The Ten commandments form one of the "classics" of Western culture, authoritative in both Hebrew and Christian Scriptures. They come to us from a distant past, and Thorwald Lorenzen offers thoughtful reflections on their meaning in today's tumultuous world. He contends that it is important to hear God's invitation to an alternative lifestyle: "you shall not kill," "you shall not commit adultery," "you shall not covet," as God "speaking" ten words to liberate His people from oppression. Grounded in God's liberating "yes," the Commandments are neither laws nor rules, but elements in a culture of freedom in which people are invited to celebrate life. "Combining exegetical acumen with sharp theological insight, Lorenzen has produced a fresh and deeply profound meditation on the Ten Words of the Torah. Filled with historical and contemporary illustrations, Lorenzen proves that the Decalogue is as relevant, practical, challenging, and disturbing today as ever. Highly readable yet informed by a lifetime of scholarly study, Lorenzen's book will be valuable to pastors and the laity and would make an excellent supplemental classroom text." - Kent Blevins, Professor, Department of Religious Studies and Philosophy, Gardner-Webb University "Here is the most careful and relevant study of the Ten Commandments available. Biblically grounded, theologically astute, Lorenzen's penetrating treatment of each commandment results in a mature, global ethic for Christians." - D. Dixon Sutherland, Professor of Religious Studies, Director, Christian Ethics Institute, Stetson University " 'Toward a Culture of Freedom' is a superb ethical treatise based on the Ten Commandments. Deeply grounded in scriptures and equipped with an expansive and compassionate experience of today's world, Professor Lorenzen will help readers to discern some solid rocks to stand on in an era when all human foundations seem to be quivering." - E. Glenn Hinson, Professor Emeritus, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond Thorwald Lorenzen is Professor of Theology at Charles Sturt University, Canberra; a guest lecturer at St. Mark's Theological Centre and Whitley College, University of Melbourne; and a Principal Researcher within the Public and Contextual Theology Strategic Research Centre, Charles Sturt University. He is author of 'Resurrection and Discipleship: Interpretive Models, Biblical Re?ections, Theological Consequences' (1995 and 2003) and 'Resurrection - Discipleship - Justice: Af?rming the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Today' (2003).

Description: The Ten Commandments belong to the ""classics"" of Western culture. They are an authoritative part of the Hebrew and the Christian Scriptures. Since they come to us from an ancient past, it is both necessary and worthwhile to inquire what they may mean for us today. Thorwald Lorenzen contends it is important to hear God's invitation to an alternative lifestyle: ""you shall not kill,"" ""you shall not commit adultery,"" ""you shall not covet."" His thoughtful reflections on the commandments for today's tumultuous world begin with the God who ""speaks"" ten word to liberate God's people from oppression. Grounded in God's liberating ""yes,"" the ""ten words"" are neither laws nor rules. They are elements for a culture of freedom in which people are invited to celebrate life. Endorsements: ""Thorwald Lorenzen presents an inspiring call to embrace freedom as a matter of spiritual inheritance and destiny. Pastors and prophets alike will use this text to sharpen their vision, and every reader will find in it a guide to break free from those chains that bind them."" --David Batstone, author, Professor of Ethics, University of San Francisco, and President, NOT For Sale ""Combining exegetical acumen with sharp theological insight, Lorenzen has produced a fresh and deeply profound meditation on the Ten Words of the Torah. Filled with historical and contemporary illustrations, Lorenzen proves that the Decalogue is as relevant, practical, challenging, and disturbing today as ever. Highly readable yet informed by a lifetime of scholarly study, Lorenzen's book will be immensely valuable to both pastors and laypersons and would make an excellent supplemental classroom text. The appendices on interpreting the Ten Commandments and on making ethical decisions make a book that is already well worth the price a bargain indeed."" --Kent Blevins, Professor, Department of Religious Studies and Philosophy, Gardner-Webb University ""Here is the most careful and relevant study of the Ten Commandments now available. Biblically grounded, theologically astute, Lorenzen's penetrating treatment of each of the commandments results in constructing a mature, global ethic for Christians. Far from a legalistic list of commands, Lorenzen shows how 'the Ten Words' function as a blueprint for connecting the dots between a private and social ethic in a pluralistic world."" --D. Dixon Sutherland, Professor of Religious Studies, Director, Christian Ethics Institute, Stetson University ""Toward a Culture of Freedom is a superb ethical treatise based on the Ten Commandments. Deeply grounded in scriptures and equipped with an expansive and compassionate experience of today's world, Professor Lorenzen will help you to discern some solid rocks to stand on in an era when all human foundations seem to be quivering. Though writing from a Christian perspective, he speaks to persons of all faiths and even no faith. Would that every American, nay, every human being, would glean the wisdom she or he will find here."" --E. Glenn Hinson, Professor Emeritus, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond About the Contributor(s): Thorwald Lorenzen is Professor of Theology at Charles Sturt University; a guest lecturer at St. Mark's Theological Center and Whitley College, University of Melbourne; and a Principal Researcher within the Public and Contextual Theology Strategic Research Centre (PACT), Charles Sturt University, in Canberra, Australia. He is author of Resurrection and Discipleship: Interpretive Models, Biblical Reflections, Theological Consequences (1995 and 2003) and Resurrection--Discipleship--Justice: Affirming the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Today (2003).

Resurrection and Discipleship begins by describing and analyzing four approaches to the resurrection, and theologians who may be said to typify them. Lorenzen calls these approaches the "traditional" (Carl F.H. Henry and Wolfhart Pannenberg); the "liberal" (Bultmann, Knox, Strauss, Paulus, Presch, and Griffin); the "evangelical" (Barth, Kunneth, and Schillebeeckx); and the "liberation" (Moltmann and Sobrino). The purpose of these models is to increase awareness of basic families of theological orientations as they arise in interpretations of the resurrection of Jesus. This sets the scene for discussing how the church has attempted throughout history to deal with the resurrection. In Part II Lorenzen turns to the New Testament narratives themselves and how the resurrection functions as the foundational event for Christianity. He addresses the novum character of the resurrection and the problems associated with the language describing an "Act of God". Lorenzen further explores the appearances of the risen Christ, in the experience of the Holy Spirit through Easter and Pentecost, and in the empty tomb narratives. In Part III, he examines the nature and content of resurrection faith for contemporary Christian life and thought. Finally, in Part IV, Lorenzen outlines the nature and reality of the resurrection for understanding the nature of God, christology, soteriology, and for the nature and mission of the church.