Jeffrey F. Keuss 
Freedom of the Self 
Kenosis, Cultural Identity, and Mission at the Crossroads

Freedom of the Self revitalizes the question of identity formation in a postmodern era through a deep reading of Christian life in relation to current trends seen in the Emergent and Missional church movements. By relocating deep identity formation as formed and released through a renewed appraisal of kenotic Christology coupled with readings of Continental philosophy (Derrida, Levinas, Marion) and popular culture, Keuss offers a bold vision for what it means to be truly human in contemporary society, as what he calls the ‘kenotic self.’ In addition to providing a robust reflection of philosophical and theological understanding of identity formation, from Aristotle and Augustine through to contemporary thinkers, Freedom of the Self suggests some tangible steps for the individual and the church in regard to how everyday concerns such as economics, literature, and urbanization can be part of living into the life of the kenotic self.

About the author

Jeffrey F. Keuss is Professor and Associate Dean in the School of Theology at Seattle Pacific University. He is the author of Your Neighbor’s Hymnal, Freedom of the Self: Kenosis, Cultural Identity, and Mission at the Crossroads (Pickwick, 2010), The Sacred and the Profane: Current Demands on Hermeneutics (2003), and A Poetics of Jesus (2002).