Discerning the Divine

by Callen, Barry L.

• ISBN13: 9780664227524
• ISBN10: 066422752X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-10-01
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Pr

Summary

An ideal introduction to Christian theology,Discerning the Divinepresents the doctrine of God as the most important subject in Christian believing and living. Chapters discuss the complex God question and the task of Christian theology. Includes a glossary of terms.

Author Biography

Barry L. Callen is University Professor of Christian Studies at Anderson University and Editor of Wesleyan Theological Journal.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
1. LAUNCHING THE JOURNEY	1	(16)
The Complex God Question	2	(6)
The Task of Christian Theology	8	(4)
The Paths Being Followed	12	(5)
2. RELATED BUT NOT DIMINISHED	17	(18)
Theological Renewal and Nervousness	18	(5)
The Deeply Moved "First Mover"	23	(5)
The Theistic Quest	28	(7)
3. BIBLICAL APPEARANCES	35	(24)
God Known as God Acts	36	(5)
Motifs and Appropriate Adjectives	41	(9)
Paradigm and Name	50	(9)
4. THE "CLASSICAL" PORTRAIT	59	(24)
The High-Water Mark of Theology?	63	(3)
In Response to Early Challenges	66	(6)
Current Readings of the "Classic" Christian Tradition	72	(6)
Theological Types in Church History	78	(2)
The Importance of Theological History	80	(3)
5. DISAPPEARANCE AND REAPPEARANCE	83	(16)
Disappearance: Domesticating Deity	84	(8)
Reappearance: Let God Be God!	92	(4)
Coming, Going, Coming Again	96	(3)
6. IN EXPERIENCE, MYTH, AND SYMBOL	99	(18)
A Response-Able God	101	(2)
Contemporary Priority of the Existential	103	(4)
Seeking the Essence of Being	107	(5)
God in Revelation and Real History	112	(5)
7. A NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE	117	(18)
God as Irrelevant, Then Abhorrent	118	(3)
Obituary for the Divine	121	(6)
The "Finite" God of Process	127	(3)
Evil and the Threat of a Divine Demise	130	(2)
God May Yet Be Alive!	132	(3)
8. SEEN IN SUFFERING AND MARGINALIZATION	135	(18)
Our Suffering and God's	137	(8)
Through the Eyes of Justice	145	(4)
Gender and God	149	(4)
9. OVER NEW HORIZONS	153	(18)
Living from the Vision	154	(3)
The Theology of Hope	157	(6)
Dealing with Diversity	163	(6)
God and the Future	169	(2)
10. STILL THE GREAT THREE-IN-ONE	171	(24)
God as Triadic Community	172	(4)
The Enduring Trinitarian Focus	176	(7)
The Practical Significance of Trinitarianism	183	(8)
Benediction	191	(4)
Glossary	195	(24)
List of Figures	219	(2)
List of Insets	221	(2)
Index	223