Christian Martyrdom and Political Violence
A Comparative Theology with Judaism and Islam

This book examines the commonalities of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, and presents martyr narratives as a resource for resisting political violence.

Rubén Rosario Rodríguez (Author)

9781107187146, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 13 July 2017

318 pages
23.5 x 16 x 2.1 cm, 0.6 kg

'For scholars of Christian ethics … [Rubén Rosario Rodríguez] demonstrates that liberation theology is an essential literature for Christian ethics in the twenty-first century with almost unprecedented persuasion. With derision for 'contextual theology,' many Christian ethicists continue to doubt liberation theology's capacity to speak to our most urgent global problems. Rosario's work ought to disabuse the field of this shallow dismissal, demonstrating liberation theology's enormous potential to grapple with the problem of political violence across religious traditions.' Nichole M. Flores, Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics

In recent years, martyrdom and political violence have been conflated in the public imagination. Rubén Rosario Rodríguez argues that martyr narratives deserve consideration as resources for resisting political violence in contemporary theological reflection. Underlying the three Abrahamic monotheistic traditions is a shared belief that God requires liberation for the oppressed, justice for the victims and, most demanding of all, love for the political enemy. Christian, Jewish and Muslim martyr narratives that condone political violence - whether terrorist or state-sponsored - are examined alongside each religion's canon, in order to evaluate how central or marginalized these discourses are within their respective traditions. Primarily a work of Christian theology in conversation with Judaism and Islam, this book aims to model religious pluralism and cooperation by retrieving distinctly Christian sources that nurture tolerance and facilitate coexistence, while respecting religious difference.

1. Scripture and political violence
2. Early Christian martyrdom and political violence
3. Comparative martyrologies
4. Martyrdom or political violence?
5. On becoming a 'faithful witness' today.

Subject Areas: Judaism [HRJ], Islam [HRH], Christianity [HRC], Religious intolerance, persecution & conflict [HRAM9], Religion & politics [HRAM2], Comparative religion [HRAC]