Apocalypse Recalled: The Book of Revelation after Christendom.Apocalypse Recalled: The Book of Revelation after Christendom. By Harry O. Maier. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2002. xvi and 271 pages. Paper. $18.00. "Of all the books of the Bible Books of the Bible are listed differently in the canons of Jews, and Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox Christians, although there is overlap. A table comparing the canons of these denominations appears below, for both the Old Testament and the New Testament. , the Book of Revelation is probably the one that most of us would rather live without," acknowledges Harry O. Maier about the canonical text that looms large in our collective imagination but appears infrequently in the lectionary lec·tion·ar·y n. pl. lec·tion·ar·ies A book or list of lections to be read at church services during the year. [Medieval Latin l of mainstream churches. Maier, whose dissertation was published as The Social Setting of the Ministry as Reflected in the Writings of Hermas, Clement and Ignatius (Wilfrid Laurier University Press Wilfrid Laurier University Press is a university press that is part of the Wilfrid Laurier University. External links
v. med·i·tat·ed, med·i·tat·ing, med·i·tates v.tr. 1. To reflect on; contemplate. 2. To plan in the mind; intend: meditated a visit to her daughter. on the role the church is to play in a modern secular society." The oft en ecclesially ignored though highly influential Book of Revelation is quite simply "a call to Christian discipleship." After prefacing his work, the first chapter addresses "Apocalypse Troubles," followed by "I, John." The next two address the visual aspects of Revelation in "Seeing Things" and the auditory concerns in "Hearing Voices." The fifth and sixth chapters concern the text's reception--both ancient, "Games with Time," and modern, "The Praise of Folly." Maier's intent, while academically grounded, is primarily hermeneutical, as the book encourages a "post-liberal vision for a socially engaged religious identity in an irreligious ir·re·li·gious adj. Hostile or indifferent to religion; ungodly. ir  re·li , secular, pluralistic society." By "wedding sociopolitical so·ci·o·po·li·ti·cal adj. Involving both social and political factors. sociopolitical Adjective of or involving political and social factors critique with autobiographical exegesis exegesis Scholarly interpretation of religious texts, using linguistic, historical, and other methods. In Judaism and Christianity, it has been used extensively in the study of the Bible. Textual criticism tries to establish the accuracy of biblical texts. ," he writes of both the personal and corporate challenge of John of Patmos. For pastors and folks in the pew struggling to live faithful lives in this millennium, Maier's work provides a thoughtful and encouraging guide through a two-way critique of the book of Revelation. Laurie Brink, O.P. University of Chicago |
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