Understanding Atonement: Beyond Punishment and Toward Love
Subtitle: "Where Crosses, Penguins, and Penal Substitution Collide"
Your Hosts
Anthony Parrott and Tonetta Landis-Aina welcome you to LOAM Podcast - "a conversation on a more beautiful gospel."
Episode Topics & Timestamps
- [00:01:00] Introduction to Atonement - Why this conversation matters and setting the stage
- [00:02:00] Caveat \#1: Embodied Reality - Atonement isn't just theory\; it's lived experience for many
- [00:06:00] Caveat \#2: Dangerous Ideas - How teachings can be weaponized when misunderstood
- [00:08:00] Personal Formation Stories - What were you taught about the cross?
- [00:17:00] Penal Substitutionary Atonement Explained - Breaking down PSA and its problems
- [00:24:00] Atonement and Justice - Wrestling with the need for justice without retribution
- [00:30:00] The Power of Metaphor - How biblical writers used multiple images to describe mystery
- [00:32:00] Art and Contemplation - Finding meaning through music and visual art
Key Insights from This Episode
The Translation Problem
Anthony explains how William Tyndale's translation choices created theological confusion by using "atonement" for both Greek katalasso (reconciliation) and Hebrew kippur (decontamination/purification), leading to centuries of conflated meaning.
Two Important Caveats
Caveat \#1: Atonement theology isn't just abstract theory - it affects real people experiencing real crucifixion in their daily lives (unemployment, discrimination, systemic oppression).
Caveat \#2: These ideas can be dangerous when mishandled, like "trying to pick up a snake in the wild" - they can mean the exact opposite of their intended message.
The Problem with Penal Substitutionary Atonement
- Makes punishment and retribution ultimate rather than love
- Puts violence at the heart of God's character
- Reduces the rich biblical metaphors to one narrow theory
- Can perpetuate cycles of violence and revenge
"If God will not forgive us until his son has been tortured to death for us, then God is a lot less forgiving than we are sometimes." - Herbert McCabe
Toward a Better Understanding
The hosts emphasize that biblical writers used multiple metaphors (sacrificial, legal, interpersonal, commercial, military) because they were trying to describe a mystery that transcends any single explanation.
Resources & References Mentioned
Books & Authors
- Strange New World Podcast by Matthew Myers Bolton
- Herbert McCabe - Catholic theologian quoted on forgiveness
- Sally McFague - Theologian on metaphor and religious language
- Robert Mulholland - Spiritual formation framework using Jungian archetypes
- Jon Sobrino - Liberation theologian who wrote about "crucified peoples"
Music & Art
- "Lamb of God" - Choral cantata by Rob Gardner (Mormon composer)
- "No Greater Love" - Gospel song ("They hung him high, stretched him wide")
- "Worth" - Contemporary Christian song
- "How Great the Father's Love for Us" - Hymn mentioned
- Stations of the Cross - Catholic contemplative practice
- Franciscan Monastery, Washington DC - Mentioned as a place for stations of the cross
Biblical & Theological Terms
- Katalasso (Greek) - Reconciliation
- Kippur (Hebrew) - Purification/decontamination (as in Yom Kippur)
- Penal Substitutionary Atonement (PSA) - The dominant Protestant theory of atonement
- William Tyndale - English Bible translator who coined "atonement"
Recommended Further Reading
- Explore liberation theology and Jon Sobrino's work on "crucified peoples"
- Study the various biblical metaphors for atonement (not just substitution)
- Research Herbert McCabe's writings on forgiveness and God's character
- Look into contemplative practices like Stations of the Cross
Connect with LOAM
Submit your questions and feedback - they'll respond in future episodes!
What's Next?
This is Part 1 of a multi-part series on atonement. The hosts promise to move beyond critique toward constructive alternatives - exploring how we can understand the cross as good news without the problematic baggage of punishment-focused theology.
"We are not just gonna tear it down and leave people in that... I think we can do better." - Tonetta
Discussion Questions
- What were you taught about the cross growing up? How has that shaped your understanding of God?
- How might the difference between "reconciliation" and "purification" change how we read atonement passages?
- Where do you see "crucified peoples" in today's world?
- How can we hold onto the love revealed in the cross while rejecting harmful theology?
- What art, music, or practices help you contemplate the mystery of the cross?
LOAM Podcast: A conversation on a more beautiful gospel.
