The Self Examined

“One of the important and difficult tasks of Christian educators and researchers today is to address issues related to identity and identity formation. The Self Examined proves a tremendous interdisciplinary resource for both the academy and all who want a nuanced and thoroughly Christian grounding in this important topic. As a university chaplain, this book has already been a great help in teaching and staff development. I highly recommend it.”

—Rob Rhea, PhD, Chaplain and Director of the Centre for Spiritual Formation, Trinity Western University, British Colombia, Canada

“This book offers a variety of important contributions to the much-debated concept of identity. McGill gathers a group of professors, theologians, pastors, and practitioners from various disciplines, representing different cultural backgrounds, to consider aspects of human identity-making, articulating how multiple identities are negotiated and how self-understanding relates to Christian faith. It stands as an important contribution to the conversation of how and who we understand ourselves to be, and advances our discernment of identity, both in a biblical and in a broader cultural horizon.”

—Markus Zehnder, PhD, Professor of Old Testament and Semitics, Talbot School of Theology

“These essays contribute new facets to the discussion of Christian identity, addressing topics such as shame, suffering, gender, forgiveness, and relationship in a way that is engaging and relevant. They are a rare combination of sound theory and robust theological discussion that lend themselves to devotional and life application. Each essay provides a rich, nuanced, balanced theological discussion that address important contemporary issues. It is a very timely and excellent contribution to our understanding of what it means to be created in the image of God.”

—A. Sue Russell, PhD, Professor of Missions and Contextual Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary

“Identity may have taken the place of culture as the most complex word in daily use. For those of us called or responsible to assist others in their formation as Christians, exploring what it is, how it forms, and where it points is not optional. Fortunately, this new collection of essays offers rich, relevant, and readable discussions that will help readers makes sense of identity both for their own Christian journeys as well for those contemporary issues where ‘identity’ is in play.”

—Todd Pickett, PhD, Dean of Spiritual Development, Biola University

“This is a book for anyone who has asked how Christian belonging interacts with prominent contemporary discourses on identity. Nine authors from across the globe offer insightful interdisciplinary scrutiny of this question. They explore shame, forgiveness and suffering alongside ethnic, gender, and migrant identities to provide helpful theological responses to issues of identity.”

—Emma Wild-Wood, PhD, Senior Lecturer of African Christianity and African Indigenous Religions, University of Edinburgh

 “Human identity and its politics are the most contested topics in our cultural spaces today. What does it mean to be a human being, what is gender, what is intersectionality, and how shall we live with differences? Christians have to confront this quagmire of rival accounts in human identity. Jenny McGill has put together a team of cross-disciplinary researchers who draw on Scripture, history, culture, and biology to help us think through what it means to have a Christian identity in a world troubled by the quest to know one’s self.”

—Michael F. Bird, PhD, Lecturer in Theology at Ridley College, Melbourne

“This book comes like a fresh breeze, reflecting on Christian identity in a super-diverse and super-mobile world. Building the bridge between past and present, it illuminates Scripture in fresh ways with contemporary identity questions in mind. Often in radically changing times, we reflect on identity instinctively from the perspective of fear. This book not only describes these phenomena but also gives fresh perspectives on how to deal with contemporary identity formation. I highly recommend this book.”

—Jacobus (Kobus) Kok, PhD, Department Chair and Professor of New Testament Studies, Evangelische Theologische Faculteit, Leuven, Belgium

 “McGill has assembled a diverse group of authors to discuss identity from a Christian perspective. From the beginning of the biblical story in Genesis through several New Testament epistles, the authors interact with the Scriptural text with exegetical and theological acumen and engage contemporary questions of identity from the standpoint of Christian convictions. Well written, extensively documented, and charitably argued, The Self Examined is an excellent contribution to this critical conversation.”

—Glenn R. Kreider, PhD, Professor of Theological Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary