Christ and Horrors: The Coherence of Christology

by Marilyn McCord Adams

Overview

Who would the Saviour have to be, what would the Saviour have to do to rescue human beings from the meaning-destroying experiences of their lives? This book offers a systematic Christology that is at once biblical and philosophical. Starting with human radical vulnerability to horrors such as permanent pain, sadistic abuse or genocide, it develops what must be true about Christ if He is the horror-defeater who ultimately resolves all the problems affecting the human condition and Divine-human relations. Distinctive elements of Marilyn McCord Adams' study are her defence of the two-natures theory, of Christ as Inner Teacher and a functional partner in human flourishing, and her arguments in favour of literal bodily resurrection (Christ's and ours) and of a strong doctrine of corporeal Eucharistic presence. The book concludes that Christ is the One in Whom, not only Christian doctrine, but cosmos, church, and the human psyche hold together.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521686006
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	09/21/2006
Series:	Current Issues in Theology , #4
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	344
Product dimensions:	5.55(w) x 8.46(h) x 0.79(d)

About the Author

Marilyn McCord Adams is Regius Professor of Divinity, University of Oxford and Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. She has published extensively in academic philosophy and theology.

Table of Contents

Preface; 1. Christology as natural theology; 2. Posing the problems; 3. Sharing the horrors; 4. Psychologizing the person; 5. Recovering the metaphysics; 6. Learning the meanings; 7. Cosmic coherence: the primacy of Christ; 8. Resurrection and renewal; 9. Horrors and holocausts, sacrifices and priests; 10. Christ in the sacrament of the altar.

Editorial Reviews

"The reader who works through Adam's tightly woven argument and vivid illustrations to the conclusion of Christ and Horrors will surely appreciate the philosophical and theological reason that she brings to the centrality of the 'bread and wine of Christ's humanity, scarred by crucifixion, glorified by resurrection' and her profound faith—even in light (or darkness) of the worst horrors—that 'consummate horror-defeat in all three stages will complete the consecration of the whole material creation and of its best fruit, humankind' (313)." - Sally Stamper, The University of Chicago Divinity School, Chicago, Illinois

"[A] rich and provocative read."
The Thomist, Ralph Del Colle, Marquette University

From the Publisher