Translation frustration: The delicate art of Christian speech

Abstract

The article compares and reviews two recent books exploring the art of Christian speaking: Stanley Hauerwas's Learning to Speak Christian (2011) and Marcus J. Borg's Speaking Christian (2011). I argue that both Borg and Hauerwas seek actively to recover Christian language from idolatry, abuse and misunderstanding. Their books steer a course between a Christian use of words that makes too many concessions to 'worldly' usage, on the one hand, and, on the other, a temptation to retreat from the world. I conclude that if a Christian refusal simply to adopt different, untainted vocabulary reflects confidence in what has been received then a willingness to play with new words reflects hope in what is yet to be given and known.