Excellent4.8 out of 5On Trustpilot
  1. Spiritual Growth/
  2. Spiritual Warfare

The Struggle to Define God

by Robert A Butterfield

  • Paperback
  • Publisher: Wipf & Stock Publishers
  • 13.8 x 21.4 x 0.6 cm

£14.11

Free UK Delivery

Available - Usually dispatched within 4 days

Buying for a school or church? Upgrade to a FREE Eden Advance Account

Free delivery on orders over £10

This book about religious struggle studies four texts from postexilic Judah and applies them first to Judah and then, importantly, to modern America. Two of these texts--the books of Jonah and Job--speak out in favor of the theology of grace and against the theology of retribution, as advocated by the Jerusalem hardliners. This struggle to define God continues even today. Despite the biblical evidence--especially the example of Jesus--many Americans still believe in the God of retribution. Two other texts--the book of Ruth and the story of Rahab--demonstrate that if people reject xenophobia/nativism and misogyny, the entire community is blessed. Since xenophobia/nativism and misogyny are rampant in modern America, this message is rather timely. The last chapter argues that it is the mission of both synagogues and churches to define God correctly and then to help people overcome their resentment and prejudices and become partners with God, but that many predominantly white churches have failed in their mission, as evidenced by the fact that so many of their members voted for Donald Trump. ""The Struggle to Define God is written by one deeply immersed in key stories from the post-exilic biblical period--Ruth, Jonah, Job, and Rahab. Dr. Butterfield views these stories as exemplifying God's gracious inclusiveness, in contrast to depictions of a punishing, retributive God who justifies 'hardliner' positions that lead to xenophobia and misogyny. This accessibly written book could not be more timely "" --Karen L. Bloomquist, theologian-at-large and author of Seeing-Remmbering-Connecting: Subversive Practices of Being Church The Rev. Robert A. Butterfield taught in Chicago-area colleges before becoming a parish pastor in the United Church of Christ and a Presbyterian Church (USA) mission co-worker in Brazil and Portugal. Since retiring from the mission field in 2015, he has been busy writing: Making Sense of the Hebrew Bible, Wipf and Stock, 2016. His interest in textual analysis dates from graduate studies in French literature at the University of Chicago in the 1960s.
The Struggle to Define God and Liberating Luther: A Lutheran Theology from Latin America
Liberating Luther: A Lutheran Theology from Latin AmericaThe Struggle to Define God

  • Author

    Robert A Butterfield

  • Book Format

    Paperback / softback

  • Publisher

    Wipf & Stock Publishers

  • Published

    April 2017

  • Weight

    123g

  • Dimensions

    13.8 x 21.4 x 0.6 cm

  • ISBN

    9781532617898

  • ISBN-10

    1532617895

  • Eden Code

    4924704

Over 14,000 churches and schools have upgraded to an Advance Account and we‘d love to welcome you into this free program. We know that church volunteers and school teachers often use their own money, then have claim it back on on an expense form. We can take all of that hassle away by invoicing your church or school directly and delivering your order straight away.

Opening an account is quick and easy, with most accounts being approved and setup within a few hours of filling in the form below (on weekdays, not weekends). As soon as we‘ve approved the application we‘ll send you an email to let you know that its done.

Upgrade to a FREE Eden Advance Account
Write a review
      Ask a question