·        For people whose eyes glaze over when questionsof salvation/redemption/atonement come up ·        Written by a theologian, but with a lay audiencein mind Even theologians have had different ideas about the theology of atonement;how are the rest of supposed to understand it? This book is a good place tostart. Crysdale, whose background in both psychology and theology gives her aunique perspective, presents an overview of the history of the theology ofatonement, addressing clearly the difficulties around this concept, andbringing us with her to a contemporary understanding. "Please join me in welcoming an informative, thoughtful, creative, andpersuasive book on the atonement. St. Paul and even Anselm's contributions tothis multi-faceted doctrine are rendered accessible here. I only wishCrysdale's volume had been available during my fifty years of teaching Anglicantheology. Please don't miss reading her contemporary, scholarly perspectives.She has much to teach us."--Fredrica Harris Thompsett, author of We AreTheologians "No 'doctrine' has more distorted the living of lives calledChristian than substitutionary satisfaction theories of the atonement. So thankGod we now have Crysdale's constructive account of the atonement that helps ussee that we do not need a theory of the atonement because what God has done inthe crucifixion is not a violent exchange but rather God's way of befriendinghis people. I hope that this well researched book will be widelyread."--Stanley Hauerwas, author of Without Apology