Description

Book Synopsis
The Forsaken Son engages the provocative coincidence of the vocabularies of infanticide and Christianity, specifically atonement theology, in six modern American novels: Flannery O'Connor's The Violent Bear It Away, the first two installments of John Updike's Rabbit tetralogy, Toni Morrison's Beloved, Joyce Carol Oates's My Sister, My Love, and Cormac McCarthy's Outer Dark. Christian atonement theology explains why God lets his son be crucified. Yet in recent years, as an increasing number of scholars have come to reject that explanation, the cross reverts from saving grace to traumaor even crime. More bluntly, without atonement, the cross may be a filicide, in which God forces his son to die for no apparent reason. Pederson argues that the novels about child murder mentioned above likewise give voice to modern skepticism about traditional atonement theology.

The Forsaken Son Child Murder and Atonement in

    Product form

    £42.17

    Includes FREE delivery

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Wed 8 Jul 2026.

    A Paperback by Joshua Pederson

    Out of stock

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of The Forsaken Son Child Murder and Atonement in by Joshua Pederson

      Publisher: Northwestern University Press
      Publication Date: 4/30/2016 12:00:00 AM
      ISBN13: 9780810132276, 978-0810132276
      ISBN10: 0810132273

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      The Forsaken Son engages the provocative coincidence of the vocabularies of infanticide and Christianity, specifically atonement theology, in six modern American novels: Flannery O'Connor's The Violent Bear It Away, the first two installments of John Updike's Rabbit tetralogy, Toni Morrison's Beloved, Joyce Carol Oates's My Sister, My Love, and Cormac McCarthy's Outer Dark. Christian atonement theology explains why God lets his son be crucified. Yet in recent years, as an increasing number of scholars have come to reject that explanation, the cross reverts from saving grace to traumaor even crime. More bluntly, without atonement, the cross may be a filicide, in which God forces his son to die for no apparent reason. Pederson argues that the novels about child murder mentioned above likewise give voice to modern skepticism about traditional atonement theology.

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account