Sam Hole – författare

Through the ''dark night of the soul'' to the depiction of the erotically-charged union of the soul and God, the poetry and prose works of the Spanish friar John of the Cross (1542-1591) offer a striking account of the transformation of the individual in the course of the Christian life. John of the Cross: Desire, Transformation, and Selfhood argues that these writings are animated by John''s own creative and subtly conceptualized notion of erotic desire. John''s understanding of desire has the potential to enrich recent theological discussion of the subject, but it has been curiously neglected in past scholarship. To correct this lacuna, this study undertakes a detailed historical analysis in three parts. Firstly, it attends to the patristic, medieval, and sixteenth-century Spanish influences on John''s writings, showing how John reworks a long tradition of biblical, Christian, and Platonic reflection on the concept. Secondly, it traces the importance of desire through John''s writings, demonstrating how he develops the theme through his poetry, his anthropology of the soul, and his account of the spiritual ascent. Thirdly, it explores the reception of his writings in the twentieth century, demonstrating how particular modern philosophical and theological commitments have prevented scholars from recognising the rich and distinctive shape of John''s theological vision. John''s account of the transformation of the self, with its hopeful vision of the graced transformation of the soul''s desires, has significance beyond the constrained modern categories of systematic theology, Christian spirituality, pastoral theology, and mysticism--it is a vision that is worthy of recovery today.

Through the ''dark night of the soul'' to the depiction of the erotically-charged union of the soul and God, the poetry and prose works of the Spanish friar John of the Cross (1542-1591) offer a striking account of the transformation of the individual in the course of the Christian life. John of the Cross: Desire, Transformation, and Selfhood argues that these writings are animated by John''s own creative and subtly conceptualized notion of erotic desire. John''s understanding of desire has the potential to enrich recent theological discussion of the subject, but it has been curiously neglected in past scholarship. To correct this lacuna, this study undertakes a detailed historical analysis in three parts. Firstly, it attends to the patristic, medieval, and sixteenth-century Spanish influences on John''s writings, showing how John reworks a long tradition of biblical, Christian, and Platonic reflection on the concept. Secondly, it traces the importance of desire through John''s writings, demonstrating how he develops the theme through his poetry, his anthropology of the soul, and his account of the spiritual ascent. Thirdly, it explores the reception of his writings in the twentieth century, demonstrating how particular modern philosophical and theological commitments have prevented scholars from recognising the rich and distinctive shape of John''s theological vision. John''s account of the transformation of the self, with its hopeful vision of the graced transformation of the soul''s desires, has significance beyond the constrained modern categories of systematic theology, Christian spirituality, pastoral theology, and mysticism--it is a vision that is worthy of recovery today.

Through the 'dark night of the soul' to the depiction of the erotically-charged union of the soul and God, the poetry and prose works of the Spanish friar John of the Cross (1542-1591) offer a striking account of the transformation of the individual in the course of the Christian life. John of the Cross: Desire, Transformation, and Selfhood argues that these writings are animated by John's own creative and subtly conceptualized notion of erotic desire. John's understanding of desire has the potential to enrich recent theological discussion of the subject, but it has been curiously neglected in past scholarship. To correct this lacuna, this study undertakes a detailed historical analysis in three parts. Firstly, it attends to the patristic, medieval, and sixteenth-century Spanish influences on John's writings, showing how John reworks a long tradition of biblical, Christian, and Platonic reflection on the concept. Secondly, it traces the importance of desire through John's writings, demonstrating how he develops the theme through his poetry, his anthropology of the soul, and his account of the spiritual ascent. Thirdly, it explores the reception of his writings in the twentieth century, demonstrating how particular modern philosophical and theological commitments have prevented scholars from recognising the rich and distinctive shape of John's theological vision. John's account of the transformation of the self, with its hopeful vision of the graced transformation of the soul's desires, has significance beyond the constrained modern categories of systematic theology, Christian spirituality, pastoral theology, and mysticism--it is a vision that is worthy of recovery today.

How can we use Holy Communion, whether in its contemporary or older form, as a devotional resource? Nourishing Prayer offers a step-by-step guide to communion in both its Common Worship and Book of Common Prayer forms, delving into the deeper significance of each moment in the liturgy, showing how they offer tools to aid discipleship, worship and prayer. Avoiding a focus on the mechanics and ‘how-to’ of communion, Sam Hole demonstrates how engagement in each part of the sacrament can shape the faith of both the minister and the congregation. With clarity and depth, Nourishing Prayer will inspire newcomers and seasoned ministers alike, helping them find spiritual food and insight within the familiar patterns and words of the Holy Communion service.