Review Of Wolterstorff, "The God We Worship: An Exploration Of Liturgical Theology" -- By: Robert D. Falconer

Journal: Conspectus
Volume: CONSPECTUS 22:1 (Sep 2016)
Article: Review Of Wolterstorff, "The God We Worship: An Exploration Of Liturgical Theology"
Author: Robert D. Falconer


Review Of Wolterstorff, The God We Worship: An Exploration Of Liturgical Theology

Robert D. Falconer1

Wolterstorff N 2015. The God We Worship: An Exploration of Liturgical Theology. Kantzer Lectures in Revealed Theology (KLRT). Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

1. Introduction To The Author

Nicholas Wolterstorff is an American Philosopher with wide-ranging philosophical and theological interests in aesthetics, epistemology, political philosophy, philosophy of religion, metaphysics, and philosophy of education, and is the Noah Porter Professor Emeritus of Philosophical Theology at Yale University. Previously he was professor at Calvin College, the Free University of Amsterdam, and the University of Notre Dame. Wolterstorff, together with Alvin Plantinga and William Alston developed and expanded upon a view of religious epistemology that later became known as reformed epistemology. Among the countless articles he has written, his recent book publications include the following: Justice: Rights and Wrongs (2008), Justice in Love (2011), The Mighty

and the Almighty: An Essay in Political Theology (2012), and Art Rethought: The Social Practices of Art (2015).

2. Background To The Book

Wolterstorff’s book, The God We Worship: An Exploration of Liturgical Theology, forms a part of the Kantzer Lectures in Revealed Theology (KLRT) which are meant to be something like the evangelical equivalent of the Gifford Lectures in natural theology. This series features prominent theologians who are committed to the project of faith seeking understanding, and who make this understanding practical.

Other projects on liturgy I have read and feel are important to the discussion are (1) Joseph Ratzinger’s (Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI) The Spirit of the Liturgy (2000). He purposed to assist a renewal of understanding of the liturgy and offer an aid to the understanding of faith within the Roman Catholic tradition and give faith its central form of expression in the (Catholic) Liturgy. (2) From a very different perspective are the works written by the Reformed Philosopher, James K. A. Smith. (i) Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation (Cultural Liturgies; 2009). Here Smith explores cultural liturgies in shopping malls, stadiums, and universities which, as he says, are actually liturgical structures that influence and shape our thoughts and affections. In this book he focuses on the themes of liturgy and desire, desiring the Kingdom, God’s Kingdom, and makes the powerful s...

You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
Click here to subscribe
visitor : : uid: ()