Spelling suggestions: "subject:"scripture tradition""
1 |
A Christian theology of placeInge, John January 2001 (has links)
The contention of this thesis is that place is much more important in human experience and in the Christian scheme of things than is generally recognised. I first survey the manner in which place has been progressively downgraded in Western thought and practice in favour of a concentration upon space and time. I note that during the latter part of the twentieth century scholars in a variety of disciplines have suggested that place is much more important than this prevailing discourse would suggest. Few theologians, however, recognise the importance of place. I suggest that, in this respect, theologians owe more to the mores of modernity than to a thorough engagement with the Christian scriptures and tradition. Second, I embark upon such an engagement with the scriptures. My findings suggest that their witness confirms that, from a Christian perspective, place is vital. With this in mind, my third step is to propose that the best way of understanding the role of place in a manner consonant with the Biblical narrative is sacramentally. Fourth, I test this hypothesis by examining the Christian tradition's approach to pilgrimage and investigate how it might be applied to holy places and churches in general. Finally, I conclude that a renewed appreciation of place by theologians and churchpeople, which their scriptures and tradition invite, would enable them to offer much to a society still trapped in the paradigm of modernity which underestimates place, with dehumanising effect.
|
Page generated in 0.0692 seconds