Embodied Cross

"Mayimoto's work continues with creative strength and powerful relevance the original contribution of Kazoh Kitamori in his book The Theology of the Pain of God . . . Mayimoto's work provides not only a careful understanding of Luther, but a provocative and intellectually acute retrieval of Luther's contributions for our present theological reflection from a Japanese perspective."

--Jose D. Rodriguez

Augustana Heritage Chair of Global Mission and World Christianity

Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago



"Arata Miyamoto's Embodied Cross is the finest and most concrete example I know of for moving beyond prescriptions that Asian and other contextual theologies should move beyond the limits of Western theological categories. This is a profound book of constructive Christian theology that only a Japanese could have written, and it enriches the entire world."

--William R. Burrows

Research Professor of Missiology

New York Theological Seminary, Center for World Christianity



"Embodied Cross proposes an intercontextual reading of the Theologia Crucis . . . This book is a must read for those who are interested in understanding a fresh and different meaning of the Christian narrative in intercultural setting, grounded par excellence in East Asian theological imagination."

--Paul S. Chung

Associate Professor of Mission and World Christianity

Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota



"A fascinating example of intercontextual reading. Readers will be thrilled to see Luther's theology of the cross unfold into a creative interaction with modern Christian theologians and Buddhist philosophers from different contexts. Miyamoto deftly weaves the historically contingent event of Jesus Christ and the divine embrace of cosmic dukkha together into a Trinitarian expression of solidarity with human suffering that extends beyond the realm of Christianity."

--Anri Morimoto

Professor, Department of Philosophy and Religion

International Christian University



"Embodied Cross is a commendable work of carrying contextual theologies to an intercontextual challenge . . . This is a work that explores uncharted territories with insightfulness and a theological disposition to meet difference as difference in a 'third place.' The book is a momentous contribution to studies of Lutheran theology in a global context."

--Vitor Westhelle

Professor of Systematic Theology

Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago