Jesus and the Quest for Meaning: Entering Theology / Edition 1

by Thomas H. West

Overview

A new approach to introducing theologyAs God's self-communication to humans, Jesus is the key to the human search for meaning, argues Thomas West. He therefore introduces the practice of theology through Christology. From the question of personal meaning and self-constitution and their relationship to transcendent meaning and value, he proceeds to discuss the figure and import of Jesus and then the ethical imperative engendered through encounter with him.

Fresh and clear, West's book is an invitation to grapple with one's religious commitments, especially in light of recent insights in biblical studies and Continental, feminist, and liberation theologies.

This new text will prove an engaging and effective introduction to theological thinking for both undergraduates and Christian adults.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780800632977
Publisher:	1517 Media
Publication date:	06/01/2001
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	314
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.10(d)

About the Author

Thomas H. West is Professor of Theology and departmental chair at the College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, Minn. He also is author of a volume on Ernst Bloch: Ultimate Hope without God.

Table of Contents

Preface

Chapter One: The Search for Meaning

Human Being as the Tendency to Meaning

Meaning and Freedom

Particular Meanings and Universal Values

Suffering and Meaning

Penultimate and Ultimate Meaning

Ultimate Meaning and Universal Values

The Ultimate Foundation of Universal Values: God

Meaning and Self-Actualization

Meaning and the Power of Feeling

Chapter Two: Meaning and the Formation of Human Identity

The Human Word

The Language of Self-Communication

Word and Human Identity

Receiving Identity from God

Chapter Three: The Identity of Jesus

Faith and the Historical Jesus

The Biological Identity of Jesus

The Psychological Identity of Jesus

The Spiritual Identity of Jesus

God's Self-Communication to Jesus in Word and Spirit

Chapter Four: The Mission of Jesus

God Commissions Jesus to go Public with the Word of Love

The Two-Directionality of Jesus' Words

Jesus Communicates the Word Verbally

Jesus Communicates the Word Nonverbally

Chapter Five: The Death of Jesus as the Final Word of Mission

Jesus' Death Completes His Saving MissionJesus' Death as His Final Word

Last Supper and Death

Jesus' Death and the Consequences of Sin

Jesus' Death as Victory over the Powers

Chapter Six: The Resurrection of Jesus

The Resurrection and History

The Resurrection as God's Final Word to Jesus

The Resurrection Gives Ultimate Meaning to Death

Resurrection Universalizes and Eternalizes Jesus' Mission

Chapter Seven: The Risen Christ Continues the Mission

The Risen Christ and the Mission of Individuals

The Church as the Body of the Risen Christ

The Church Preaches the Word

The Church Speaks the Ritualized Word

-Baptism

-Confirmation

-Eucharist

The Church Speaks Through Service to Humankind

Chapter Eight: The Human Response of Faith and Love

Informative Success: Faith

-Faith and Understanding

-Faith and Belief

-Faith and Trust

Emotive Success: Love as Feeling

Directive Success: Love as Action

Christian Faith and Non-Christians

Chapter Nine: Love into Justice: The Good Samaritan Revisited

Luke's Parable of the Good Samaritan

Love into Interpersonal Justice

Love into Social Justice

Chapter Ten: The Human Response of Hope

Self-Communication and the Promissory Function

Individual Penultimate Hope

Individual Ultimate Hope for Resurrection of the Body

Ultimate Consequences of Human Choice: Heaven, Hell, Purgatory

Penultimate History and Ultimate Hope

Cosmic Hope

Notes

Index