Naming God : addressing the divine in philosophy, theology and scripture / Janet Soskice, University of Cambridge.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Soskice, Janet Martin, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

God (Christianity)--Name.

God (Christianity)--Attributes.

Theology.

theology.

Physical Description:

ix, 247 pages ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, United Kingdom ; New York, NY, USA : Cambridge University Press, 2023.

Summary:

Generations of Christians, Janet Soskice demonstrates, once knew God and Christ by hundreds of remarkable names. These included the appellations 'Messiah', 'Emmanuel', 'Alpha', 'Omega', 'Eternal', 'All-Powerful', 'Lamb', 'Lion', 'Goat', 'One', 'Word', 'Serpent' and 'Bridegroom'. In her much-anticipated new book, Soskice argues that contemporary understandings of divinity could be transformed by a return to a venerable analogical tradition of divine naming. These ancient titles - drawn from scripture - were chanted and sung, crafted and invoked (in polyphony and plainsong) as they were woven into the worship of the faithful. However, during the sixteenth century Descartes moved from 'naming' to 'defining' God via a series of metaphysical attributes. This made God a thing among things: a being amongst beings. For the author, reclaiming divine naming is not only overdue. It can also re-energize the relationship between philosophy and religious tradition. This path-breaking book shows just how rich and revolutionary such reclamation might be. -- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Naming God at Sinai : the gift of the name

Philo on knowing and naming God

Creation ex nihilo as a revolution in Christian metaphysics... and in naming God

Is 'God' the name of God?

Gregory of Nyssa

naming and following God : from mystic vision to ethics

Augustine, Moses and God as being itself

Aquinas : philosophical theology as spiritual practice

Conclusion : Calling and being called.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 231-243) and index.

Other Format:

ebook version :

ISBN:

9781108834469

1108834469

OCLC:

1363100768