Preaching as Weeping, Confession, and Resistance: Radical Responses to Radical EvilHow can a person preach a word of hope and faith in a world filled with violence and suffering? Christine Smith says one must encounter and name the evil that oppresses persons in the world--evils such as handicapism, ageism, sexism, heterosexism, white racism, and classism. She argues preaching is an interpretation of our present world and an invitation to a profoundly different world. It is a form of passionate weeping in a universe filled with suffering and oppression; a form of confession where preachers can shape sermons to call our communities to honest reflection; and it is a form of resistance, moving people to actively resist the attitudes and structures of oppression. |
Contents
Revelation Confronts Denial HANDICAPPISM | 15 |
Embodiment Challenges Marginalization AGEISM | 38 |
Breaking Silence Exposes Misogyny SEXISM | 62 |
Grace Transforms Condemnation HETEROSEXISM | 87 |
Conversion Uproots Supremacy WHITE RACISM | 110 |
Common terms and phrases
Adrienne Rich affirmations ageism alienation American Asian Women United become Boff challenge child sexual abuse Christian church classism color concrete condemnation confront critique cross crucifixions cultural imperialism Deaf community Deaf culture death dimensions economic embodied evil experience exploitation face faith fear fundamentally gay and lesbian gender God's grace Guatemala handicappism hearing heterosexism homophobia homosexuality hope Ibid individual Jephthah Jon Sobrino kind language Leonardo Boff lesbians lesbians and gay lives look male domination means misogyny mystery myths nursing homes older adults one's oppression pain pastors percent persons with disabilities political poor poverty preachers and religious preaching ministries privilege radical rape reality redemptive relations religious communities resistance responsibility says sermons sexism sexual abuse social society solidarity speak structures struggle suffering suggest theologians theological tion transformation truth understand United victims weeping white racism white supremacy woman battering women words