Hey everybody, this is Aubrey Chavez from Faith Matters. For this Easter holiday we wanted to do

something a little different. So today we're actually sharing a chapter from the audiobook version

of Fiona and Terrell Givens' new book, All Things New, which was just published by Faith Matters.

The chapter is titled Atonement from Penal Substitution to Radical Healing. It may be the most

important chapter in the book. They walk through this history of poorly translated texts and a

medieval worldview that really emphasizes a jealous, angry, and retributive God. And then Fiona

and Terrell show how we've been past this conception of atonement that focuses on being saved

rather than being healed. So by looking at more appropriate translations, restoration doctrine

and the details of Jesus' life, they show that an emphasis on healing can emerge. And in the

words of theologian Dolores Williams, give humankind new vision to see the resources for positive,

abundant, relational life. I'll turn it over to Fiona from here, but happy Easter to each of you and

really hope that you enjoy this excerpt from All Things New. Chapter 13. Atonement from Penal

Substitution to Radical Healing. Few Christian doctrines have come under such concerted attack

in recent years as the doctrine of atonement, which Stephen Finland refers to as an embarrassment

among Christians. In his work on the subject, he notes the growing view that a compassionate

God is incompatible with all atonement theories. To the extent that those theories bear the

traces of medieval and reformation assumptions alike, we agree. We do not agree with Finland's

conclusion, but understand why he would feel driven to Jettison the whole project. Atonement

is not an essential doctrine of Christianity. How can we return to a healthier and true a conception?

Many ideas that Latter-day Saints hold about atonement are, in fact, products of that same

reformation era that left such widespread theological carnage. A review of the historical evolution

of that most essential doctrine, the doctrine of the atonement, requires a long digression,

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