V Alidating V Iolence

In this book scholars from Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions explore violence in religious scriptures. In twelve chapters, they grapple with the problem of how to deal with the phenomenon of violence when it appears within the scriptures and traditions of particular religious faiths. The writers identify the violent language, imagery, story and ideology which reside deep within these texts. Some chapters offer detailed exegetical examination of key passages, whilst other chapters offer theological explorations of the issue. The volume ends with a conclusion which offers some general observa- tions on the hermeneutical strategies employed in dealing with these texts. Validating Violence - Violating Faith? - Violating Violence Validating “This important collection of essays deals deftly with the issue of religiously inspired political violence and the complicity of the churches and the founda- tional texts of Christianity in self-serving rationalisations of death and destruc- ValidatingValidating ViolenceViolence tion. The distinguished panel of contributors provide a wealth of insights from a range of perspectives that deserve close attention and prayerful consideration. In a world threatened by those who prefer coercion over persuasion, this book offers many new ways of depicting human conflict and fresh hope for its resolu- ViolatingViolating Faith?Faith? tion without bloodshed.” Tom Frame Anglican Bishop to the Australian Defence Force (2001-2007) Religion,Religion, ScriptureScripture “What a timely theme! Extremists from several religions have gained lots of William W Emilsen William publicity in recent years, particularly those who have resorted to dreadful vio- John T Squires andand ViolenceViolence lence and others who are threatening to do so. This publication is to be highly commended for its honesty in acknowledging the violence in the scriptures of editor more than one faith, for the perspectives it brings from more than one faith, and for the way in which it also honours the fine religious traditions of non- violence and peace-making. I trust it sells well and is studied carefully.” Gregor Henderson s President, Uniting Church in Australia “This book makes a significant contribution towards world peace.” Mehmet Saral President, Affinity Intercultural Foundation About the Editors: William Emilsen is a Senior Academic Associate in the School of Theology at Charles Sturt University, on the Parramatta Campus (United Theological Col- lege). He has written on Mahatma Gandhi and on the history of the Uniting Church and edits the journal Uniting Church Studies. WilliamWilliam WW EmilsenEmilsen John Squires is a Senior Academic Associate in the School of Theology at Charles Sturt University, on the Parramatta Campus (United Theological JohnJohn TT SquiresSquires College). He has written on Luke-Acts and is a contributor to The Cambridge Companion to the Gospels, Cambridge University Press, 2006 EditorsEditors ATF Press ISBN 9781920691899 Australasian Theological Forum PO Box 504 Hindmarsh SA 5007 Strategic Research Centre Australia Public & Contextual Theology www.atfpress.com 9 781920 691899 > Charles Sturt University, Australia Pleasure and Grief, in Violance i Validating Violence – Violating Faith? William W Emilsen John T Squires editors ii Jione Havea The PACT Series The PACT series is a set of publications of the Public and Contextual Theology (PACT) Strategic Research Centre, Charles Sturt University, Australia. Each volume in the series focuses on an issue or series of related issues in the disciplines of public and contextual theologies. The series explores how public and contextual theologies are worked out in the Australasian region, in collaboration with similar centres in South Africa, Western Europe, and North America. Editorial Committee: Dean Drayton James Haire Elizabeth Mackinlay David Neville John Squires 1. Dodging Angels on Saturday, Graeme Garrett, 2005 2. ‘Into the World You Love’, edited by Graeme Garrett, 2007 3. From Resurrection to Return: Perspective from Theology and Science on Christian Eschatology, edited by James Haire, Christine Ledger and Stephen Pickard, 2007 Pleasure and Grief, in Violance iii Validating Violence – Violating Faith? Religion, Scripture and Violence William W Emilsen John T Squires editors ATF Press Adelaide iv Jione Havea Text copyright © 2008 remains with the individual authors for all papers in this volume and with ATF Press for the collection and introduction. All rights reserved. Except for any fair dealing permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this book may be reproduced by any means without prior permission. Inquiries should be made to the publisher. First published 2008 National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Title: Validating violence- violating faith? : religion, scripture and violence / editors: William Emilsen, John Squires. ISBN: 9781920691899 (pbk.) Series: PACT series Subjects: Violence--Religious aspects--Judaism. Violence in rabbinical literature. Violence--Religious aspects--Christianity. Violence in the Bible. Violence--Religious aspects--Islamic. Violence in the Koran. Other Authors/Contributors: Emilsen, William W. Squires, John T., 1954- Australasian Theological Forum. Dewey Number: 205.697 Published by ATF Press An imprint of the Australasian Theological Forum Ltd PO Box 504 Hindmarsh SA 5007 ABN 90 116 359 963 www.atfpress.com Typeset in Times 10/14pt cover design by Astrid Sengkey based on The Entombment by Chris Wyatt (2007; gouache and ink on paper). Painted for the exhibition Stations of the Cross at St Ives Uniting Church, NSW, curated by Dr Douglas Purnell, Easter 2007. Pleasure and Grief, in Violance v Contents Foreword vii List of Contributors ix Introduction xiii Part 1 Approaching the Scriptures 1 Pleasure and Grief, in Violence Jione Havea 3 2 Words of Death: Scriptures and Violence in Judaism, Christianity and Islam Christopher D Stanley 17 3 Words of Life: Scriptures and Non-violence in Judaism, Christianity and Islam Christopher D Stanley 39 Part 2 Case Studies from Scripture: Dealing with Violence 4 Violent Discipleship in the Gospel Traditions Elizabeth Raine and John T Squires 59 5 From Violence and War to Shalom in the Hebrew Bible Anastasia Boniface-Malle 77 6 Violating Faith via Eschatological Violence: Reviewing Matthew’s Eschatology David Neville 95 v vi Jione Contents Havea 7 Peace and Military Engagement in the Qur’an and in the Actions of the Prophet Muhammad Mehmet Ozalp 111 8 Gandhi, Scripture and Non-violence William W Emilsen 127 Part 3 Violence in History and Theology 9 Unpicking Retribution’s Knots: Churches as Cultures for Peace Heather Thomson 143 10 The Location of God, Theories of the Atonement and ‘Redemptive’ Violence Chris Budden 155 11 Jews and Violence 173 Rachael Kohn 12 Religion and Violence: a Macrohistorical Perspective Garry W Trompf 187 Conclusion 219 Index of Names 225 Index of Scriptural References 229 Pleasure and Grief, in Violance vii Foreword The closely related disciplines of public and contextual theologies represent a new and significant way in which theology is being carried out around the world. They presuppose the classical inheritance of the Christian faith and of Christian theology, but recognise the need for a hermeneutic that is responsive to a changing world. We no longer inhabit cultures that take for granted a working knowledge of Christian belief and practice. Our societies are now subject to global movements and are a diverse mixture of cultures, faiths and secularism. On the one hand, there may be a residual Christian frame of reference in some, particularly Western, societies, but the relevance of theology is often no longer self-evident in these societies. On the other hand, in other parts of the world, particularly in Asia, Africa and Latin America, the interactions between Christianity and culture is often quite vibrant. Public and contextual theologies have arisen partly in protest to the privatisation of Christianity and the dominance of Western culture. They are concerned with how biblical and theological disciplines can both engage particularity and speak to the contemporary world. These forms of theology recognise that theology competes in a public domain in which there are a range of ideologies and philosophies. Public and contextual theologies must be willing to interact with, and respond to, insights from other disciplines. Such theologies are designed to explore the relevance of fundamental Christian beliefs. We believe that public and contextual theologies are central to the expression of the gospel. The ways in which the Good News transforms our social life and enhances civic trust is the burden of our work. This activity is undertaken in close collaboration with similar centres in South Africa, Western Europe and North America, and with scholars in other parts of the world. This volume of essays originated at an important conference, Validating Violence–Violating Faith?, held at United Theological College, North Parramatta, Sydney, in May 2006. It focuses on the issues of public and contextual theology in relation to religious violence and reconciliation, and as such deals with an issue fundamental to the PACT research area. This volume contains twelve chapters, an introduction, and a concluding chapter on hermeneutical strategies involved in reading the violent elements found in texts of scripture. It contains contributions from Christian, Jewish and Muslim writers of a high standard of scholarship. vii viii Jione Havea The chapters

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