DOCSLIB.ORG

Book Reviews

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Book Reviews Book Reviews Christ's Lordship & Religious Pluralism. Edited by Gerald H Anderson and Thomas F. Stransky, C.S.P. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1981. Pp. viii, 209. Paperback $8.95. This is a lively discussion among ference in 1979 by theologians from of the contributors seem to confuse re­ Christians of different traditions about Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Conserva­ ligious pluralism with cultural plural­ the way to understand other religions tive Evangelical, and Ecumenical Prot­ ism and to identify Christianity with and relate to their adherents. It seems estant traditions. There are five main one culture. Some are so overwhelmed to be easier to promote dialogue be­ sections, each consisting of a presenta­ by their (vicarious) repentance for the tween (at least some) Christians and tion from one of these traditions, re­ sins of nineteenth-century missionaries people of other faiths than it is to get sponses from two others, and a reply that all other issues are crowded out. different kinds of Christians to discuss by the original essayist. There are ad­ And none seems to have been forced to the subject with each other. That is mirable Bible studies by Krister Sten­ think about Barth's famous word: "Re­ why Wilfred Cantwell Smith can claim dahl, four contributions to a panel ligion is unbelief." At the end I found that this volume "marks something of discussion, and "an attempt at summa­ myself asking: "Is the root of our trou­ a milestone." tion" by Professor W. Cantwell Smith. ble that we see ourselves in the judge's It embodies papers given to a con- One cannot comment in a short seat rather than on the witness stand?" review on twenty-two separate papers. But this is an important discussion The value of the book lies in the inter­ that will start many fruitful lines of Lesslie Netobigin, a contributing editor, retired re­ action. I found myself asking: "Who is thought in the mind of a concerned cently from the faculty of Selly Oak Colleges, Bir­ really listening to the others?" To my reader. I warmly commend it. mingham, England. For many years he was a surprise I found most of the high marks -Lesslie Newbigin missionary and bishop of the Church of South India for this going to the conservative evan­ in Madras. gelicals. This is worth pondering. Some The God Who Cares. A Christian tament portrayal of the Jewish commu­ Looks at Judaism. nity reliable? Holmgren makes a beginning at answering these questions, and for that By Fredrick Holmgren. Atlanta, Ga.: John we are thankful. But he does not suffi­ Knox Press, 1979. Pp. 144. Paperback ciently grapple with the most basic $4.95. questions: Why does the messianic expectation lie so pervasively embed­ Dr. Fredrick Holmgren, professor of ing theological accent of the book. The ded in the Old Testament documents? biblical literature at North Park Theo­ God of the Hebrews is the God who and, What is the meaning of the com­ logical Seminary, has profitably uti­ seeks after men and women, and who ing of Jesus of Nazareth who is the lized a sabbatical leave to produce this seeks for them to walk before his face very core of the New Testament docu­ volume. It is designed to serve the as covenantal partners. God has created ments? Christianity developed out of Christian community as a positive set­ them in the very image of God, and the Jewish tradition not because God ting forth of the values of the Jewish therefore God holds them responsible did not care enough, but because the religious-theological vision for life. before him. Jews did not care enough. And the The author himself describes the The law which God has given to coming of Jesus in pristine fashion re­ book as an "attempt to erase the carica­ Israel is to be seen not as a curse or a vealed that God does care! ture of Judaism that has existed in burden, but as an expression of that -R. Recker Christian circles for centuries" (p. 130). caring stance of God in regard to hu­ On this score the author must be com­ man beings. And that law sets forth mended for accomplishing in a measure not only the self-revelation of the heart what he set out to do. of God, but also his guidance for the The very title of the book, The God person who will live in relationship Who Cares, captures the most prevail- with such a God. As such the law is to be treasured as God's gift of life. For those persons who err, for those who penitently seek his face, R. Recker, a graduate of Calvin College and there is forgiveness with this God. In Seminary, served for fifteen years as a mission­ this book the faith and peace of the ary in Nigeria. He presently serves as Associate saints of the old covenant come alive. Professor of Missions at Calvin Theological But is that person of faith still to be Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan. found in Judaism, and is the New Tes­ 32 International Bulletin of Missionary Research American Protestant Women in Jesus in Indian Paintings. World Mission: A History of the First Feminist Movement in By Richard W Taylor. Madras: Christian North America. Literature Society, 19 75. Pp. xio, 184 . Paper­ back Rs. 12.50. By R. Pierce Beaver. GrandRapids: Wm. B. The value and impo rta nce of this book, th an most peopl e would imagine or ex­ Eerdmans Publishing Company, rev. ed., written by an American Method ist pect. It con tains a wealth of informa­ 1980. Pp. 237. Paperback $ 7.95. mission ary on the staff of th e Christian tion and can be of grea t help to Inst itute for th e Study of Religion and seasoned scholars as well as to students First issued in 1968 as All Loves Excelling: Society in Bangalore, is mu ch greater starting in th is field . American Protestant Women in World Mis­ Taylor's work is trustworthy-the sion, R. Pierce Beaver's classic has be­ Arno Lehmann, formerly a missionary in India, is best available to dat e on th e subject. come a primary source book for anyone professor emeritus of missions and religions at Mar­ For instance, his cha pter on Christian interested in th e history of women in tin Luther University at Halle in the German art in the Mogul period gives a fasci ­ the nineteenth century. Women's mis­ Democratic Republic. nati ng accou nt and analysis, dealing sionary societies were among the first places where women exercis ed their talents outside the home and gathered leadership experience to be used in a hos t of reform activi ties. To the 1968 edition Beaver has Missionarg Gold added a new chapter on "The Decade of the 1970s," th e time when "women's It's ~ik e go l ~ to any th ~lo gic al lib~ary or exploring scholar in mission libera tion" swept the country an d the st~ d l~s -- this volume With all 16 Issu es of the Occasional Bulletin of church again. Unfortu natel y, lam ents N!~swnary Research, 1977-1980, bound in red buckram, wit h vellum Beaver, th e movement does not seem finish and embossed gol'10d lettering• to have affec ted mission s. Power and Limited edition: Only .26tT bound policy-making still appear to be almost volumes are available. Each volume exclusively in male hands. About the is individually numbered arid signed onl y mission boards th at have wo men personally by t he editor and associate editor. No additional complete sets presidents are those founded by wom­ of all t he pri nted iss ues will be avail­ en. able when these are gone. Beaver also notes the marked de­ cline of single-women missionaries. Includes: While married -couple mission aries • 240 contributors (a virtual have more than tripled in number sin ce " Who' s Who" of contem­ porary missiology) 1950, th e number of single women has • 210 book reviews not even doubled. In th e nineteenth • 245 doctoral dissertatio n century and early tw entieth single notic es wome n far outnumbered married and • cumulative index were often the backbo ne of the mis­ Special price: $46.95 sionary enterprise. He could find only six boards th at employe d mor e than Orders outside the U.S.A. add 100 single women and only two small $3.00 for postage and handling. Payment must accompany all faith missions th at still numbered more orders . single than married women on the ir rolls. Beaver concludes with a plea for more single women, citing their special To order, use the coupon below contributions to th e mission ary enter­ ·Mail~;- - -------------- - - - - - - ­ prise, and couples that wit h the realis­ Publications Office tic obse rvation th at women need to be Overseas Ministries Study Center admitted to " full partn ership in the P.O. Box 2057 making of policy, strategy, and prom o­ Ventno r, New J ersey 08406, U.S.A. tion in the homeland and field coun­ Send me __ bound volume(s) of the Occasional Bulletin of Missionary cils." Research, 1977-1980. Eerdman s Pub lishing Co. is to be commen ded for reissuing th is match­ Nam e, _ less book. -Nancy A. Hardesty Addr ess _ Nancy A. Hardesty is a church historian and uniter E nclosed is my check in the amount of $ . made out to " Occasional Bulletin o~ Missionary Research" . Orders outside U.S.A.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Christian Saṃnyāsis and the Enduring Influence of Bede Griffiths in California
    3 (2016) Miscellaneous 3: AP-BI Christian Saṃnyāsis and the Enduring Influence of Bede Griffiths in California ENRICO BELTRAMINI Department of Religious Studies, Santa Clara University, California, USA © 2016 Ruhr-Universität Bochum Entangled Religions 3 (2016) ISSN 2363-6696 http://dx.doi.org/10.13154/er.v3.2016.AP-BI Enrico Beltramini Christian Saṃnyāsis and the Enduring Influence of Bede Griffiths in California ENRICO BELTRAMINI Santa Clara University, California, USA ABSTRACT This article thematizes a spiritual movement of ascetic hermits in California, which is based on the religious practice of Bede Griffiths. These hermits took their religious vows in India as Christian saṃnyāsis, in the hands of Father Bede, and then returned to California to ignite a contemplative renewal in the Christian dispirited tradition. Some tried to integrate such Indian tradition in the Benedictine order, while others traced new paths. KEY WORDS Bede; Griffiths; California; saṃnyāsa; Camaldoli; Christianity Preliminary Remarks— Sources and Definitions The present paper profited greatly from its main sources, Sr. Michaela Terrio and Br. Francis Ali, hermits at Sky Farm Hermitage, who generously shared with me their memories of Bede Griffiths as well as spiritual insights of their life of renunciation as Christian saṃnyāsis in California. Several of the personalities mentioned in this article are personally known to the author. I offer a definition of the main terms used here:saṃnyāsis ‘ ’ are the renouncers, the acosmic hermits in the tradition of the Gītā; ‘saṃnyāsa’ is the ancient Indian consecration to acosmism and also the fourth and last stage (aśhrama) in the growth of human life; ‘guru’ is a polysemic word in India; its theological meaning depends on the religious tradition.
    [Show full text]
  • Poverty, Charity and the Papacy in The
    TRICLINIUM PAUPERUM: POVERTY, CHARITY AND THE PAPACY IN THE TIME OF GREGORY THE GREAT AN ABSTRACT SUBMITTED ON THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF MARCH, 2013 TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SCHOOL OF LIBERAL ARTS OF TULANE UNIVERSITY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY BY ___________________________ Miles Doleac APPROVED: ________________________ Dennis P. Kehoe, Ph.D. Co-Director ________________________ F. Thomas Luongo, Ph.D. Co-Director ________________________ Thomas D. Frazel, Ph.D AN ABSTRACT This dissertation examines the role of Gregory I (r. 590-604 CE) in developing permanent ecclesiastical institutions under the authority of the Bishop of Rome to feed and serve the poor and the socio-political world in which he did so. Gregory’s work was part culmination of pre-existing practice, part innovation. I contend that Gregory transformed fading, ancient institutions and ideas—the Imperial annona, the monastic soup kitchen-hospice or xenodochium, Christianity’s “collection for the saints,” Christian caritas more generally and Greco-Roman euergetism—into something distinctly ecclesiastical, indeed “papal.” Although Gregory has long been closely associated with charity, few have attempted to unpack in any systematic way what Gregorian charity might have looked like in practical application and what impact it had on the Roman Church and the Roman people. I believe that we can see the contours of Gregory’s initiatives at work and, at least, the faint framework of an organized system of ecclesiastical charity that would emerge in clearer relief in the eighth and ninth centuries under Hadrian I (r. 772-795) and Leo III (r.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rule of St Basil in Latin and English
    The Rule of St Basil in Latin and English The Rule of St Basil in Latin and English A Revised Critical Edition Translated by Anna M. Silvas A Michael Glazier Book LITURGICAL PRESS Collegeville, Minnesota www.litpress.org A Michael Glazier Book published by Liturgical Press Cover design by Jodi Hendrickson. Cover image: Wikipedia. The Latin text of the Regula Basilii is keyed from Basili Regula—A Rufino Latine Versa, ed. Klaus Zelzer, Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum, vol. 86 (Vienna: Hoelder-Pichler-Tempsky, 1986). Used by permission of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Scripture has been translated by the author directly from Rufinus’s text. © 2013 by Order of Saint Benedict, Collegeville, Minnesota. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by print, microfilm, micro- fiche, mechanical recording, photocopying, translation, or by any other means, known or yet unknown, for any purpose except brief quotations in reviews, without the previous written permission of Liturgical Press, Saint John’s Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, Minnesota 56321-7500. Printed in the United States of America. 123456789 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Basil, Saint, Bishop of Caesarea, approximately 329–379. The Rule of St Basil in Latin and English : a revised critical edition / Anna M. Silvas. pages cm “A Michael Glazier book.” Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 978-0-8146-8212-8 — ISBN 978-0-8146-8237-1 (e-book) 1. Basil, Saint, Bishop of Caesarea, approximately 329–379. Regula. 2. Orthodox Eastern monasticism and religious orders—Rules. I. Silvas, Anna, translator. II. Title. III. Title: Rule of Basil.
    [Show full text]
  • Early Medieval Monasticism in the Immediate Centuries Following The
    Early Medieval Monasticism In the immediate centuries following the death of Jesus Christ, a culture of monasticism developed and prospered throughout the early Christian world. There was the growing opinion among a group of believers that the best way to serve Christ was through living a life of simplicity, asceticism, and isolation from mainstream civilization. Throughout the early medieval period, two different types of monasticism formed— solitary and cenobitic (communal). Figures such as Saint Anthony, Pachomius, and St. Benedict, in particular, developed principles for both varieties of monastic life that shaped the course of monasticism in Europe forever. Although the Catholic Church and the papacy in Rome exerted official and formal power over Christendom in Western Europe, the monks of this growing monastic movement widely influenced several facets of early medieval society. During the early medieval period, monastic monks were revered as religious heroes throughout the larger European society. While their image fluctuated over time, these medieval monks greatly impacted and contributed to the religious and secular culture in Europe throughout the medieval period and beyond. Early Christian Monasticism One of the earliest figures of solitary monasticism was Saint Anthony, who lived a solitary life in Egypt during the third century. But life as an ascetic hermit was difficult on numerous levels. As a result, the cenobitic monastic movement began to gain popularity under leaders such as Pachomius, who created a community of monastic individuals during the first part of the fourth century. Pachomius was responsible for devising some of the first foundational rules for monastic living. These included the strict principle of total obedience to superiors, as well as the practice and observance of chastity and poverty.
    [Show full text]
  • Monasticism Old And
    Study Guides for Monasticism Old and New These guides integrate Bible study, prayer, and worship to explore how monastic communities, classic and new, provide a powerful critique of mainstream culture and offer transforming possibilities Christian Reflection for our discipleship. Use them individually or in a series. You may A Series in Faith and Ethics reproduce them for personal or group use. A Vision So Old It Looks New 2 It is hard to be a Christian in America today. But that can be good news, the new monastics are discovering. If the cost of discipleship pushes us to go back and listen to Jesus again, it may open us to costly grace and the transformative power of resurrection life. In every era God has raised up new monas- tics to remind the Church of its true vocation. The Finkenwalde Project 4 Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s project at Finkenwalde Seminary to recover for congregations the deep Christian tradition is a prominent model for young twenty-first-century Christians. Weary of the false dichotomy between right belief and right practice, they seek the wholeness of discipleship in what Bonhoeffer called “a kind of new monasticism.” Evangelicals and Monastics 6 Could any two groups of Christians—evangelicals and monastics—be more different? But the New Monasticism movement has opened a new chapter in the relations of these previously estranged groups. Nothing is more characteristic of monastics and evangelicals than their unshakable belief that one cannot be truly spiritual without putting one’s faith into practice, and one cannot sustain Christian discipleship without a prayerful spirituality.
    [Show full text]
  • The Ancient History and the Female Christian Monasticism: Fundamentals and Perspectives
    Athens Journal of History - Volume 3, Issue 3 – Pages 235-250 The Ancient History and the Female Christian Monasticism: Fundamentals and Perspectives By Paulo Augusto Tamanini This article aims to discuss about the rediscovery and reinterpretation of the Eastern Monasticism focusing on the Female gender, showing a magnificent area to be explored and that can foment, in a very positive way, a further understanding of the Church's face, carved by time, through the expansion and modes of organization of these groups of women. This article contains three main sessions: understanding the concept of monasticism, desert; a small narrative about the early ascetic/monastic life in the New Testament; Macrina and Mary of Egypt’s monastic life. Introduction The nomenclatures hide a path, and to understand the present questions on the female mystique of the earlier Christian era it is required to revisit the past again. The history of the Church, Philosophy and Theology in accordance to their methodological assumptions, concepts and objectives, give us specific contributions to the enrichment of this comprehensive knowledge, still opened to scientific research. If behind the terminologies there is a construct, a path, a trace was left in the production’s trajectory whereby knowledge could be reached and the interests of research cleared up. Once exposed to reasoning and academic curiosity it may provoke a lively discussion about such an important theme and incite an opening to an issue poorly argued in universities. In the modern regime of historicity, man and woman can now be analysed based on their subjectivities and in the place they belong in the world and not only by "the tests of reason", opening new ways to the researcher to understand them.
    [Show full text]
  • The Didache and Early Monasticism in the East and West
    THE DIDACHE AND EARLY MONASTICISM IN THE EAST AND WEST CYPRIAN DAVIS, O.S.B. Saint Meinrad School of Theology, Saint Meinrad, Indiana, U.S.A. As one of the earliest Christian documents, the Didache "has been analyzed down to its last detail," observed Jean-Paul Audet in his study of this intriguing early Christian text. 1 But a study of its overall influence is only just beginning. It is within this perspective that this essay is written. Did this early Christian text with its moral exhorta­ tions and liturgical observances come into contact with the early Christian movement of monasticism? Was there any influence of the Didache upon ancient Christian monasticism? The earliest Christian monastic text is the Life qf Antony, which was written by Athanasius (d. 373) in Egypt sometime in the second half of the fourth century. With this work the Christian world was alerted to the remarkable blossom of the ascetical life in Egypt during the fourth-fifth centuries. The connection of the Didache to Christian Egypt is discussed by Willy Rordorf in his introduction to the critical edi­ tion of the text that he published with Andre Tuilier in 1978.2 Most scholars at the present time prefer Syria to Egypt as the horne of the Didache. Nevertheless, Egypt was the horne of two important papyrus fragments of this ancient work, namely, the Oxyrhynchus fragment in Greek and a se co nd fragment in Coptic, specifically, in the Fayyumic dialect. 3 Hence, it is not surprising that the question should be raised as to whether the Didache did not at some point influence Egyptian monastic literature.
    [Show full text]
  • 100 Events in Christian History.Pages
    100 EVENTS IN CHURCH HISTORY ▪ 64 Fire ravages Rome. Emperor Nero blames Christians and unleashes persecution. ▪ 70 Titus destroys Jerusalem and its temple. Separation deepens between Christianity and Judaism. ▪ about 150 Justin Martyr writes his First Apology, advancing Christian efforts to address competing philosophies. ▪ about 156 Polycarp, an eighty-six-year-old bishop, inspires Christians to stand firm under opposition. ▪ 177 Irenaeus becomes bishop of Lyons and combats developing heresies within the Church. ▪ about 196 Colorful and cantankerous Tertullian begins writings that earn him the reputation of being the "Father of Latin Theology." ▪ about 205 The gifted North African Origen begins writing. He headed a noted catechetical school in Alexandria. ▪ 251Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, publishes his influential work Unity of the Church. He was martyred in 258. ▪ 270 Antony gives away his possessions and begins life as a hermit, a key event in the development of Christian monasticism. ▪ 312 Constantine is converted after seeing a vision of the cross. He becomes a defender and advocate of the oppressed Christians. ▪ 325 The Council of Nicea addresses debates perplexing the Church and defines the doctrine of who Jesus really was. ▪ 367 Athanasius' Easter Letter recognizes the New Testament Canon, listing the same books we have now. ▪ 385 In Milan, Bishop Ambrose defies the Empress, helping establish the precedent of Church confrontation of the state when necessary to protect Christian teaching and oppose the state. ▪ 387 Augustine of Hippo is converted. His writings became bedrock for the Middle Ages. The Confessions and City of God are still read by many. ▪ 398 John Chrysostom, the "golden tongued" preacher is made bishop of Constantinople and leads from there amidst continuing controversies.
    [Show full text]
  • The Devil in the Writings and Thought of Pope Gregory the Great (590-604)
    The Devil in the Writings and Thought of Pope Gregory the Great (590-604) Charlotte Emily Kingston PhD University of York Department of History October 2011 2 ABSTRACT This thesis explores the portrayal of the devil in the writings and thought of Pope Gregory the Great (590-604). It examines his exegetical, hagiographical and homiletic works in addition to his correspondence. It analyses the ways in which Gregory described, understood, and used the figure of the devil, and places this within Gregory's wider conceptual framework. It proposes new ways of approaching the topic, particularly in his exegetical works, and looks as much into the associations that he drew as the doctrines that he preached. By looking at a wide selection of his works, this thesis gives an insight into how this one idea manifested itself across a variety of genres, and also how it affected his practical politics and interpretation of real-life situations. As part of this it explores the relationship between Gregory's diabology and ecclesiology, and the influence of this upon his understanding of the Roman primacy. Whilst Gregory the Great has been subject to vast amounts of scholarship, as of yet no such study has been done which takes into consideration so many of his works. This thesis therefore offers a fresh perspective and provides new ways of thinking about how Gregory used and understood the idea of the devil. 3 CONTENTS Acknowledgements 6 A Note on Translations and Biblical References 7 Author's Declaration 8 1.0 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 2 1.1 Gregory's Writings
    [Show full text]
  • Download a Pdf File of This Issue for Free
    Issue 93: St. Benedict & Western Monasticism A Devoted Life: Did You Know? Interesting and little-known facts about Benedictine monasticism. A living tradition Today there are about 25,000 Benedictine monks and nuns, as well as over 5,000 Cistercians and others who live according to the Rule of St. Benedict. In the last 40 years, these numbers have been declining, but the number of "oblates," lay people associated with monasteries, is growing rapidly and now exceeds the number of monks and nuns. Many of them are Protestants. —contributed by Hugh Feiss, OSB Walking in Benedict's steps today Visit Clear Creek Monastery in Oklahoma and you will see something as close to 12th-century Benedictine monastic life as can be found in the 21st century. It all began in 1972 when a group of University of Kansas students discovered Fontgombault, a traditional Benedictine monastery in France known for its Gregorian chant, traditional Latin liturgy, and strict adherence to the Rule of St. Benedict. Around 30 students stayed at the abbey as guests, and a handful never left. The abbot of Fontgombault called it the "American Invasion." Now Fontgombault has come to America. The students-turned-monks returned to the U.S. in the 1990s and founded Clear Creek Monastery. There, they continue to pursue a traditional Benedictine lifestyle. Talk to the hand Benedict encouraged his monks to be silent as often as possible. But of course, some form of communication is necessary in order for people to live together. In The Year 1000, Robert Lacey and Danny Danziger describe a Benedictine sign language manual from Canterbury listing no less than 127 hand signals, including signs for various people in the monastery, ordinary objects such as a pillow ("Stroke the sign of a feather inside your left hand"), and requests such as "Pass the salt" ("Stroke your hands with your three fingers together, as if you were salting something").
    [Show full text]
  • THE STORY of MONASTICISM
    THE STORY of MONASTICISM RETRIEVING an ANCIENT TRADITION for CONTEMPORARY SPIRITUALITY GREG PETERS K Greg Peters, The Story of Monasticism Baker Academic, a division of Baker Publishing Group, © 2015. Used by permission. (Unpublished manuscript—copyright protected Baker Publishing Group) © 2015 by Greg Peters Published by Baker Academic a division of Baker Publishing Group P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516–6287 www.bakeracademic.com Printed in the United States of America All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Peters, Greg, 1971– The story of monasticism : retrieving an ancient tradition for contemporary spirituality / Greg Peters. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-8010-4891-3 (pbk.) 1. Monasticism and religious orders. 2. Spirituality—Christianity. I. Title. BX2432.3.P48 2014 271—dc23 2015007081 Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2011 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Greg Peters, The Story of Monasticism Baker Academic, a division of Baker Publishing Group, © 2015. Used by permission. (Unpublished manuscript—copyright protected Baker Publishing Group) To my sons, Brendan and Nathanael, for giving me great hope in the church’s future Greg Peters, The Story of Monasticism Baker Academic, a division of Baker Publishing Group, © 2015.
    [Show full text]
  • A Brief History of Western of Monasticism
    Click here to order the book or the accompanying PowerPoint (http://www.sundayschoolcourses.com/monastic/monastic.htm) A Brief History of Western Monasticism Written by Robert Jones Acworth, Georgia 2000, 2009 Robert C. Jones Christian Theology and History Adult Sunday School Courses Robert Jones www.sundayschoolcourses.com I’ve always been a strong believer in adult Sunday School classes and Bible studies in our churches. And many churches have quality, Biblically-based adult-focused programs. Unfortunately, just as many churches tend to downplay adult education, focusing on children’s education (not a bad thing in itself), or focusing on the needs of the “unchurched”, where topics such as church history and theology are often purposely ignored. Yet there is a strong need for adult education focused on both the Bible and the basic tenets and history of the Faith. Among the reasons: Not all adults come from a strong childhood background in the church – adult Sunday School classes/Bible studies may be their first serious introduction to what Christianity is all about Christianity (and especially Evangelical Christianity) is under constant attack from the media and popular culture (movies, music, etc.). We need to give fellow Christians the tools to defend the Faith against at- tack (or to provide a “ready defense” as Peter says in 1 Peter 3:15) Even adult Christians that have a strong Biblical background often know little about the origins and history of their Faith To better meet the needs of adult Christians (both those mature in their Faith, and those just starting out in the “School of Christ”), I’ve written a series of courses that focus on the history of the Christian Church (including the Jewish roots), as well as the development of doctrine in the Church.
    [Show full text]