
Spiritual Complaint
The Theology and Practice of Lament
James Clarke & Co Ltd (Publisher)
Published on 30. January 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
294 pages
978-0-227-17434-0 (ISBN)
Description
Every life, and every land and people, has reasons for lament and complaint. This collection of essays explores the biblical foundations and the contemporary resonances of lament literature.
This new work presents a variety of responses to tragedy and a world out of joint are explored. These responses arise from Scripture, from within the liturgy of the church, and from beyond the church; in contemporary life (the racially conflicted land of Aotearoa- New Zealand, secular music concerts and cyber-space). The book thus reflects upon theological and pastoral handling of such experience, as it bridges these different worlds. It brings together in conversation specialists from different fields of academy and church to provide a resource for integrating faith and scholarship in dark places.
This new work presents a variety of responses to tragedy and a world out of joint are explored. These responses arise from Scripture, from within the liturgy of the church, and from beyond the church; in contemporary life (the racially conflicted land of Aotearoa- New Zealand, secular music concerts and cyber-space). The book thus reflects upon theological and pastoral handling of such experience, as it bridges these different worlds. It brings together in conversation specialists from different fields of academy and church to provide a resource for integrating faith and scholarship in dark places.
Reviews / Votes
"[...] this [...] collection represents a brave insistence on the significance of the academic community as a resource to the Church."The Revd. Philip Welsh, Church Times, (5 September 2014)
The international and interdisciplinary scope of this collection commends its use in many different contexts. Spiritual Complaint will be particularly helpful resource in ministry training settings but also holds much value for researchers in pastoral theology more generally and lament studies in particular.
Taylor Worley, Theological Book Review, volume 26, no 1, 2014
[...] this is a welcome volume, advancing the discussion and pushing the church to embrace lament alongside attitudes of praise and penitence.
Andrew C. Witt, Reviews in Religion and Theology vol. 22, issue 2 , March 2015
"Miriam J. Bier and Tim Bulkeley have skilfully drawn together a collection of essays, which not only touch the nerves of pain and suffering and advance the understanding of lament, but also ... this book is a 'must' for every bookshelf, as it takes the theology and practice of lament from the academy, synagogue, and church into the public arena of tragedy and disaster. Spiritual Complaint deserves reflection and exploration, as it affects us individually and in community wherever we are."
Gwen Knight, Journal of Theological Studies, vol 66 issue 1, April 2015
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 153 mm
Weight
436 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-227-17434-0 (9780227174340)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
01/2014
James Clarke & Co Ltd
€33.49
Available for download
Persons
Miriam J. Bier, Lecturer in Old Testament, London School of Theology, London, U.K.
Elizabeth Boase, Lecturer in Old Testament, Department of Theology, Flinders University; Co-Director of Biblical Studies, Uniting College for Leadership and Theology, Adelaide, Australia.
Colin Buchanan, formerly the Bishop of Aston and then of Woolwich; former Principal, St John's College, Nottingham, UK.
Tim Bulkeley, Freelance Biblical Scholar teaching as Visitor at Laidlaw Graduate School, Auckland, New Zealand; and Colombo Theological Seminary, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Stephen Garner, Lecturer in Theology in the School of Theology, Faculty of Arts, The University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Yael Klangwisan, Senior Lecturer in Education, Laidlaw College, Auckland, New Zealand.
Will Kynes, Departmental Lecturer in Old Testament Studies, Stipendiary Lecturer at St Peter's College, and Liddon Research Fellow and Tutor of Theology at Keble College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Alistair J. Mackenzie, Senior Lecturer, School of Theology, Mission and Ministry, Laidlaw College, Christchurch Campus, New Zealand.
Jeanette Mathews, Lecturer in Old Testament, Charles Sturt University, Canberra, Australia.
Elizabeth Boase, Lecturer in Old Testament, Department of Theology, Flinders University; Co-Director of Biblical Studies, Uniting College for Leadership and Theology, Adelaide, Australia.
Colin Buchanan, formerly the Bishop of Aston and then of Woolwich; former Principal, St John's College, Nottingham, UK.
Tim Bulkeley, Freelance Biblical Scholar teaching as Visitor at Laidlaw Graduate School, Auckland, New Zealand; and Colombo Theological Seminary, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Stephen Garner, Lecturer in Theology in the School of Theology, Faculty of Arts, The University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Yael Klangwisan, Senior Lecturer in Education, Laidlaw College, Auckland, New Zealand.
Will Kynes, Departmental Lecturer in Old Testament Studies, Stipendiary Lecturer at St Peter's College, and Liddon Research Fellow and Tutor of Theology at Keble College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Alistair J. Mackenzie, Senior Lecturer, School of Theology, Mission and Ministry, Laidlaw College, Christchurch Campus, New Zealand.
Jeanette Mathews, Lecturer in Old Testament, Charles Sturt University, Canberra, Australia.
Content
Contributors
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Introduction
1 A Lament for Christchurch -Colin Buchanan
PART ONE: Foundations
2 Does Jeremiah Confess, Lament, or Complain? Three Attitudes Towards Wrong -Tim Bulkeley
3 The Unique Contribution of Lamentations 4 in the Book of Lamentations: Metaphor and the Transition from Individual to Communal -Miriam J. Bier
4 Lament Personified: Job in the Bedeutungsnetz of Psalm 22 -Will Kynes
5 The Enemy Lament: A Socio-Cognitive Approach to the Metaphors of Job 16:7-14 -Carlos Patrick Jimenez
6 Blurring the Boundaries: The Rhetoric of Lament and Penitence in Isaiah 63:7-64:11 -Elizabeth Boase
7 The Profit and Loss of Lament: Rethinking Aspects of the Relationship Between Lament and Penitential Prayer -Donald P. Moffat
8 The Doubtful Gain of Penitence: The Fine Line between Lament and Penitential Prayer -Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer
PART TWO: Reflections
9 Wrestling with Lamentations in Christian Worship -Robin Parry
10 Liturgy and Lament -Colin Buchanan
PART THREE: Explorations
11 Learning to Lament in Aotearoa -Alistair McKenzie
12 Framing Lament: Providing a Context for the Expression oF Pain -Jeanette Mathews
13 Public Lament -Elizabeth Boase and Steve Taylor
14 Lament in an Age of New Media -Stephen Garner
PART FOUR: Refraction
15 In Search of the Shulamith in the State of Israel: A Lament -Yael Klangwisan
Bibliography
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Introduction
1 A Lament for Christchurch -Colin Buchanan
PART ONE: Foundations
2 Does Jeremiah Confess, Lament, or Complain? Three Attitudes Towards Wrong -Tim Bulkeley
3 The Unique Contribution of Lamentations 4 in the Book of Lamentations: Metaphor and the Transition from Individual to Communal -Miriam J. Bier
4 Lament Personified: Job in the Bedeutungsnetz of Psalm 22 -Will Kynes
5 The Enemy Lament: A Socio-Cognitive Approach to the Metaphors of Job 16:7-14 -Carlos Patrick Jimenez
6 Blurring the Boundaries: The Rhetoric of Lament and Penitence in Isaiah 63:7-64:11 -Elizabeth Boase
7 The Profit and Loss of Lament: Rethinking Aspects of the Relationship Between Lament and Penitential Prayer -Donald P. Moffat
8 The Doubtful Gain of Penitence: The Fine Line between Lament and Penitential Prayer -Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer
PART TWO: Reflections
9 Wrestling with Lamentations in Christian Worship -Robin Parry
10 Liturgy and Lament -Colin Buchanan
PART THREE: Explorations
11 Learning to Lament in Aotearoa -Alistair McKenzie
12 Framing Lament: Providing a Context for the Expression oF Pain -Jeanette Mathews
13 Public Lament -Elizabeth Boase and Steve Taylor
14 Lament in an Age of New Media -Stephen Garner
PART FOUR: Refraction
15 In Search of the Shulamith in the State of Israel: A Lament -Yael Klangwisan
Bibliography