Sin: Radical Evil in Soul and Society / Edition 1

by Ted Peters

Overview

In Sin: Radical Evil in Soul and Society, Ted Peters boldly revisits the dark side of human nature and the perennial categories of sin that have been glossed over by our pluralistic culture. Using numerous illustrations from everyday life as well as the social sciences, Peters examines the kinds of evil — both personal and societal mdash; that we all confront on a daily basis. Writing with the goal to both educate and inspire, Peters offers serious theological reflection on sin in a popular style, provides an up-to-date examination of Satanism, and introduces a provocative new theory about how sin works in daily life. An illuminating guide for the educated reader, regardless of field or walk of life, this compelling book forces everyone to ask the question "Am I a sinner?" while it simultaneously provides the gentle and much-needed reminder that God's grace is available to all who answer in the affirmative.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802801135
Publisher:	Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company
Publication date:	04/19/1994
Pages:	347
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.78(d)

About the Author

Professor of systematic theology at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary and the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California.

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgments	ix
1.	Introduction: Seven Steps to Radical Evil	1
2.	Step One: Anxiety: The Fear of Loss	34
3.	Step Two: Unfaith: When Trusting Becomes Difficult	65
4.	Step Three: Pride: Making Myself Number One	86
5.	Step Four: Concupiscence: Lusting after What They Have	123
6.	Step Five: Self-Justification: Looking Good While Scapegoating Others	161
7.	Step Six: Cruelty: Enjoying My Neighbor's Suffering	193
8.	Step Seven: Blasphemy: Satanic Rituals and the Destruction of the Inner Soul	217
9.	Forgiveness: Grace, Love, and Unfinished Business	263
10.	Genes and Sin: More Unfinished Business	294
	Index of Subjects and Names	329
	Index of Scripture References	337

Editorial Reviews

Lewis B. Smedes
—Fuller Theological Seminary
"Ted Peters's superb study of radical evil, soaked to the skin in Bible and theology, proves the underworld of human iniquity like a plumber poking about for leaks in a crawl space. It peels the cover off the evil that poses as banality in American culture, resists smartly the fatal confusion of genetic destiny with free surrender to the evil one, and adds a book-size study of Satanism, anti-Satanism, and anti-anti-Satanism, being all the while as tough as a hanging judge on moral wimps who cover their sin with a patina of self-esteem. Peters's book tells us just about everything we need to know about the evil that so satanically bedevils both our cloaked souls and our naked society."

Douglas John Hall
—McGill University
"Despite its awesome reality in public and private life, sin is a misunderstood and unpopular theme in North American churches and society today. Peters's book goes a long way toward correcting that situation. He writes forcefully and with an insider's awareness of the context he addresses. He rescues sin from its captivity by sex and puts it back where it belongs — at the center of our lives and at the heart of God's redeeming grace!"

From the Publisher

Peters (theology, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary) discusses sin from the perspective of its progressive development into radical evil through seven steps--anxiety, unfaith, pride, concupiscence, self-justification, cruelty, and blasphemy--suggestive of but not identical to the classic seven deadly sins. His presentation is distinguished by its contemporary considerations and his inclusion of the way individual sins may develop a life--or rather a death--of their own and become social evil. Peters is alert to self-righteous sins of projection and scapegoating as well as to their opposites. A wonderful book for committed lay readers and social critics as well as clergy. Highly recommended.

Library Journal