Ted Jennings - Plato or Paul? & Transforming Atonement

Start: 02/10/2010 5:00 pm

Ted Jennings will discuss his two latest books, Plato or Paul? & Transforming Atonement, at the Chicago Theological Seminary.

On Plato or Paul?:

Jennings explores the notion that the origin of Western homophobia lies not in the biblical traditions of Judaism and Christianity but instead has its source in the Greek and Hellenistic sources (mainly the platonic philosophies) often assumed to have been accepting of same-sex eroticism.
Jennings is aware this concept goes against the grain of common opinion, and therefore provides ample clarification from official statements of the Vatican and opinions of the United States Supreme Court; texts from Plato and other Hellenistic perspectives; and the writings of Paul.

On Transforming Atonement:

Jennings' truly fresh understanding for Christians of the meaning of Jesus death specifically grounds the cross in the concrete political confrontation within which it occurred, relates the message about the cross to the practice of Jesus (thus keeping in relationship the gospels and the theology of Paul), and shows how the cross bears on overcoming of human division and sin, reconciliation to God, and new forms of social reality in the community of the crucified.

Book List