Christianity as Distinct Practices: A Complicated Relationship (Rethinking Theologies: Constructing Alternatives in History and Doctrine)

Jan-Olav Henriksen

ISBN 10: 0567683273 / ISBN 13: 9780567683274

Published by T&T Clark, 2019

About this Item

Seller Inventory # V9780567683274

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Christianity as Distinct Practices: A Complicated Relationship (Rethinking Theologies: Constructing Alternatives in History and Doctrine)
• Publisher: T&T Clark
• Publication Date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0567683273
• ISBN 13: 9780567683274
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

Jan-Olav Henriksen reconstructs and analyzes Christianity as a cluster of practices that manifest a distinct historically and contextually shaped mode of being in the world. Henriksen suggests that these practices imply a complicated relationship between the tradition in which they originate, the community that emerges from and is constituted by that tradition, and the individuals who appropriate the tradition that these communities mediate through their practices. Thus, to think of Christianity simply in terms of belief is misleading and represents an underdetermination of its distinct character.

Henriksen further argues this relationship needs to be described primarily as practices aimed at orientation and transformation. His analysis points to Christianity's similarity to other religions in regard to the functional or pragmatic dimensions it displays. Examining facets such as prayer, the use of scripture, preaching and doctrine, Henriksen emphasizes that the element that makes a practice distinctively Christian is how it relates to and is informed by the Jesus story.

About the Authors

Jan-Olav Henriksen is Professor of Philosophy of Religion in MF Norwegian School of Theology, Norway.

Marion Grau is Professor of Systematic Theology, Ecumenism and Missiology at MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society, Norway.

Steed Davidson received his Ph.D. from Union Theological Seminary, New York. He is an Assistant Professor of Old Testament at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley California. His teaching centers on prophetic books, paying attention to ancient empires and responses to empires in the formation of texts.


Steed Vernyl Davidson is Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible at McCormick Theological Seminary, USA.

Susannah Cornwall is Advanced Research Fellow in Theology and Religion at the University of Exeter, UK.