Volume 15, Issue 2, June 2002
Articles
Living Away from Home – and Loving It: Tweaking a Christian Metaphor
John Martis, pp.123-137
Motivated by recent world and local events, this article puts the case for rethinking the notions of “home” and “homing” in both their human and specifically Christian dimensions. The metaphor of “home” sustains subversion in two contexts: the philosophico-literary, and the spiritual-theological. In this light, both the “is” of common experience and the “ought” of the Gospel message provide a nuanced interpretation of “heading for home”. Taking this interpretation seriously allows us to celebrate “living away from home”, by drawing upon its values and energies while escaping its tyrannies.
Narrative Strategies in the Prologue and the Metaphor of Logos in John’s Gospel
Derek Tovey, pp.138-153
This article argues for a metaphorical connotation for the term logos in the Gospel, beyond its use in the prologue (John 1:1-18): this stands against the consensus of scholarship. It draws on some insights regarding short story openings, to argue that logos and outos function as non-sequential sequence signals, and character-substitutes, to pique the reader’s curiosity as to the identity of the Logos, and prepare for the introduction of the name “Jesus Christ” in v.17. These narrative dynamics, the structure of the prologue, and the operations of implicature (Grice), create a strong link in the implied reader’s mind between the Logos and Jesus. The implied author uses the implicative force of this connection to add metaphorical freight to the term when used later in the Gospel. The article explores six instances where the term logos appears (6:60; 7:36; 8:37; 10:35; 12:48; 17:17) and where, it is argued, the possibility exists of a usage which echoes that of the prologue.
Looking to God for Healing: A Rereading of the Second Letter of Clement in the Light of Hellenistic Psychagogy
Tim Gaden, pp.154-173
Recent efforts at reading Paul and other New Testament writers from the perspective of Hellenistic rhetoric and philosophy have proved a fruitful way of uncovering new perspectives in Pauline scholarship. The same tools are equally applicable to other early Christian texts. Viewing the Second Letter of Clement as a modified form of psychagogic discourse reveals (among other things) a sophisticated rhetorical attempt to draw its audience into an awareness of the fullness of their salvation in the face of weakening eschatological expectation.
“Practical” MysticismSeeking to Unite Contemplation and Action
Don Edwards, pp.174-189
Over a number of centuries, many Christians have shown a concern to unite contemplation and action. It has turned out, though, that this quest confronts practical and theological difficulties. It is timely to ascertain whether it is still a matter of concern to Christian spirituality and theology now to hold these two elements together. If so, we need to discern what resources there might be for a fresh approach that addresses some of those difficulties. This involves taking up the wisdom of the ongoing mystical tradition in Christianity (the focus here will be on the tradition found in the Western Church), and bringing to bear fresh insights from contemporary theology.
Faith Seeking Fantasy: Tolkien on Fairy-Stories
Tony Kelly, pp.190-208
This article responds to the topical interest in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, now appearing in Peter Jackson’s film trilogy. It presents and comments on Tolkien’s “theology” of fairy-stories as it is to be found in a reflective essay he produced in the course of his writing the work concerned. After examining the various features of artistic fantasy, we reflect on the theological meaning of art, its relationship to the Gospel story, and its place in theological method and cultural communication.
Book Reviews
People from the Dawn: Religion, Homeland and Privacy in Australian Aboriginal Cultur
W. E. H. Stanner and John Hilary Martin
Robyn Reynolds pp.209-211
The Gods of the Nations: Studies in Ancient Near Eastern National Theology
Daniel I. Block
Antoinette Collins pp.211-213
Joshua
Daniel Hawk
Romuald J. Barry pp.213-214
Unfolding the Deuteronomistic History: Origins, Upgrades, Present Text
Antony F. Campbell and Mark A. O’Brien
Ann Johnston pp.215-217
A Hard Saying: The Gospel and Culture
Francis J. Moloney
William Loader pp.217-218
Word and Soul: A Psychological, Literary, and Cultural Reading of the Fourth Gospel
Michael Willett Newheart
John Painter pp.219-221
Women in the New Testament
Mary Ann Getty-Sullivan
Elizabeth Dowling pp.221-223
Buddhists Talk about Jesus: Christians Talk about the Buddha
Rita M. Gross and Terry C. Muck (eds.)
William M. Johnston pp.223-225
Buddhist Perceptions of Jesus
Perry Schmidt-Leukel
William M. Johnston pp.226-228
Identities of Christian Traditions: An Alternative for Essentialism
Wybren de Jong
Stephen Downs pp.229-230
The Qur’an’s Self-Image: Writing and Authority in Islam’s Scripture
Daniel A. Madigan
A. H. Johns pp.231-233
The Doctors of the Church: Thirty-three Men and Women who Shaped Christianity
Bernard McGinn
Janet Crawford pp.233-234
Theology for the Community of God
Stanley J. Grenz
Tony Kelly pp.235-236
Things New and Old: Essays on the Theology of Elizabeth A. Johnson
Phyllis Zagano andTerrence W. Tilley
Patricia Fox pp.236-238
Imagining the Catholic Church: Structured Communion in the Spirit
Ghislain Lafont
Brian Gleeson pp.238-240
Come to the Father: An Invitation to Share the Catholic Faith
Aidan Nichols
David Pascoe pp.240-242
Retrieving Charisms for the Twenty-First Century
Doris Donnelly (ed.)
Denis Edwards pp.242-243
New Maps for Old: Explorations in Science and Religion
Mary Gerhart and Allan Melvin Russell
John Honner pp.243-244
Healthcare Ministry: Refounding the Mission in Tumultuous Times
Gerald A. Arbuckle
Francis Sullivan pp.244-246
Contributors
JOHN MARTIS S.J. teaches Philosophy at Jesuit Theological College within the United Faculty of Theology, Parkville, Victoria, and at Catholic Theological College, East Melbourne. Following doctoral research at Monash University, his specific interest has been the question of modern and post-modern subjectivity and its implications for faith.
DEREK TOVEY lectures in New Testament at St John’s College, a constituent College of the Auckland Consortium for Theological Education, affiliated with Auckland University, New Zealand. He has taught there since 1995, following completion of doctoral research on the Fourth Gospel at Durham University, U.K.
TIMOTHY GADEN is recently returned from London, where he held a post-doctoral position at Kings College and was the Vicar of Battersea. He is currently the vicar of St John’s Anglican Church, Camberwell, Victoria, and an honorary research associate in the Philosophy Department at Monash University.
DON EDWARDS lectures in theology and spirituality in the Brisbane College of Theology. He is Coordinator of Theological Education at St Francis’ Theological College (Anglican) in Brisbane.
TONY KELLY C.SS.R. holds the Chair of Theology at Australian Catholic University. The Opening of Heaven: The Experience of God in the Johannine Writings, co-authored with Francis J. Moloney, is soon to appear in the United States (Paulist Publications). He continues to write and research mainly on Trinitarian matters.
