Secular Nonviolence and the Theo-Drama of Peace : Anabaptist Ethics and the Catholic Christology of Hans Urs Von Balthasar

What happens when a five-century tradition of Christian pacifism no longer needs Jesus to support nonviolence? Why does secularity cause this dilemma for Mennonites in their theology of peace? Layton Boyd Friesen offers an ancient theology and spirituality of incarnation as the church's response to the non-resistance of Christ. He explores three key aspects of von Balthasar's Christology to help Mennonite peace theology regain its momentum in the secular age with a contemplative union with Christ. This volume argues that the way to regain a Christ-formed pacifism within secularity is to contemplate and enter the mystery unveiled in the Chalcedonian Definition of Christ, as interpreted by Hans Urs von Balthasar. In this mystery, the believer is drawn into real-time participation in Christ's encounter with the secular world. "Why do Mennonites need help with a theology of peace? How is Roman Catholic theology going to aid that theology of peace? Layton Boyd Friesen offers a theology of secularity as the world's response to the non-resistance of Christ. He explores the three key aspects of von Balthasar's Christology to help Mennonite peace theology regain its momentum in the secular age with a contemplative union with Christ. This volume argues that the way to regain a Christ-formed pacifism within secularity is to contemplate and enter the mystery unveiled in the Chalcedonian Definition of Christ, as interpreted by Hans Urs von Balthasar. Here the believer is drawn into a real-time participation in Christ's encounter with the secular world"-- Provided by publisher Dedication Contents Series Preface Acknowledgments Introduction: Anabaptist Ethics and Hans Urs von Balthasar’s Christology 1 Mennonite Pacifism as Union with the Living Christ 2 The Troubled Defense of Defenselessness in the Twentieth Century 3 Incarnation: Bidirectional Nonresistance 4 Provocation: Violence in the Theo-drama 5 Convocation: The Church and the Lamb Conclusion: Christian Practices of Theo-dramatic Peacemaking Bibliography Index