Books by C S Song

The pioneer of contextual theology concludes his trilogy on the person and message of Jesus with a profound meditation on the significance of Jesus for a post-Christian world. Probing and exploding the distortions of a religion too-long married to Western culture, Song finds Christians in the Third World who "are discovering that Jesus full of grace...is greater than the apostles and larger than Christianity". In their stories and insights, Song detects the Spirit of truth alive and well - although resisting domestication within the narrow confines of theologies that "curtail the magnitude of God's salvation" to suit their own preferences. In conversation with them and with Song, we are compelled - as was Jesus - by the Spirit to cross the frontiers of truth. After his explorations of the person of Jesus in Jesus, the Crucified People (1989) and of the message of Jesus in Jesus and the Reign of God (Fortress Press, 1993), Song here extends the picture in surprising ways. Whether in a Buddhist parable, a Rabbinic tale, a Yoruba drama, or the Tao Te Ching, Song finds the "open truth" of Jesus Christ at large in the world. In the end, for Song, the Incarnation is a more subtle, far-reaching, and earth-shattering event than one simple historical moment - or movement - can contain. As its Spirit-driven winds reach our shores, we are invited by Song on a theological journey to wherever it prompts.

With ''Theology from the Womb of Asia'', Song continues to demonstrate that he is one of the most creative and important theologians of our time. He forces us to expand the horizons of our theological vision, not only by drawing on the resources of Asian thought and experience, but also by insisting that we do theology with passion. Here he offers images, fables, poems, parables, and visions, woven together with his own compelling prose. The biblical stories with which we thought we were familiar become new and more compelling stories when we revisit them with this able and wise guide. And our whole approach to life and living is transformed by the freshness he breathes into all that he surveys with us.--Robert McAfee Brown, Professor Emeritus of Theology and Ethics, Pacific School of ReligionIn ''Theology from the Womb of Asia'', C. S. Song shows how the story of God''s compassion in Jesus and the many heartrending stories and poems of the Asian people are reaching out towards each other. Doing theology in this perspective is not a matter of application of doctrine, but of recognition of a relation between the suffering God and suffering humanity, which transcends many artificial and alienating distinctions. The book is an appeal to Asian theologians, but at the same time a necessary challenge to a Western academic theology and missionary thinking.--Bert Hoedemaker, Professor of Missions and Christian Ethics, University of Groningen, the NetherlandsA splendid example of doing theology with Asian resources. A breath of fresh air to liven up traditional theology, using original reflections and observations with the backing of close knowledge of traditional theology. A book no theological college can do without.--Yeow Choo Lak, The South East Asia Graduate School of Theology, SingaporeC. S. Song is Professor of Theology and Asian Cultures at Pacific School of Religion. His recent publications include ''The Believing Heart''.

''Tell Us Our Names'' is a timely book, beautifully written and understandable by all. Its particular challenge lies in the folk and fairy tales that provide the text. Here are the roots of both faith and reason -- and the direct way to dump excess baggage and discover new and better questions. Scripture, Oriental wisdom, ecumenical theology: all receive calm and imaginative treatment in Song''s hands.""--Joseph McLelland, McGill University, MontrealIn this volume Dr. Song offers us ''golden keys to open the stonegates of religion.'' Gathering together intercultural insights from the experience of people in many countries, these parables and stories usher us into the presence of Mystery. The easy flow of storytelling, smoothly mixed with sensitive interpretation, makes this volume very readable. To those who believe that theology has to do only with ideas and concepts, this volume may come as a surprise and a joyful discovery.""--S. J. Samartha, former Director, Dialogue Programme, World Council of Churches, GenevaC. S. Song explores the folk tales of the world and depicts God''s answer to the thrust for the redemption of the people with ''one stroke of an Asian brush.'' Here, the culture, religion, history, and suffering of the Asian people is the medium of God''s redemptive revelation. Certainly, by this work he has contributed another ''transposition'' of the biblical message to Asia, a monumental accomplishment in the formation of Asian theology. Reading this Theology of Folk Tales is exciting and illuminative.""--Nam-Dong Suh, Director, Institute for Mission Education, Seoul, KoreaC. S. Song is Professor of Theology and Asian Cultures at Pacific School of Religion. His recent publications include ''The Believing Heart''.

Description:The Christian Bible is fundamentally a story. Writers, painters, sculptors, artists, and indeed, people of all walks of life live by the telling of their stories. Stories are the most basic mode of human communication. Thus it is vital to ask why Christians and above all Christian theologians so often fail to express their faith in terms of story. The vast majority of the Hebrew Scriptures, for example, consist of stories. Jesus proclaimed and taught about the Reign of God through stories and parables. At the heart of the Christian faith are stories, not concepts, propositions, or ideas.Given the deep rootedness of the Christian faith in storytelling, this book seeks to address the fact that Christian theology has too often taken the form of concepts, ideas, and systems. This book is an attempt to speak of Christian faith and theology in stories rather than systems. Through stories, both biblical and non-biblical, this book shows how we might reimagine the task of Christian theology in the life of faith today. At its heart is the conviction that in the beginning there were stories and that, in the end and indeed, beyond the end, are stories, not texts, ideas, and concepts.Endorsements:"A consummate storyteller, C. S. Song has been at the leading edge of contemporary Christian theology for several decades now. This latest work is essential reading for anyone who has grown weary of systematic formulations. Song's faithful narrative is a story well told."-James TreatUniversity of Illinois"C. S. Song has been a consistent and prolific writer of story theology. He has given us rich material over the years. Here is more. His work is brilliant, imaginative, metaphorical, instructive, and faithful."-Archie Smith Jr.Pacific School of Religion and Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley"C. S. Song the Griot chants with the entrancing cadence of an old-hand peddler of tales. Story-telling is a human practice of meaning-making, he reminds us, and through webs of stories we catch potent expressions of divine mystery and human struggle. Uninvested in cultural-linguistic expositions for narrative classification and hermeneutic regulation, Song simply invites readers/listeners into story worlds across time and cultures so that we may live into the fantastical nature of God-talk and human-talk."-Mai-Anh Le TranEden Theological Seminary, St. LouisAbout the Contributor(s):C. S. Song is Chair Professor of Theology at Yu Shan Theological Seminary and Chang Jong Christian University in Taiwan.