The Non-Violent Radical

by Charles McCollough

Overview

Description: This book interprets the wisdom of Jesus' sayings in the gospels in words and images. McCollough examines Jesus' wisdom in the context of the political and economic world of the Roman Empire and then applies it to our own time for both personal growth and social action. Original works of art by McCollough illustrate the texts of these sayings and can be used in private reflection, worship, and educational settings. In addition, readers may use the images for newsletters, church bulletins, and program announcements. A DVD with color images of many more illustrations of the book is available from the author. The short wisdom sayings of Jesus are almost always interpreted as private or interpersonal instruction and ignore the political/economic context of his time. The result is often sentimental piety or otherworldly speculation. Yet it is hard to imagine that Jesus and his followers were blind to the tyranny of Rome and the economic exploitation of a tiny minority over the vast majority of people living desperate lives in the Roman colonies. This book uses the insights of formerly colonized Bible readers in the non-Western world to understand the postcolonial meanings of Jesus' time and our own. Endorsements: ""Charles McCollough assembles much wisdom in this wonderful book, from Jesus, scholars, his own life, and friends. Some of it he presents with words, some he presents in an extensive array of extraordinary, sculptured visual images. Read, look, and look again."" --Warren Carter, Brite Divinity School ""Tell the truth. Keep it simple. Anyone charged with the responsibility of this paradox of preaching will appreciate, even treasure, this book from Charles McCollough. Dense theories of postcolonial biblical studies, tender mercies from a life of ministry, and articulate forms of an artist are molded skillfully together. The reader, teacher, and preacher will feel the heat of its firing and carry that flame into their task of living the truth that is both justice and love."" --Heather Murray Elkins, Drew University ""The Nonviolent Radical is a sumptuous tapestry that offers a new angle of vision and an invitation to walk wisely so that all might experience God's shalom. Weaving together insights from postcolonial biblical studies, his own everyday experiences, stories from around the globe, and his whimsically serious sculptures, McCollough probes the depths of Jesus' wisdom sayings. McCollough's gifts as sculptor and scholar come together here to gently and powerfully re-form our perceiving and living."" --Rene House, New Brunswick School of Theology ""The Nonviolent Radical by Charles McCollough is an inspired melding of lively, accessible scholarship and visual art in a study of Jesus' proverbial wisdom teachings. As the foreword attests, McCullough sculpts both words and clay so that the sayings of Jesus 'cut to the marrow of our being.' McCollough places Jesus' often spiritualized, individualized wisdom sayings in their political economic context, the brutality and inequity of the first century, highlighting parallels with the twenty-first century . . . The sculptures the author/artist has created and the stories behind them become an incarnation in clay of Jesus' wisdom teachings."" --Alyce M. McKenzie, Perkins School of Theology About the Contributor(s): Charles McCollough, PhD, is a sculptor and the author of seven books, including The Art of Parables. He was the resident artist at five seminaries, and a former policy advocate on the national staff of the United Church of Christ in Washington, DC. He lives in Hopewell, New Jersey.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781608999651
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	05/29/2012
Pages:	204
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.43(d)

About the Author

Charles McCollough, PhD, is a sculptor and the author of seven books, including The Art of Parables. He was the resident artist at five seminaries, and a former policy advocate on the national staff of the United Church of Christ in Washington, DC. He lives in Hopewell, New Jersey.

Table of Contents

Illustrations ix

Foreword xi

Acknowledgments xiii

1 Introduction to The Nonviolent Radical: Seeing and Living the Wisdom of Jesus 1

2 The Colonial Context of Jesus' Wisdom 10

Part 1 Jesus' Wisdom on Blessings

3 Introduction 15

4 The Magnificat 17

5 Introduction to Jesus' Wisdom in the Beatitudes 26

6 Jesus' Wisdom on the Poor 28

7 Jesus' Wisdom on Hunger 32

8 Jesus' Wisdom on Mourning 36

9 Jesus' Wisdom on Persecution and Hatred 40

10 Jesus' Wisdom on Self-Regard and Land 45

11 Jesus' Wisdom on Mercy 48

12 Jesus' Wisdom on Purity of Heart and How to See God 54

13 Jesus' Wisdom on Making Peace 58

Part 2 Jesus' Wisdom on Nonviolence

14 Introduction 65

15 Jesus' Wisdom on Violence 67

16 Jesus' Wisdom on Militarism 71

17 Steps Out of the Cycle of Violence: Negotiation 74

18 Steps Out of the Cycle of Violence: Mediation 78

19 Steps Out of the Cycle of Violence: Arbitration 81

20 Steps Out of the Cycle of Violence: Letting Go 84

21 Tactics to Preserve Dignity and Resist Oppression: Retaliation or Turning the Other Cheek 87

22 Tactics to Preserve Dignity and Resist Oppression: Give Your Cloak as Well 91

23 Tactics to Preserve Dignity and Resist Oppression: Go Also the Second Mile 94

24 Seeing Peace 97

25 Communion Versus Disunion 102

26 This World of Violence 107

Part 3 Jesus' Wisdom in Daily Life: Introduction

27 Wealth 113

28 Taxes 116

29 Accepting New Ideas 120

30 Defilement/Shame 123

31 Down Time 128

32 Introducing Addictions as Modern Demons 131

33 Private Addictions 135

34 Public Addictions 136

35 Speaking Up 140

36 Dealing with Kinfolks 144

37 Getting a Life 148

38 Shopping 152

39 Whom to Trust 156

40 Money 160

41 Worry 164

42 Asking for Help 168

43 Resisting Temptations 173

44 Adultery 177

45 Seeing the Light 180

Conclusion 185

Bibliography 187

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Charles McCollough assembles much wisdom in this wonderful book, from Jesus, scholars, his own life, and friends. Some of it he presents with words, some he presents in an extensive array of extraordinary, sculptured visual images. Read, look, and look again."
—Warren Carter, Brite Divinity School

"Tell the truth. Keep it simple. Anyone charged with the responsibility of this paradox of preaching will appreciate, even treasure, this book from Charles McCollough. Dense theories of postcolonial biblical studies, tender mercies from a life of ministry, and articulate forms of an artist are molded skillfully together. The reader, teacher, and preacher will feel the heat of its firing and carry that flame into their task of living the truth that is both justice and love."
—Heather Murray Elkins, Drew University

"The Nonviolent Radical is a sumptuous tapestry that offers a new angle of vision and an invitation to walk wisely so that all might experience God's shalom. Weaving together insights from postcolonial biblical studies, his own everyday experiences, stories from around the globe, and his whimsically serious sculptures, McCollough probes the depths of Jesus' wisdom sayings. McCollough's gifts as sculptor and scholar come together here to gently and powerfully re-form our perceiving and living."
—Rene House, New Brunswick School of Theology

"The Nonviolent Radical by Charles McCollough is an inspired melding of lively, accessible scholarship and visual art in a study of Jesus' proverbial wisdom teachings. As the foreword attests, McCullough sculpts both words and clay so that the sayings of Jesus 'cut to the marrow of our being.' McCollough places Jesus' often spiritualized, individualized wisdom sayings in their political economic context, the brutality and inequity of the first century, highlighting parallels with the twenty-first century . . . The sculptures the author/artist has created and the stories behind them become an incarnation in clay of Jesus' wisdom teachings."
—Alyce M. McKenzie, Perkins School of Theology

Editorial Reviews

"Charles McCollough assembles much wisdom in this wonderful book, from Jesus, scholars, his own life, and friends. Some of it he presents with words, some he presents in an extensive array of extraordinary, sculptured visual images. Read, look, and look again."
—Warren Carter, Brite Divinity School

"Tell the truth. Keep it simple. Anyone charged with the responsibility of this paradox of preaching will appreciate, even treasure, this book from Charles McCollough. Dense theories of postcolonial biblical studies, tender mercies from a life of ministry, and articulate forms of an artist are molded skillfully together. The reader, teacher, and preacher will feel the heat of its firing and carry that flame into their task of living the truth that is both justice and love."
—Heather Murray Elkins, Drew University

"The Nonviolent Radical is a sumptuous tapestry that offers a new angle of vision and an invitation to walk wisely so that all might experience God's shalom. Weaving together insights from postcolonial biblical studies, his own everyday experiences, stories from around the globe, and his whimsically serious sculptures, McCollough probes the depths of Jesus' wisdom sayings. McCollough's gifts as sculptor and scholar come together here to gently and powerfully re-form our perceiving and living."
—Rene House, New Brunswick School of Theology

"The Nonviolent Radical by Charles McCollough is an inspired melding of lively, accessible scholarship and visual art in a study of Jesus' proverbial wisdom teachings. As the foreword attests, McCullough sculpts both words and clay so that the sayings of Jesus 'cut to the marrow of our being.' McCollough places Jesus' often spiritualized, individualized wisdom sayings in their political economic context, the brutality and inequity of the first century, highlighting parallels with the twenty-first century . . . The sculptures the author/artist has created and the stories behind them become an incarnation in clay of Jesus' wisdom teachings."
—Alyce M. McKenzie, Perkins School of Theology

From the Publisher