Christ's atonement focuses on healing society, promoting less retribution.
Exploration of justice in atonement challenges traditional views, emphasizing love and transformation.
Evolution of atonement theories highlights the shift towards healing over punishment.
Deep dives
Evolution of Atonement Theology
Various theories of Atonement and their historical development are discussed. The lack of a definitive Atonement theology in early Christianity and the evolution of theories like penal substitution and satisfaction theory are highlighted. The conversation delves into the moral influence theory and the idea of Christ's love transforming individuals.
Concepts of Justice and Consequences
The podcast explores the concept of justice and consequences in relation to Atonement. Different perspectives on justice, including the law of restoration, mercy, and agency, are analyzed. The discussion challenges traditional views of justice and retribution, emphasizing the importance of love and transformation.
Reflections on Scripture Interpretation
Challenging interpretations of scriptures related to Atonement, such as D&C 19, are examined within the context of reframing traditional beliefs. The conversation navigates the tension between punitive interpretations and alternative views that prioritize understanding God's love and the process of transformation.
Different Perspectives on Atonement Theology
A key point discussed in the podcast is the varied perspectives on atonement theology, highlighting the historical evolution of views on atonement. The conversation delves into how different theologians and thinkers have interpreted atonement, emphasizing the shift towards a focus on healing rather than retribution. Various theories of atonement are explored, including penal substitution and moral influence, shedding light on the impact of these theories on individuals' beliefs and daily interactions.
The Role of Atonement in Relationship and Community
Another significant insight from the podcast is the role of atonement in fostering relationships and community among believers. The discussion emphasizes the communal nature of salvation and the idea of atonement as a process of reintegrating individuals into loving union. By reframing atonement as an active and present experience, the conversation encourages listeners to view their relationships with God and others through the lens of overflowing love and participation in a shared spiritual journey.
A few weeks ago, we released a conversation with Terryl Givens about the life of Eugene England. England’s work on atonement theology had felt like it necessitated another conversation, but it was too big to fit into the first one. So this week, we brought Terryl back to talk not just about England’s views, but about atonement generally.
The conversation starts with the fascinating premise that our faith doesn’t actually have an official theology of Atonement. What is clear, doctrinally, is that Christ brought about something of universal importance: as the Book of Mormon says, "we talk of Christ, rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, (and) we prophesy of Christ." (2nd Nephi 25:26) We accept Christ as both savior and healer — but that doesn’t mean that we’ve achieved a consensus understanding of how Christ’s atonement actually accomplished those goals of “saving” and “healing.”
So in this conversation with Terryl, we discussed various atonement theories — what some of the greatest Christian and Latter-day Saint thinkers have posited over the years about how the atonement works; why it’s necessary, and how it can apply in real life. It seemed to us that there was something to value in nearly all of these explorations, and it was fascinating to see how those views have evolved over time.
And, as it always does, conversation with Terryl brought us back to what’s really important: how Christ’s atonement can bring less retribution and more healing to society, and how we can participate in that work. Terryl reminded us that Atonement is about reintegration into loving relationship — not just vertically with God, but horizontally with those around us.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
