Welcome to Teaching Nonviolent Atonement

From pews to pulpits to seminaries, Christians throughout the world are asking the same question, “Is God violent?” The answer to that question has implications for how we interpret the Bible, understand the atonement, and relate to God and our fellow human beings. At Teaching Nonviolent Atonement, it’s our view that mimetic theory is the most powerful tool currently available to answer this question in a way that is faithful to the Bible and to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. What emerges from a mimetic analysis is simply this: God does not use violence to redeem us from sin. Rather, God submits to human violence in order to enable humanity to participate in God’s nonviolent renewal of all of Creation.

Whether you are new to mimetic theory or have engaged it for years, you can join expert guides Suzanne and Adam for an exploration of the wealth of materials that mimetic theory makes available to nonviolent Christianity. By becoming an active member of this community, you join a supportive network of Christians discovering together God’s call to be peacemakers. Via discussion forums and live chats subscribers share their insights, feedback and encouragement with one another. Teaching Nonviolent Atonement is a unique platform where we can support one another in the work of shifting the Christian atonement paradigm from violence to nonviolence. We hope that you will find the resources we provide here helpful and stimulating for your personal study, teaching and preaching.

Still, you may be wondering, “Why should anyone care about mimetic theory?” Fortunately, we just happen to have some answers to that question in the video below. Please share your answer in the comment section.

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