Models of God: Theology for an Ecological, Nuclear Age

Interesting book. In Models of God, Sallie McFague explores the problems that contemporary theologians face. The main problems she focuses on are the ecological implications of the Nuclear Age. The consequences of nuclear warfare and the dropping of two nuclear bombs highlighted an unlimited potential within humankind to destroy itself and the world that sustains all life.McFague proposes that the way one talks about their relationship with God must be reconsidered. The metaphors and concepts that are chosen to describe the relation of God/Humanity and Humanity/World are hierarchical and dualistic. These metaphors do not emphasize the loving, respectful, and reciprocal relation of God and Humanity, but the dominance and authority that one has over the other. For instance, metaphors that refer to God as ruler or God as king are patriarchal (which causes people to associate God with masculinity) and as a domineering force.By shifting the metaphors to reflect the nurturing or affectionate aspects of the relation between God and Man, one is able to “recontextualize the present” through the deconstruction and reconstruction of traditional religious symbols. The traditional metaphors need to be reshaped in order to face contemporary problems such as nuclear warfare and to be more inclusive which involves having a more “ecological sensibility”. She is working within the "God is Love" paradigm where we can see our relationship with God / and the World as reflecting a unique aspect of love (I.e God as mother -- creator and sustainer, God as lover, and God as friend).

Given this book was published in the 80's, this author is well ahead of her time. Her book is easily relevant to the present.

Book arrived in great condition and on time. My daughter needed it for college, so it was great to get it so quickly so she could take it back to school with her after Winter Break.

This is a classic in (post)modern theology, and highly recommended for anyone who wants to approach God with an open mind.

McFague is a likeable and thoughtful scholar. I've had the good fortune of studying with her and found her to be kind, gentle, and full of wit and understanding.McFague's books may be divided into two sections. The first includes Speaking in Parables and Metaphorical Theology, books primarily concerned with understanding and interpreting Christian metaphors at a time in which traditional Christianity appeared to be losing purchase on the world. Of these two, Metaphorical Theology is the more important one (explores the paradigmatic shape of theology and the role of its images -- incorporates holistic insights from philosophy of science and studies of metaphor).Models of God represents the beginning of a new stage in McFague's work. It is more than just the crystallization of her feminist and ecological convictions and the further development of models suggested in MT. Really, it is a development from a call to understand the world to a call to change the world.As such, the gloves are off and McFague refuses to mince words --- I call it 'antithetical speech' --- she means to have it out with all of the things that has brought the world to the brink of nuclear and ecological disaster (nuclear threat especially, written at the time of Chernobyl and Ronald Reagan). At the heart of the problem, McFague argues, is a hierarchical, patriarchal, monarchial, dualistic view of the world (bad). McFague proposes a new theology which is tentative, prophetic, iconoclastic, and egalitarian (good).As an evangelical Christian (here it comes!), however, I find Models of God to be prematurely dismissive of biblical and historical theology. McFague paints with a broad brush when talking about why we are where we are. It's okay to claim that traditional Christianity is a complicit and hurtful factor in the world. To some extent, fine, let's face it. At the same time, however, it is certainly a lot more complex than that (what about Enlightenment/Rationalistic ideals which were quite hostile to orthodox Christianity and friendly to liberalism? What about Christian simplicity?).The replacement of traditional models with "more suitable" metaphors or models, for our time, seems to me problematic for several reasons:1. The grounds for suspicion --- you don't dismiss some models as idolatrous and dangerous without seriously jeopardizing your own. McFague's criticisms take place from a stance of transcendence --- how can she declare unequivocally what is relevant and what is irrelevant? Yet she seems to do precisely this. She believes that no one has access to pure reality, but she seems to declare her beliefs triumphantly and without an ounce of self-doubt (Kantian arrogance?).2. Pluralism as a means for overcoming idolatry --- I'm not sure that a plurality of models is going to do anything but muddle what you have to say and make you prone to follow whatever comes down the pipe five minutes from now.3. Models/Metaphors --- McFague's accent is on the static, ahistorical, atemporal. Metaphors, on the contrary, come within a temporal, narrative context. McFague's models are interesting 'thought experiments' but little more than that. She tends to be atomistic (what about paradigms?).4. Metaphors --- I find it hard to claim this as a metaphorical theology because it doesn't seem to take Christian models and metaphors seriously. This is evident in the very attempt to change/correct images, a view of metaphors which most studies (including McFague's) deny possible. Her treatment of Christian metaphors is purely interested in their ornamental value (deprecating content but keeping form). Thus Jesus become a destabilizing, nonhierarchical figure who ate with everybody. Yes, but Christians have always said more (and less) than this! McFague identifies the function of the parables (destabilizing) with the normative content. This is Christian only by accident (i.e. comes from Episcopalian/liberal Protestantism).It is not simply a matter of thinking Jesus is the central metaphor/model for your tradition, and a nice guy to boot --- but taking the New Testament witnesses seriously in all their variegated splendour, that makes a theology distinctly Christian.All said and done, Models of God is important for several reasons. First, beyond the thundering declarations are some pretty sensible arguments --- McFague is one of the most balanced and important feminist and ecological theologians of the first generation. Second, she is a damn good writer --- it is colourful but not maudlin. Third, she draws attention to matters epistemological and metaphysical without being wordy or pedantic. Fourth, she may be right in her assessment --- Christianity may be more hurtful or idolatrous in the long run. I just don't believe it is.

outwardly the book looks very good. light highlighting on inside. book not used much because when you turn pages they come away from the binding. i'm still OK with my purchase.