Across national and cultural borders, the archetype of the fool has played a significant role in how communities interpret and ascribe identity. As Charles Campbell and Johan Cilliers remind us, the Christian preacher, tasked with delivering a paradoxical gospel, is a fool. In a delicate exploration with enlightening results, Preaching Fools uses a diverse representation of fools and foolish actions to show how modern preaching is inseparable from the folly of the cross. Campbell and Cilliers walk the fine line between the ugliness and beauty of the gospel and challenge readers toward a deeper engagement with its unsettling message.

Charles L. Campbell and Johan H. Cilliers

Preface

1. Don Quixote and the Cross

2. Folly at the Heart of Preaching

3. Theology between Fragment and Form

4. Melting the Solidarity of the World

5. Fooling the World: The Folly of Jesus

6. Laughter and Lament

7. Preaching Fools

8. The Rhetoric of Folly

Notes

Bibliography