Martyrdom and Identity: The Self on Trial

This book addresses the need for an account of Christian discipleship which addresses matters of selfhood and identity in the contemporary context. It will help its readers 'perform' Christian scripture more ably in the light of the witness of Christian martyrs.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction a. 'I wish to be what I am'. b. martyrdom and Christian identity - the basis of the link c. 'identity' and 'the self' d. outline 2. 'What Kind of Idea Are You?' Martyrdom and Identity in Charles Taylor and in Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses a. introduction b. Charles Taylor and Authenticity c. Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses d. Conclusion 3. The First Temptation: The Temptation to Security and the Risk of Martyrdom a. introduction b. Scripture and the martyrs c. the first temptation d. Martha C. Nussbaum, the Greeks and luck e. the martyr and the 'good' life f. The martyr looking forward 4. The Second Temptation: The Temptation to Collaborate and the Mission of the Martyrs a. introduction b. the second temptation c. Richard Rorty and pragmatism d. the martyr, power and authority e. suffering and hoping witness: the mission and the martyr 5. The Third Temptation: The Temptation to Idealism and Martyrdom as Passive Action a. Introduction b. The third temptation c. Roger Scruton, T.S. Eliot and patriotic tradition d. The martyr, patriotism and action e. The responsibility of martyrdom

About the Author :
The Revd Dr Michael P. Jensen completed his doctorate in Moral Theology at the University of Oxford in 2008 and lectures in Doctrine at Moore Theological College in Sydney, Australia.

Review :
‘To both philosophers of narrative identity and devotees of the cult of self-fulfillment, nothing is as counter-intuitive as martyrdom. Jensen here turns conventional wisdom on its head, arguing that martyrdom is not a surrendering (or making) of one's identity but an active reception of one's being in Christ. The unexamined life may not be worth living (Socrates), but the untested Christian life is a veritable contradiction in terms. In a secular age of victims and victors, where many feel the burden of self-invention while others await Godot, Jensen urges Christians to communicate their faith in divine providence by resisting the temptation to follow ways that lead to worldly security, power, and status, and instead follow the way of Jesus Christ. Martyrdom - bearing witness to the gospel - is a costly communicative act that is not easily dismissed, or refuted. This is a beautifully conceived and practically challenging work from which readers will not quickly recover.' - Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Wheaton College, IL, USA.   ‘This rich and intricate book by Michael Jenson deserves a wider audience than I fear it may attract. Clearly the outworking of an impressive doctoral thesis... it will reward the careful reader with challenging insights into what it means to be a Christian... Erudite and compelling, Jensen has written a tour-de-force on the nature of the Christian self... Any reader should be prepared to wrestle with themselves.' Jensen's book is a significant contribution to the recent theological literature on Christian martyrdom. Through his interpretation of scripture (the extent to which he scripturally argues for a martyrial vision of Christian selfhood is most impressive), a theological reading of the early Christian martyriological tradition, and his ingenious use and insightful reading of Eliot's play, Jensen successfully retrieves the discourse of martyrdom for an account of Christian selfhood. ‘...The book is an important reminder that martyrdom is not a political weapon but is a critical component of the Christian tradition.'—Theological Studies ‘Displaying extraordinary literary sensibilities, Jensen illumines how martyrs help us better understand why and how our lives as Christians require the embodiment of narrative. His analysis of Murder in the Cathedral should be required reading for all Christians.' - Stanley Hauerwas, Duke Divinity School, Durham, NC, USA ‘A remarkable first book from an Australian scholar of great promise, offering a compelling account of the relation of Christian identity and martyrdom.' - Alister McGrath, Centre for Theology, Religion and Culture, King's College, London, UK If we are looking for a plausible theological thesis, plausibly theologically argued, then we should not be disappointed. Eliot was right to identify the temptations which he did; Jensen is right to suppose that martyrdom is both an authentic outward expression of Christian selfhood and a telling revelation of inner Christian selfhood. Further, this selfhood is commendable in and to a world that does not take for granted the integrity of Christian self-understanding. What the author says is well said and neither shallow, on the one hand, nor pretentious, on the other. The way in which Jensen brings together philosophers, theologians, novelists and playwrights to explore the self in relation to martyrdom is lucid, engaging and highly stimulating.