Divine Economy expands upon the economic connotations of the theological doctrine of redemption. The term redemption refers to a process of "buying back" slaves from conditions of oppression and thus compares the crux of Christian dogma to an economic exchange involving human emancipation. The phrase "miraculous exchanges" refers to the problem of redemptive divine and human agency in an economic context in which many who desire justice and equity feel powerless and hopeless. The originality of Divine Economy lies not only in its theological reading of redemption as an economic metaphor, but also in its focus on the economic subtexts of Christian tradition and how they form and are formed by society's economic constructions. Grau's unique project merges together economic, historical, and psycho-social analysis with theological critique and construction.
Marion Grau is Professor of Systematic Theology, Ecumenism and Missiology at MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society, Norway.
"This is a thoroughly engaging and stimulating book. Often it made me stop and ponder a point, construct a train of thought and an argument, [and] nod in agreement...Divine Economy is worth a read." -Roland Boer, The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 6