Louvain Theological & Pastoral Monographs – serie

The 'Word' was at the heart of John Henry Newman's endeavors as a preacher and writer, and the 'Word made flesh' was the primary object of his faith as a Christian. In this collection of essays, theologians, philosophers, historians and literary scholars reflect on Newman's engagement with the 'Word' and relate his thought to contemporary developments in their disciplines. The topics discussed include Newman's understanding of the nature of faith and the church, his standing as an ecumenist and a philosopher, and the significance of his literary and theological work in relation to postmodernism. This collection constitues a thoroughgoing and critical analysis of Newman's reputation as a master of the 'Word', both written and proclaimed, and of his status as a thinker of contemporary significance.

John Henry Newman (1801-1890) chose as his epitaph the words, 'Ex umbris et imaginibus in veritaten' ('Out of shadows and images into the truth'). These words are more than the expression of Newman's hope for the future. They summarize his lifelong quest to penetrate ever more deeply into the mystery of God's relationship to humankind and the ways in which men and women are able to gain insight into that relationship. This collection of papers reflects on Newman's understanding of the nature of truth's survival in the contemporary world. At the same time, it provides a critical reflection on the continuing significance of Newman's thought. The collection includes contributions by Colin Barr, Michael J. Buckley, Brian Daley, Paul J. Griffiths, Keith Hanley, Ian Ker, Terrence Merrigan, and John Milbank.

As an expert and lively tour-guide, Brinkman takes the reader through the breathtaking landscape of a half-century of ecumenical dialogue. The author makes an invaluable contribution by his deft selection of documents, his thought-provoking commentary on key issues, and his keen discernment of the missionary challenge that faces the church of Christ as it travels on the road to greater visible unity.the work is equally suitable for personal reading and for the college or seminary classroom.A veritiable feast for ecumenical and evangelical readers.This work is a refreshing stimulus to reflection, prayer, and action for the unity and mission of the church in a troubled world. George VanderveldePresident of the North American Academy of Ecumenists, Professor of Systematic Theology, Institute for Christian Studies, Toronto, Canada One thing becomes clear from Martien Brinkman's book : those who claim that the ecumenical movement went into a deadlock have not studies its results. Most people suffer from a lack of memory when it comes to the history of ecumenical theology during the past 70 years. This book provides medicine for ecumenical amnesia. It deals especially with the Faith and Order Movement and Commission, within the World Council of Churches. There flows, from Brinkman's book a whole new stream of an ecumenical theological tradition which is scarcely known, even to academic theologians. This tradition treats of such matters as Scripture and Tradition, Faith and Sacraments, Church, World and Kingdom of God. This book provides an excellent overview and in-depth evaluation of the major currents in this developing ecumenical tradition. It will certainly promote its reception in the churches and its study in the academy. At the same time, however, it keeps an eye open for the difficulties and tensions of the dialogue between ecumenical amd evangelical Christians, and between the theological methods of the North and the South. It will be difficult to find any more reliable study-guide to the results of the multilateral ecumenical dialogues of the twentieth century. Anton HoutepenProfessor of Ecumenism, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands This book, conceived as a study-guide to the Faith and Order Movement, does precisely what it sets out to do and does it well. It brings the reader into close contact with the documents and studies published by this influential section of the World Council of Churches. Such an inventory comes at the right time, just as the Commission on Faith and Order takes stock after the World Conference of Santiago, and under the guidance of a new director. It is no secret that Faith and Order has been invited to reflect upon its future orientation. The well-documented and orderly survey which Prof. brinkman offers us here will certainly be of help in such a process. Jos Vercruysse S.J.Professor of Church History and Ecumenism, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome