the cause of non-violence and non-resistance. These essays in honor of Yoder’s pacifism and non-resistance are eye opening and challenging, helping to reflect even deeper on the importance of non-violence in the life of Christians and the church.

Though I agreed with the conclusions of many of the authors before having read these particular essays, they still encouraged me to reflect and rethink why I stand where I stand in regards to what I believe the responsibility of the church is in today’s turbulent, violent, and angry world.