Description: Through brilliant new interpretations of biblical exiles, Daniel Smith-Christopher shows their experience as the most apt model for the Church as witnesses for the peace and justice of God in a strange land. Endorsements: ""Smith presents the biblical exile as a model for godly faith. Scholars will appreciate his creative sociological interface between modern oppressed groups and Israel in captivity. Civil religion and liberation theologies consider exodus the key biblical model. Such theologies often nurture corruptions of power. Smith-Christopher's book, however, shows exile to be the key biblical model. This theology of exile enhances the power of the cross and strengthens the believing community. Religious leaders will appreciate this book for offering credible Christian theology to people who must live faithfully where they are, under some kind of Babylonian oppression."" --Arthur O. Roberts, Professor-at-Large, George Fox University ."" . . Daniel Smith-Christopher crystallizes a religion of nonconformity to the world as it is, of nonviolent, ethical activism toward the world as God wants it to be, and of scriptural autonomy for diverse, mutually respectful, historic cultures . . . this study proves, again, that a fearless social understanding of the Bible and its religion produces the kind of universal moral human fellowship about which namby-pamby interdenominationalism only waxes deceptively rhetorical."" --Steven S. Schwarzschild, Professor of Philosophy and Judaic Studies, Washington University, St. Louis ."" . . a brilliant mind at work demonstrating how the social sciences can illuminate the scriptural text . . . Well written and suggestive . . . the best of biblical scholarship currently available."" --Bernhard Lang, University of Paderborn, Germany About the Contributor(s): Daniel L. Smith-Christopher studied theology at the Mennonite Biblical Seminary and holds a doctorate from Oxford University. At Wilmington College he was Director of Peace Studies and taught religion and philosophy. Currently he teaches theology and Hebrew Bible at Loyola Marymount University.