Theology and Human Flourishing

This collection of essays is a celebration of the work of Timothy Gorringe. Like his theology, it is animated by a delighted and critical engagement with the diverse facets of human social life, and by a passionate concern to wrestle with the Bible and the Christian tradition in pursuit of human flourishing. The built environment, politics, education, art: these essays by leading Christian theologians ask what it means for Christian theology to concern itself with, to immerse itself in, and to risk critical commentary on, each of these and more. The collection follows the same rhythm that animates Gorringe's work: insistent attention to the Christian tradition in the light of the particular contexts where human flourishing is imagined, fought for, embodied and betrayed; and a critical, constructive and celebratory examination of those contexts in the light of the Christian tradition. The contributions are very diverse, touching on everything from city life to human curiosity, poverty to genocide--but they are united by a passion to make theological sense of human flourishing.How do you respond to one of the liveliest, most daring, and most practically engaged of contemporary British theologians? Inspired by Tim Gorringe's work, the distinguished international group of senior and younger contributors to this volume rise superbly to the challenge. They cover an impressive range of major topics and show that theology can be more powerful when, as here, it is taken in distilled form. Time and again these concentrated essays grip the reader not only intellectually and imaginatively but also through challenges to act ethically and politically.-David F. FordRegius Professor of Divinity and Director, Cambridge Inter-faith ProgrammeUniversity of CambridgeMike Higton is Academic Co-Director of the Cambridge Inter-faith Programme and Senior Lecturer in Theology at the University of Exeter.Christopher Rowland is Dean Ireland's Professor of the Exegesis of Holy Scripture at the University of Oxford.Jeremy Law is Dean of Chapel and Reader in Christian Theology at Canterbury Christ Church University.