Dictionary of Christian Spirituality

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Description

The 2012 Christian Book Award Winner, Dictionary of Christian Spirituality, provides readers with a global, biographical, historical, topical, and biblical understanding of the origins, development, and contemporary expressions of Christian spirituality. This volume offers a unique and valuable resource for pastors, church and ministry leaders, mentors, counselors, teachers and scholars.

In recent decades, Christian spirituality, spiritual formation and spiritual theology have become important concepts in the global evangelical community. Consequently, an accessible and reliable academic resource is needed on these topics---one that will offer a discerning orientation to the wealth of ecumenical resources available while still highlighting the distinct heritage and affirming the core grace-centered values of classic evangelical spirituality.

The Dictionary of Christian Spirituality reflects an overarching interpretive framework for evangelical spiritual formation: a holistic and grace-filled spirituality that encompasses relational (connecting), transformational (becoming), and vocational (doing) dynamics. At the same time, contributors respectfully acknowledge the differences between Reformed, Holiness, and Pentecostal paradigms of the spiritual life. And, by bringing together writers from around the world who share a common orthodoxy, this reference work is truly global and international in both its topical scope and contributors.

Entries give appropriate attention to concepts, concerns, and formative figures in the evangelical tradition of spirituality that other reference works neglect. They offer a discerning orientation to the wealth of ecumenical resources available, exploring the similarities and differences between Christianity and alternate spiritualties. This dictionary is different from other dictionaries because of its focus on spirituality. For example, the major interpretive article on Jesus is not about every detail of Jesus' life but about how his spirituality is the essence of Christian Spirituality and what that looks like.

Praise for the Dictionary of Christian Spirituality

"A well-researched, comprehensive study of Christian Spirituality from a broad evangelical perspective. I give it my highest recommendation." Richard J. Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline

"The combination of substantial reflective essays on major themes in Christian spirituality and sharply focused articles on major figures and topics provides a rich mixture of insight, information, and inspiration. 'Spirituality' can be a subject that wafts into ether, but in this broadly ecumenical and very well-balanced work, it is presented with real substance and genuine edification." Mark A. Noll, Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History, University of Notre Dame

"I highly recommend this dictionary for all Christians, especially those who want to grow in their active practice of various spiritual disciplines, their devoted love for God and neighbor, and their fervent thanksgiving for global saints and the myriad ways God works in the world." Marva J. Dawn, Teaching Fellow in Spiritual Theology at Regent College, Vancouver, BC

The Dictionary of Christian Spirituality is a 2012 Christian Book Award Winner in the Bible Reference category. Presented annually to the finest in Christian publishing since 1978, the Christian Book Awards honor the highest quality titles in Bibles, Bible Reference, Non-Fiction, Fiction, Children, Inspiration, and New Author.

Features

An accessible and reliable academic resource on Christian spiritual theology, spirituality, and spiritual formation with focus on being:

1. Biblically engaged
2. Accessible and relevant to contemporary Christian practitioners
3. Generous in its regard for the full range of Christian traditions of spirituality
4. Attentive to otherwise neglected topics, concerns, and formative figures in the evangelical tradition of spirituality
5. Global and international in both topical scope and contributors
6. Reflective of interdisciplinary engagement with related fields of inquiry

The volume has two main divisions:

1. 34 larger "integrative perspective" essays
2. Nearly 700 smaller alphabetized entries of varying lengths.

Each of the integrative perspective essays has been written with an awareness of the other briefer but related articles included. These shorter articles provide more details on particular topics than was possible to include in the integrative essays themselves. Topics are covered that are important to Christian Spirituality and articles are written to inform on how topics pertain to that subject.

Table of Contents

PART ONE: INTEGRATIVE PERSPECTIVES

• Overview of Christian Spirituality
• Approaches to the Study of Christian Spirituality
• Old Testament Foundations of Christian Spirituality
• New Testament Foundations of Christian Spirituality
• Spiritual Theology
• Jesus
• The Holy Spirit
• Human Personhood
• Spirituality in Community
• Education and Spiritual Formation
• Eschatology and Hope
• Survey of the History of Christian Spirituality
• Ancient Christian Spirituality (AD 100-600)
• Byzantium and the East (AD 600-1700)
• The Medieval West (AD 600 - 1450)
• European Reformation and Colonial Expansion (1450 - 1700)
• Europe and North American (1700 - Present)
• Global Christianity (1700 - Present)
• A Comparison of Major Christian Traditions
• Contours of Evangelical Spirituality
• Pathways to Reform and Renewal
• Liturgical Spirituality
• Prayer
• Experience
• Mysticism
• Music and the Arts
• Spirituality in Relationship to Psychology and Therapy
• Spirituality in Relation to Creation
• Contextual Spirituality
• Christian Spirituality in Interfaith Encounter
• Spirituality and Transformation
• Grace and Spiritual Disciplines
• Mission and Ministry
• The Future of Christian Spirituality

PART TWO: DICTIONARY ENTRIES

Nearly seven hundred shorter length articles on historical Christian movements, biographical profiles, and other concepts and topics pertinent to the study of Christian spirituality.

About the Editor(s)

Glen G. Scorgie (Ph.D., St. Andrews) is professor of theology at Bethel Seminary San Diego since 1996. Previously he was academic vice-president of North American Baptist College in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and is a past president of the Canadian Evangelical Theological Association. For the past decade he has also been involved in the ministries of Chinese Bible Church of San Diego, and lectures regularly in Asia. His writings include A Little Guide to Christian Spirituality (2007).

Simon Chan (PhD, Cambridge) is Earnest Lau Professor of Systematic Theology at Trinity Theological College in Singapore. He is the author of Man and Sin, Pentecostal Theology and the Christian Spiritual Tradition, Spiritual Theology; A Systematic Study of the Christian Life and Liturgical Theology: The Church as Worshiping Community. He is also the associate editor of the Global Dictionary of Theology and the Dictionary of Mission Theology.

Gordon T. Smith (PhD, Loyola House, Ateneo de Manila) is the president of reSource Leadership International and formerly dean of Regent College, Vancouver. His publications include A Holy Meal: the Lord’s Supper in the Life of the Church and The Voice of Jesus: Discernment, Prayer and the Witness of the Spirit.

James D. Smith III (ThD, Harvard) is associate professor of Church History at Bethel Seminary – San Diego, as well an adjunct professor of religion at the University of San Diego. A member of the Baptist General Conference, he is a former teaching assistant to Henri Nouwen at Harvard, and lectures frequently on Nouwen’s spirituality and related topics.

System Requirements

Installed size (unless otherwise indicated): Approximately 2.375 MB. iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Requires iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad running latest version of iOS. Download size: 2.375 MB. Android Requires Android OS 4.4 or later. Download size: 2.375 MB. Windows Phone Requires Windows Phone 7.5 or later. Download size: 2.375 MB. Windows Store Requires Windows 8, 10, 11 or later. Download size: 2.375 MB. Windows Desktop Requires Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7, 8, 10, 11 or later. Download size: 2.625 MB. Mac OS Requires macOS 10.13 or later. Download size: 2.375 MB.