Overview

Francis Schussler Fiorenza is one of the pivotal contemporary Roman Catholics working in the field of systematic theology and has made vital contributions to the discipline. This book - the first of its kind - provides an overview of Fiorenza's theological biography, from early influences and original insights to a comprehensively systematic project to reconstruct the foundations of theology, and explicates the major contours of Fiorenza's vital contributions to theological method, foundational, systematic and constructive theology, and the practical function of religion in society and politics. As the author argues, Fiorenza's vision is one of unrivaled clarity and coherence; even more, it follows a path of the shifting patterns in theology over the past half century, thus shedding light upon the internal constitution of recent Catholic and Protestant theology.

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9781451472110

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Reviews

Doing Christian theology today amidst a swirl of discourses and cultural contexts is difficult work. Who better than Francis SchusslerFiorenza to provide a deep, coherent, insightful vision that orients theology and its contributions to the world and to the church? And Terence Bateman's book is an excellent advocate for this vision. His clear grasp of Fiorenza's project lets him unpack with ease the intricacies of its hermeneutical reconstruction of theological method and ecclesial identity. Along the way, he underlines Fiorenza's positive contributions to the church's understanding of itself in the midst of ever-more-plural political and cultural contexts. Read Bateman's book for a challenging look at some of the smartest contemporary theology around. Anthony J. Godzieba Villanova University Finally, the scholarly world can welcome this splendid introduction into the reconstructive theology of Francis SchusslerFiorenza. Terence Bateman not only succeeds in presenting the very delicate equilibrium contained in Fiorenza's theological method, but he also shows its flexible strength in discussing the theological themes of today. Lieven Boeve Katholieke Universiteit Leuven In its fullest expression Christian theology has both to respect its biblical origins and patristic and medieval formulations, and engage with the forms of thought of contemporary secular culture. Fiorenza is alert to these twin demands and has sought from a Catholic standpoint to negotiate a path that weaves between them. Terence Bateman helps us to follow his journey. His study is a guide and a companion to Fiorenza's thought and writings and is itself a prompt to reflection on fundamental issues in contemporary Catholic theology. John Haldane University of St. Andrews Terence Bateman has critically analyzed and synthesized Fiorenza's vision and method in theology. By drawing together this distinctive contemporary theological approach from a variety of sources and showing how it deals with representative contemporary issues, we can see clearly the contribution of Fiorenza's reconstructive hermeneutics. We are in Bateman's debt for showing the range and significance of Fiorenza's work. Terrence W. Tilley Fordham University Reconstructing Theology is an important and groundbreaking study that performs a great service for the wider theological community in providing arguably the most substantial and incisive study of the work of Harvard University's Francis SchuÌ sslerFiorenza to date. This volume takes its reader on a journey through the formation and critical development of Fiorenza's theological method and vision, and pays especial attention to the role of hermeneutics in shaping that vision. But the volume then offers much more: it seeks to explore how that method and vision can be applied to questions of vital importance for the theological community today. Like its subject, who helped bridge discourse between German and American theology in so many fruitful ways, this study will prove an important resource text in courses in the great theological departments of continental Europe, North America, and beyond. Gerard Mannion Georgetown University

""Doing Christian theology today amidst a swirl of discourses and cultural contexts is difficult work. Who better than Francis SchusslerFiorenza to provide a deep, coherent, insightful vision that orients theology and its contributions to the world and to the church? And Terence Bateman's book is an excellent advocate for this vision. His clear grasp of Fiorenza's project lets him unpack with ease the intricacies of its hermeneutical reconstruction of theological method and ecclesial identity. Along the way, he underlines Fiorenza's positive contributions to the church's understanding of itself in the midst of ever-more-plural political and cultural contexts. Read Bateman's book for a challenging look at some of the smartest contemporary theology around."" Anthony J. Godzieba Villanova University ""Finally, the scholarly world can welcome this splendid introduction into the reconstructive theology of Francis SchusslerFiorenza. Terence Bateman not only succeeds in presenting the very delicate equilibrium contained in Fiorenza's theological method, but he also shows its flexible strength in discussing the theological themes of today."" Lieven Boeve Katholieke Universiteit Leuven ""In its fullest expression Christian theology has both to respect its biblical origins and patristic and medieval formulations, and engage with the forms of thought of contemporary secular culture. Fiorenza is alert to these twin demands and has sought from a Catholic standpoint to negotiate a path that weaves between them. Terence Bateman helps us to follow his journey. His study is a guide and a companion to Fiorenza's thought and writings and is itself a prompt to reflection on fundamental issues in contemporary Catholic theology."" John Haldane University of St. Andrews ""Terence Bateman has critically analyzed and synthesized Fiorenza's vision and method in theology. By drawing together this distinctive contemporary theological approach from a variety of sources and showing how it deals with representative contemporary issues, we can see clearly the contribution of Fiorenza's reconstructive hermeneutics. We are in Bateman's debt for showing the range and significance of Fiorenza's work."" Terrence W. Tilley Fordham University ""Reconstructing Theology is an important and groundbreaking study that performs a great service for the wider theological community in providing arguably the most substantial and incisive study of the work of Harvard University's Francis SchüsslerFiorenza to date. This volume takes its reader on a journey through the formation and critical development of Fiorenza's theological method and vision, and pays especial attention to the role of hermeneutics in shaping that vision. But the volume then offers much more: it seeks to explore how that method and vision can be applied to questions of vital importance for the theological community today. Like its subject, who helped bridge discourse between German and American theology in so many fruitful ways, this study will prove an important resource text in courses in the great theological departments of continental Europe, North America, and beyond. Gerard Mannion Georgetown University

Doing Christian theology today amidst a swirl of discourses and cultural contexts is difficult work. Who better than Francis SchusslerFiorenza to provide a deep, coherent, insightful vision that orients theology and its contributions to the world and to the church? And Terence Bateman's book is an excellent advocate for this vision. His clear grasp of Fiorenza's project lets him unpack with ease the intricacies of its hermeneutical reconstruction of theological method and ecclesial identity. Along the way, he underlines Fiorenza's positive contributions to the church's understanding of itself in the midst of ever-more-plural political and cultural contexts. Read Bateman's book for a challenging look at some of the smartest contemporary theology around. Anthony J. Godzieba Villanova University Finally, the scholarly world can welcome this splendid introduction into the reconstructive theology of Francis SchusslerFiorenza. Terence Bateman not only succeeds in presenting the very delicate equilibrium contained in Fiorenza's theological method, but he also shows its flexible strength in discussing the theological themes of today. Lieven Boeve Katholieke Universiteit Leuven In its fullest expression Christian theology has both to respect its biblical origins and patristic and medieval formulations, and engage with the forms of thought of contemporary secular culture. Fiorenza is alert to these twin demands and has sought from a Catholic standpoint to negotiate a path that weaves between them. Terence Bateman helps us to follow his journey. His study is a guide and a companion to Fiorenza's thought and writings and is itself a prompt to reflection on fundamental issues in contemporary Catholic theology. John Haldane University of St. Andrews Terence Bateman has critically analyzed and synthesized Fiorenza's vision and method in theology. By drawing together this distinctive contemporary theological approach from a variety of sources and showing how it deals with representative contemporary issues, we can see clearly the contribution of Fiorenza's reconstructive hermeneutics. We are in Bateman's debt for showing the range and significance of Fiorenza's work. Terrence W. Tilley Fordham University Reconstructing Theology is an important and groundbreaking study that performs a great service for the wider theological community in providing arguably the most substantial and incisive study of the work of Harvard University's Francis SchüsslerFiorenza to date. This volume takes its reader on a journey through the formation and critical development of Fiorenza's theological method and vision, and pays especial attention to the role of hermeneutics in shaping that vision. But the volume then offers much more: it seeks to explore how that method and vision can be applied to questions of vital importance for the theological community today. Like its subject, who helped bridge discourse between German and American theology in so many fruitful ways, this study will prove an important resource text in courses in the great theological departments of continental Europe, North America, and beyond. Gerard Mannion Georgetown University

Author Information

Terence Bateman is a priest in the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton in the United Kingdom and former senior lecturer in theology at St. Augustine College of South Africa. He holds a PhD, STD, and STL in theology from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.

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