TRANSFORMATION IN CHRIST

Despite its formidable title, Professor Devine's book is a fluent and often highly entertaining introduction to some key concepts in contemporary Catholic theology, ranging from liturgical renewal and eucharistic participation to the sexual revolution and Women's Lib. The book is unusual in several ways. For instance, it is neither obviously liberal nor obviously conservative, but relies equally upon tradition and upon advanced theological opinion, picking and choosing as reason, rather than emotion, dictates. (So far as the importance of love is concerned, Devine is as avant-garde as, say, Evely; but, in sexual matters, he is noticeably less progressive.) The most striking characteristic of the book, however, is its lack of dogmatism and the easy rationality of its argumentation. All in all, it is an excellent work for students and laymen, and something of a model for less gifted teachers.