A well-written, sensitive exploration of Christian theology that hesitates to address several important social issues.
A theologian answers common questions about Christianity.
The work is based on a monthly column, “Ask A Theologian,” written by Fehr for the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee between 1999 and 2006, in which he answered questions submitted by readers. Maintaining the Q&A format of the original columns, this book surveys a range of topics that span from baptism (“Why does our Church baptize babies?”) to the purpose of prayer (“If we really do believe that God answers our prayer requests, then why do we constantly bring our requests to Him?”). A former Roman Catholic priest who left the Jesuit Order for the Episcopal Church, Fehr is adept at bridging denominational lines, using an ecumenical outlook that acknowledges doctrinal differences without condescension and highlighting commonalities across various Christian traditions. Barring appendix materials that center on his personal Episcopalian faith, most chapters would have appeal and relevance to Orthodox, Catholic, and mainline Protestants. Even evangelicals who may be unfamiliar with the sacramental emphasis of Anglicanism will find answers to common questions. Fehr—who holds a doctorate in systematic theology from Yale University, previously taught theology at Marquette University, and has published academic work on the topic—is eminently qualified to address the intricacies of Christianity. Here, he expertly balances nuanced responses with an accessible writing style. As such, the book gives lay Christians thoughtful, learned answers to frequent questions and also provides clergy members with a model of how to answer questions about faith with clarity. Curiously, however, for a book that acknowledges that too often the “familiar words” of Christian teachers “belong to a reality far removed from the actual world,” the work fails to address today’s most pressing social issues, in particular abortion, systemic racism, and LGBTQ+ equality.
A well-written, sensitive exploration of Christian theology that hesitates to address several important social issues.Pub Date: Feb. 25, 2022
ISBN: 979-8885310154
Page Count: 268
Publisher: Booklocker.com
Review Posted Online: July 28, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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