Sacrifice regained

Book Description

In this thought-provoking exploration, theologian Sarah Coakley challenges contemporary assumptions about one of humanity's most complex spiritual concepts. Drawing from her Cambridge inaugural lecture, she examines how modern culture has increasingly portrayed sacrifice through a lens of violence and negativity, while simultaneously witnessing philosophers retreat from defending religious truth claims in public discourse.

Coakley presents a compelling alternative vision that bridges the gap between faith and reason. She argues that recent discoveries in evolutionary biology offer fresh insights into sacrifice that are both intellectually sound and scientifically grounded. Rather than viewing sacrifice as destructive or irrational, she proposes understanding it through the lens of evolutionary dynamics that reveal deeper patterns of meaning and purpose.

This work addresses the growing divide between secular and religious worldviews, particularly responding to contemporary atheist critiques of faith. Coakley demonstrates how evolutionary science, religious practice, and interpretive understanding can work together to create a more complete picture of human experience and belief.

Writing at a time of unprecedented ecological challenges, she suggests that recovering a proper understanding of sacrifice becomes essential for navigating our current global crisis. Her approach offers readers a pathway to reconcile scientific knowledge with spiritual wisdom, presenting sacrifice not as loss or violence, but as a fundamental principle that connects biological reality with religious truth.