Wonderful commentary! Linguistic notes with quite heavy but theology and plot summary were not forgotten. Little skeptical of the author's view of theWonderful commentary! Linguistic notes with quite heavy but theology and plot summary were not forgotten. Little skeptical of the author's view of the end of Job but otherwise I thought many of his insights were really Good!...more
Rich, broad, and intriguing in most places. A few of the essays felt really shallow but overall is was a great selection of readings. Very encouraged Rich, broad, and intriguing in most places. A few of the essays felt really shallow but overall is was a great selection of readings. Very encouraged by the Latin American and Indian theologians in particular ...more
Extremely informative, and comprehensive, however it was not the best written (very dry) and often the author appears to state his own editorial theolExtremely informative, and comprehensive, however it was not the best written (very dry) and often the author appears to state his own editorial theological opinions, without any notice or anticipation of such ...more
Huge disappointment. Very little substance, works mostly off terminological parallels- e.g. Queer and Christian communities both have the word 鈥榮candaHuge disappointment. Very little substance, works mostly off terminological parallels- e.g. Queer and Christian communities both have the word 鈥榮candal鈥�- is a lot of annoying autobiography, including an incident in which she had a relationship with a student whose minister she was (never apologized for it either for this clear abuse of power), and did not even keep her promises that she mentioned in her preface about what she wasn鈥檛 going to do (talk about the persecution of LGBT around the globe to shore up her argument about North America)
On the one hand Dr. Paris' book is both fantastic and very disappointing. It is fantastic because it DOES reframe the conversation away from identity,On the one hand Dr. Paris' book is both fantastic and very disappointing. It is fantastic because it DOES reframe the conversation away from identity, which is super and desperately needed. Its disappointing, because it does not really flesh out the full implications of this paradigm change, nor does it delve into ascetical theology proper (perhaps too much to ask from Protestants) into which a paradigm shift like this would naturally led to. ...more
Kallistos Ware did in this book exactly what I hoped, it gave me a broad but sufficient history of the Orthodox Church alongside of a good distinctiveKallistos Ware did in this book exactly what I hoped, it gave me a broad but sufficient history of the Orthodox Church alongside of a good distinctive theology of Eastern Orthodoxy. In addition to this blessing, I am really starting to think that I am much more of an 'eastern Christian' than a 'western one' ...more
The Archbishop provided a thorough survey of the tradition of Christ's descent into hell. While it gets a little repetitive because of the frequent ciThe Archbishop provided a thorough survey of the tradition of Christ's descent into hell. While it gets a little repetitive because of the frequent citing of liturgy and hymns, it nevertheless strongly get across the point that its happening, contra Protestantism, was undisputed doctrine in the universal church. The Archbishop's honesty concerning differences between the East and the West on the salvific significance of this doctrine was important and refreshing. While I found myself to be on the Eastern side I now have a better understanding of why the West believes what it does about this event. In addition, this book is a knock-down argument against the notion that post-mortem conversion is impossible. ...more
Will definitely have to give it another slower read- it was dense, even for me. However I don鈥檛 particularly like how he treated the descent into hellWill definitely have to give it another slower read- it was dense, even for me. However I don鈥檛 particularly like how he treated the descent into hell- really flattening. However I did greatly appreciate his emphasis on the Trinity and his ecclesiological interpretation of the end of the Gospel of John ...more
Honestly, perhaps 5 years ago this would have really impressed me, but now my theological maturation has really taken to actual Christian orthodoxy, aHonestly, perhaps 5 years ago this would have really impressed me, but now my theological maturation has really taken to actual Christian orthodoxy, and so because of that, I can now perceive this work to be the drivel that it is, complete waste of time. Lots of misunderstanding about basic Christian dogma, with an ethical agenda driving the entire inquiry. It isn't honest...more
It was great meditative reading for Lent- however I did not find it as applicable to non-monastic life as many readers have said, especially the chaptIt was great meditative reading for Lent- however I did not find it as applicable to non-monastic life as many readers have said, especially the chapter on obedience which struck me as rather abusive...more
JPII offers some really great insights and thorough Biblical commentary, especially on St. Paul, however, I have only one gripe....I felt during the eJPII offers some really great insights and thorough Biblical commentary, especially on St. Paul, however, I have only one gripe....I felt during the entire time of reading it that I was going to learn some great secret, or have some new articulation of what it is that Christian's believe, but really the most original thesis comes at the beginning of the book and the rest of the book is outlining this thesis- that as Christians our sufferings participate in Christ's suffering, no longer is our suffering useless but is somehow made part of the world's redemption...more
Incredibly brilliant. At first I worried that the message would simply be 'moderation is all things,' which is part of it, but truly St. Gregory the GIncredibly brilliant. At first I worried that the message would simply be 'moderation is all things,' which is part of it, but truly St. Gregory the Great was a pastoral and psychological genius. St.Gregory wrote so many things in here that helped me understand the history of my young life thus far in terms I never understood them before. I have a much clearer idea of my temptations and what I need to work on, as well as what I don't. St. Gregory was clearly writing from vast experience. ...more
Brilliant insights in the mix of bad writing to opaque for its own good, however the appendices were absolutely brilliant- better than the book itselfBrilliant insights in the mix of bad writing to opaque for its own good, however the appendices were absolutely brilliant- better than the book itself, worth reading absolutely, he understands secularism perfectly ...more
While a minor work of Lewis' I had the great pleasure of reading this work again in preparation for a class I'm teaching on the Daily Office. It is paWhile a minor work of Lewis' I had the great pleasure of reading this work again in preparation for a class I'm teaching on the Daily Office. It is packed with really interesting insights and helpful analogies, classic Lewis....more
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