Life Abundant: Rethinking Theology and Economy for a Planet in PerilA compelling vision-before it's too lateIn this splendidly crafted work, McFague argues for theology as an ethical imperative for all thinking Christians: Responsible discipleship today entails disciplined religious reflection. Moreover, theology matters: Without serious reflection on their worldview, ultimate commitments, and lifestyle, North American Christians cannot hope to contribute to ensuring the "good life" for people or the planet. To live differently we must think differently. McFague's has therefore written primer in theology. It helps Christians assess their own religious story in light of the larger Christian tradition and the felt needs of the planet. At once an apology for an ecologically driven theology and a model for how theology itself might be expressed, her work is expressly crafted to bring people into the practice of religious reflection as a form of responsible Christian practice in the world. McFague shows the reader how articulating one's personal religious story and credo can lead directly into contextual analysis, unfolding of theological concepts, and forms of Christian practice.In lucid prose she offers creative discussions of revelation, the reigning economic worldview (and its ecological alternative), and how a planetary theology might approach classical areas of God and the world, Christ and salvation, and life in the Spirit. Enticing readers into serious self-assessment and creative commitment, McFague's new work encourages and models a theological practice that "gives glory to God by loving the world." |
Contents
1 | |
7 | |
13 | |
A Credo | 15 |
Theology Matters | 23 |
A North American Liberation Theology | 31 |
The Matter of Theology | 37 |
Content | 49 |
The Many Ways to Say It | 136 |
God as Creator Liberator and Sustainer | 141 |
How Is God Present in the World? | 146 |
Is Reality Good? | 149 |
Christ and Salvation | 155 |
Ecological Christologies | 158 |
Prophetic and Sacramental | 164 |
Christ and the Ecological Economic Worldview | 169 |
Criteria | 55 |
Introduction | 69 |
The Contemporary Economic Model and World view | 73 |
The Contemporary Economic Worldview and the Consumer Society | 79 |
An Assessment of the Consumer Society | 91 |
The Ecological Economic Model and Worldview | 97 |
The Ecological Economic Worldview and the Ecological Society | 103 |
An Assessment of the Ecological Society | 118 |
Introduction | 125 |
God and the World | 131 |
Beginning with God | 133 |
Life in the Spirit | 179 |
Human Existence in the Spirit | 180 |
John Woolman and Dorothy Day | 184 |
Life in the Church | 193 |
Life in Society | 197 |
Epilogue | 201 |
A Manifesto to North American MiddleClass Christians | 203 |
Notes | 209 |
Index | 241 |
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Life Abundant: Rethinking Theology and Economy for a Planet in Peril Sallie McFague No preview available - 2001 |
Common terms and phrases
abundant anthropology assumptions basic become begin believe billion century Chris Christian faith Christology church claims classical economic consumerism consumption contemporary context creation credo cruciform culture death distributive justice divine Dorothy Day ecological economic model ecological economic worldview ecological society embodied especially everything evil experience flourish global warming glory goal God's love God's presence Gustavo GutiƩrrez Human Development Ibid immanent incarnation individual individualistic interpretation issues John Cobb John Woolman Julian of Norwich justice liberation theologies life-forms lifestyle live loving the world market capitalism matter means metaphors middle-class North American nature nature's neo-classical economics nomic North American Christians oppressed ourselves panentheism perspective planetary political poor prophetic question radical reality relation religion religious resurrection revelation Richard Niebuhr sacramental salvation sense speak Spirit statements story suggests sumer sustainability theologians tion tradition transcendence trinity twenty-first-century understand universal vision well-being wild space words