Spiritual Theology

by Chan, Simon

• ISBN13: 9780830815425
• ISBN10: 0830815422
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-05-01
• Publisher: Ivp Academic

Summary

A 1999 Academy of Parish Clergy Top Ten Book!Theology is "the doctrine of living unto God," wrote the Puritan theologian William Ames. Unfortunately, post-Enlightenment theology has tended to divorce "doctrine" from "living unto God." And to the degree that this split has been deepened and perpetuated, both theology and spirituality have been impoverished.Spiritual Theologyis a rare book. In it, Simon Chan surveys the little-explored landscape where systematic theology and godly praxis meet, highlighting the connections between Christian doctrine and Christian living and drawing out the spiritual implications of particular aspects of systematic theology. Allowing rational formulations to drop into the background, he brings the mystery of the faith to the fore.Chan begins with the principal doctrines of God, sin, salvation and the church. He then progresses to a reflective consideration of the practice of the spiritual life, from prayer to spiritual direction. Unabashedly evangelical and truly ecumenical, Chan grounds his exploration in the sources of the Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox traditions. His work is well abreast of contemporary theological currents and crossculturally conversant from an Asian perspective.Spiritual Theologyis a book for those who care deeply about theologyandspirituality, and strive to integrate the two. It is well worth careful reflection and prayerful reading.

Author Biography

Simon Chan is lecturer in systematic theology at Trinity Theological College, Singapore.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Preface

The Theological Principles of Spiritual Theology

Christian Spiritual Theology: Its Nature and Criteria

The Christian Doctrine of God as the Foundation of Christian Spirituality

Sin and Human Nature

Salvation and the Life of Spiritual Progress

The Church as the Community of Saints

The Practice of the Spiritual Life

The Theology and Life of Prayer

Spiritual Exercises Focusing on God and Self

Spiritual Exercises Focusing on the Word

Spiritual Exercises Focusing on the World

The Rule of Life

The Discernment of Spirits

The Art of Spiritual Direction

Notes

Bibliography

Index of Persons

Index of Subjects

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.