Why the Cross? Understanding the Shape of the Christian Life

The cross is the defining symbol of Christianity. It is by turn misunderstood, misappropriated, venerated, and under-appreciated; absorbing a variety of meanings from the inspiring to the problematic. Inside or outside the church, its over-familiarity is its strength and its weakness, reduced at times to mere branding. Yet within the New Testament scriptures, and the lives of the early Christian communities, 'the cross' represents a multi-faceted theology which grapples with state violence, lame