Description
Book SynopsisBernard Brady has given us a rare, delightful, and thought-provoking book - a volume that belongs on the desk or the bed-stand of anyone in search of the rich and varied dimensions of Christian love. Christians are taught that God is love and are commanded to love, their neighbours and their enemies. These truths are not controversial. What is controversial and, indeed, has been controversial throughout the history of Christianity is the meaning of this love. This book explores the tradition of Christian reflection on the meaning, and experience of love, loving, and being loved. Many books have been written about Christian love, but no book has gathered together this kind of primary source material and covered such a wide range of perspectives, allowing the reader to engage directly with the thought and experience of some of the greatest Christian minds on the topic of love. Bernard Brady covers with remarkable clarity the breadth and depth of discussions on Christian love from the Bible to contemporary experience to create this-a survey of how Christians through the ages have understood love. Beginning of course with the Bible, Brady examines the key writings and thinkers on the nature of Christian love: St. Augustine; mystics such as Bernard of Clairvaux, Hadewich, and Julian of Norwich; the great tradition and literature of courtly love, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, Soren Kierkegaard, and others. In addition, Brady devotes chapters to several 20th century figures whose lives seemingly embodied Christian love: Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Pope John Paul II. Finally, Christian Love addresses contemporary deliberations over the meaning of love with an analysis of the modern writings of Martin D'Arcy, Reinhold Niebuhr, Jules Toner, Gustavo Gutierrez, Gene Outka, Margaret Farley, Edward Vacek, and Don Browning. In a synthesizing concluding chapter, Brady offers his own insightful and introspective understanding of the substance of Christian love, suggesting that it is an affective affirmation of another, that it is both responsive and unitive, and that it is steadfast and enduring. As a beautiful contemplative companion to one's own spiritual understanding, or as a thoughtful and meaningful gift, Christian Love is in every sense a treasure to behold, read, and share with those you love.
Trade ReviewThis collection provides direct access to some of the most distinctive and influential biblical and Christian statements on love. It situates these through succinct accounts of the circumstances in which they occur and the help of insights from a wide variety of scholars. The volume could be very useful as a text for classes not only on the subject of Christian love but as an overview of basic directions of Christian thought over the centuries. It is also accessible enough for more general reflection for Christians as individuals or in groups. Horizons
Table of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgments and Permisssions 1 Love in the Old Testament: God's Love and Human Loves 2 Love in the New Testament: The Great Commandment 3 Augustine: Love God and Love All Things in God 4 Mystical Love: Union with God 5 Troubadours and Troubled Romance 6 Thomas Aquinas: Friendship with God 7 Martin Luther: The Christian Is Servant to All 8 Christian Love Is Sacrificial Love 9 Love Activists 10 Self-Regard, Other-Regard, and Mutuality 11 Reflections on Christian Love NotesIndex
