The Sacraments

by Thompson, Ross

• ISBN13: 9780334040200
• ISBN10: 0334040205
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-04-29
• Publisher: Scm Pr

Summary

The Sacraments are clearly intended to focus and unify the church, yet nothing has divided the church so much as the nature of the sacraments and who should minister and receive them. From the early controversy over whether the Jewish sacrament of circumcision was necessary for Christians, through the Donatist schism and the Reformation controversies, down to the ordination of women, division over the sacraments have characterised the church. Even what counts as a sacrament' just baptism and the Eucharist 'or five other rites' has proved divisive. This book looks in detail at the two 'dominical' sacraments which all mainstream churches acknowledge, baptism and holy communion, whilst also examining the other sacraments of the Orthodox and Catholic churches. Coverage includes general ideas of sacraments and ritual, Old Testament practices, the response of Jesus and the Early Church, the growth of sacramental theology up to the Reformation and since, Baptism, Holy Communion, the rites of commitment: confirmation, ordination and marriage, and rites of restoration: healing and reconciliation. The book concludes by considering whether there are other practices that might be considered sacramental such as deliverance, reverence of icons or preaching.

Author Biography

Revd Dr Ross Thompson was parish priest in Bristol for twenty years, and subsequently lectured in Systematic Theology and Ethics at St Michaels College and Cardiff University

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Introduction	ix
Part 1 Meanings and Origins	1	(40)
Symbol and Rite in Three Dimensions	3	(9)
Pagan and Jewish Antecedents	12	(15)
The New Testament: Christ the Mystery and the Mysteries	27	(14)
Part 2 Developing Theologies of the Sacraments	41	(40)
A Very Short History	43	(18)
The Modern Search for the Primordial Sacrament	61	(20)
Part 3 Becoming Church: Sacraments and Christian Initiation	81	(40)
Evolution of Baptism and Christian Initiation	83	(19)
Sacraments, Stages and Society: How Should We Make Christians?	102	(19)
Part 4 Celebrating Church: Holy Communion	121	(56)
Evolution of the Eucharist	123	(20)
Theologies of the Eucharist: Presence and Sacrifice	143	(17)
Eucharistic Theology: Space--Time, Society and Spirituality	160	(17)
Part 5 Making and Remaking Church: Other Sacraments and Symbols	177	(42)
Symbols of Restoration: Reconciliation, Healing and Deliverance	179	(20)
Symbols of Vocation: Ordination and Marriage	199	(20)
Conclusion: The Sacramental Prism	219	(8)
Appendix: The Jewish Festivals	227	(1)
Notes	228	(5)
Index of Subjects and Names	233	(7)
Index of Bible References	240