Story Theology

by Terrance W Tilley

Overview

Story Theology shows how narratives provide the central and distinctive structure and content of Christian faith. Tilley begins by showing the importance of understanding stories as carrying the substance of faith. He then analyzes and retells the central stories of Christianity—those of and about Jesus. But if these stories are to live on in the world after Jesus' time, they must be lived in and lived out by Jesus' followers. Hence, Tilley tells stories of model disciples—saints—who show how Christians are to live as Christians in and for the world, how to be disciples, members of the Body of Christ. Yet stories may be misleading and destructive as well as enlightening and freeing. So, the final chapter tells how to evaluate the truth and truthfulness of stories. Story Theology portrays Christianity as an on going variegated way of life and thought.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780814654644
Publisher:	Liturgical Press
Publication date:	04/01/1985
Series:	Theology and Life , #12
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	5.56(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.68(d)

About the Author

Terrence W. Tilley, Ph.D., chaired the department of religious studies of the University of Dayton from 1994-2003. He is the author or co-editor of eight books, most recently Inventing Catholic Tradition (Orbis), and scores of articles and reviews in philosophy of religion and theology. He is a past president of the College Theology Society, former co-chair of the Roman Catholic Studies Group of the American Academy of Religion, and served on the board of directors of the Catholic Theological Society of America. He previously taught at Georgetown University, St. Michael's College, Vermont, and Florida State University. 

Table of Contents

Contents
Acknowledgments    xi
Preface    xiii
Introduction   xvii
Chapter One: The Dance of Metaphor   1
     The Dance of Metaphor   1
     "A Selfless Humanist"   1
     "A Seeker of a Wholistic Self"   9
     The Tasks of Narrative Theology   11
     Summary   16
Chapter Two: Why Story Theology?
        The Background Story   18
     The Shaking of the Foundations in Theology   18
     The Challenge from the Philosophers of Language   20
     The Narrative Quality of Human Experience   23
     The Evolution of Biblical Criticism   26
     The Erosion of the Enlightenment Myths   30
     Summary: The Emergence of Narrative Theology   36
     For Further Reading  36
Chapter Three: The Shapes of Stories  39
     Stories That Set Up Worlds  40
     Stories That Upset Worlds  46
     Stories Set In Worlds  50
     Summary: The Shapes of Christian Stories   53
     For Further Reading   53
   Chapter Four: Stories of "The End": Eschatology   55
     The Hermeneutics of Eschatological Assertions   56
     Eschatological Judgment: Separating Sheep from Goats   60
     Modern Eschatologies: Some Critical Notes   64
     Conclusions   70
     For Further Reading   70
Chapter Five: The Stories of Jesus: I   73
     The Need for Biblical Criticism   73
     Jesus' Stories   78
     A Concluding Reflection   97
     For Further Reading   97
Chapter Six: The Stories of Jesus:  II   101
     On Reading New Testament Stories   101
     The Actions of Jesus   104
     Concluding reflections   111
     For Further Reading   115
Chapter Seven: The Stories of Jesus: III   117
     The Son of Man   118
     The Son of God   121
     The New Adam   128
     The Suffering Servant   130
     The New Moses   132
     The Word of God  133
     The Messiah   136
     Conclusions: A Myth of a Parabolic Messiah?   140
     For Further Reading   143
Chapter Eight: The Body of Christ   147
     Inner History and Outer History   148
     Stories from the Past   152
     Stories in the Present /Tense   161
     Summary: Ways of Incarnating Atonement   174
     For Further Reading   178
Chapter Nine: Moments of Truth   182
     "True" As a Grade   183
     True Stories as Revealing Stories   187
     True Stories as Coherent Stories   191
     True Stories as Stories of Authenticity   196
     True Stories as Stories of Fidelity  201
     True Stories as Stories of Constancy   207
     Moments of Truth, Stories of Truth and the Life of Truth   211
     For Further Reading   213
Epilogue: The Last Act   215
Works Consulted   219
Index   234