Inquiring After God

Instead of introducing students to Christian theology through its doctrines, this text introduces it through discussion of church practices and of the experience of everyday Christian life. Part I: Christian Catechesis: Initial Formation:.

1. Inquiring After God When Instructing Beginners: Elucidating the Creed.

Text: Catechetical Oration of Gregory Nazianzus or Gregory of Nyssa.

2. Inquiring After God When Meditating on Scripture: Practicing God's Word.

Text: Bernard of Clairvaux - selected Sermons on the Song of Songs, or Luther's or Calvin's commentaries.

3. Inquiring After God Through Prayer.

Text: Maximus Conessor On the Our Father.

4. Inquiring After God Through the Sacraments: Tasting the Kingdom.

Text: Tertullian or Cyril of Jerusalem Mystagogical Catechesis.

5. Inquiring After God When Preaching.

Text: Augustine's Homilies.

Part II: Ongoing Formation: Practicing the Christian Life: .

6. Inquiring After God Through Art: Learning of God and Living With the Saints.

Text: Theodore the Studite on The Holy Icons.

7. Inquiring After God Through Experience: Appropriating and Correcting the Faith of the Church.

Text: Julian of Norwich Showings.

8. Inquiring After God Through Christian Living: Imitating Christ as Ministry.

Text: William Law or John Wesley.

9. Inquiring After God Through Creation: Reasoning as God's Creature.

Text: Thomas Aquinas Selection from the Summa Theologiae.

"Charry's organization of these classic and contemporary readings is intellectually, spiritually, and practically compelling ... This collection will be helpful to a range of 'inquirers' and would also provide an excellent resource for college and seminary courses." Religious Studies Review Ellen T. Charry is Margaret W. Harmon Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary. Previously, she served on the faculty of Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas. Her most recent book is By the Renewing of Your Minds: The Pastoral Function of Christian Doctrine (1997). Instead of introducing students to Christian theology through its doctrines, this text introduces it through discussion of church practices and of the experience of everyday Christian life. By taking a practical approach it encourages students to see that the goal of inquiring after God should be spiritual growth as well as intellectual understanding, enabling them to integrate their faith with their thinking.

The classic and contemporary texts brought together here introduce students to Christian life and thought across the centuries, opening up a dialogue between past and present. These discussions will acquaint readers with Christian claims about God, Jesus Christ, scripture, human nature, sin and salvation in everyday life as well as in communal ecclesial practice. The points of entry examined are study, science, work, affliction, repentance and forgiveness, prayer, love of neighbor, scripture, meditation, preaching, the Christian sacrament of the altar, Christian art, and reflective discernment.