Exploring Christian Spirituality: An Ecumenical Reader.Exploring Christian Spirituality: An Ecumenical Reader Edited by Kenneth J. Collins Baker, $26.99, 400 pp. The subtitle sub·ti·tle n. 1. A secondary, usually explanatory title, as of a literary work. 2. A printed translation of the dialogue of a foreign-language film shown at the bottom of the screen. tr.v. of Collins's anthology on spirituality should be taken seriously. The range of essays in this collection stretches from the Evangelical perspective to the Anglican, Orthodox, and Roman Catholic traditions. Still, any course in Christian spirituality must engage primary texts. The essays in this collection only provide background for such an engagement. Consequently, this book is best used as ancillary material for a university or seminary seminary Educational institution, usually for training in theology. In the U.S. the term was formerly also used to refer to institutions of higher learning for women, often teachers' colleges. course on Christian spirituality. Collins divides his collection into seven large sections. The first two deal with problems of definition (he includes the now classic essay of the late Walter Principe) and methodology. In the third section a brief overview of "Christian Traditions Christian traditions are traditions of practice or belief associated with Christianity. The term has several connected meanings. In terms of belief, traditions are generally stories or history that are or were widely accepted without being part of Christian doctrine. " is provided. This is perhaps the thinnest of the sections because it covers too much material in too limited a space (Roman Catholic spirituality The belief of the Roman Catholic Church is that, once one has accepted the faith (fides quae creditur) by making a personal act of faith (fides qua creditur), then one lives it out through spiritual practice. becomes limited to the excellent essay on the Carmelites by Keith Egan). Separate essays cover Orthodox spirituality as well as Anglican and various Protestant schools. Likewise, the fourth section on spirituality and theology is too limited to explore fully this crucial theme. It is also a topic of great debate, as is readily seen by contrasting Charles Bernard's rather traditional approach to "spiritual theology" with an essay on spirituality and the academy by Sandra Schneiders. The final three sections feature essays on spirituality and sacred Scripture, the Trinity, and Christian feminist spirituality. Christian spirituality provides many opportunities for ecumenical sharing. This anthology has introduced me to Wesleyan and Evangelical materials I was only vaguely acquainted with. However, I do have two minor criticisms. First, this book would have been enriched by a selected annotated bibliography An annotated bibliography is a bibliography that gives a summary of the research that has been done. It is still an alphabetical list of research sources. In addition to bibliographic data, an annotated bibliography provides a brief summary or annotation. . Second, some kind of essay attempting to tie the seemingly disparate strands of the various "schools" into a more organic whole would have been desirable. Such a synthesis could have provided a greater sense of coherence sense of coherence, n a view that recognizes the world as meaningful and predictable. The coherence of a worldview may have a positive correlation to health and longevity. See also worldviews. to this collection. Lawrence S. Cunningham teaches theology at the University of Notre Dame Notre Dame IPA: [nɔtʁ dam] is French for Our Lady, referring to the Virgin Mary. In the United States of America, Notre Dame . |
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