Spirituality and Social Embodiment

by Jones, L. Gregory; Buckley, James J.

• ISBN13: 9780631204824
• ISBN10: 0631204822
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1997-05-28
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

Spirituality often takes us out of the public world to a more inward (so-called "mystical") space, while "politics" calls us beyond ourselves to the more material realities of social embodiment. These are false options, yet many forms of modern theology have succumbed to these temptations. They mimic Alasdair MacIntyre's therapists and managers while protesting against one side or the other. These essays provide a new way of envisioning the relationship between spirituality and social embodiment. Some authors provide re-readings of pre-modern theology: New Testament texts (R. Williams), Bernard (Jones), Aquinas (A. Williams), Julian of Norwich (Bauerschmidt), Luther (Yeago). Some authors address our circumstances more directly, demystifying "inwardness" (R. Williams) or criticizing consumer spiritualities (Jones), re-locating the Church and the state we are in (Lash), or assessing competing African-American spiritualities (Jennings). All seek ways to place our spiritualities and politics before the God who desires to redeem us, body and soul.

Author Biography

L. Gregory Jones is Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Theology, Loyola College in Maryland. He is author of three books, including most recently Embodying Forgiveness.
James J. Buckley is Professor of Theology at Loyola College in Maryland. He is the author of Seeking the Humanity of God.
Professors Jones and Buckley are the Editors of Modern Theology and the General Editors of the series Blackwell Readings in Modern Theology.

Table of Contents

Editors' Introduction	1	(2)
L. GREGORY JONES, LOYOLA COLLEGE IN MARYLAND
A Thirst for God or Consumer Spirituality? Cultivating Disciplined Practices of Being Engaged by God	3	(26)
ROWAN D. WILLIAMS, BISHOP OF MONMOUTH, WALES
Interiority and Epiphany: A Reading in New Testament Ethics	29	(24)
A. N. WILLIAMS, UNIVERSITY OF PUGET SOUND
Mystical Theology Redux: The Pattern of Aquinas' Summa Theologiae	53	(22)
F. C. BAUERSCHMIDT, LOYOLA COLLEGE IN MARYLAND
Julian of Norwich--Incorporated	75	(26)
DAVID S. YEAGO, LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL SOUTHERN SEMINARY
"A Christian, Holy People": Martin Luther on Salvation and the Church	101	(20)
NICHOLAS LASH, UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
The Church in the State We're In	121	(18)
WILLIE JAMES JENNINGS, DUKE UNIVERSITY
Wrestling with a Wounding Word: Reading the Disjointed Lines of African American Spirituality	139	(32)
Index	171