Rock of Ages
The changing faces of the Christian God
Published on 27. June 2013
Book
Paperback/Softback
236 pages
978-0-7188-9296-8 (ISBN)
Description
Far from being the immutable "Rock of Ages" He is often assumed to be, the God of Christian history and tradition has had many different and often conflicting faces. 'Rock of Ages?' opens with the emergence of the Biblical God from the pantheon of deities in bronze age Canaan, and culminates in the radical images of God that were appearing at the end of the twentieth-century, providing a historical overview of the different and sometimes conflicting ways in which He has been understood.
By examining the ideas of key writers down the ages, whose ecclesiastical or intellectual power has allowed their insights to become embedded in the mainstream traditions of the Christian churches, Butler seeks to answer one central question: Why is it that people across the ages have claimed to have seen so many different and sometimes contradictory faces of the Christian God? Or more specifically: If there is one true God, and if He is known to those who believe in him through the revelation of Himself in history, why hasn't a consistent and unified understanding of Him emerged in the witness and testimony of those who claim to have seen his face?
In the best of scholarly traditions, Butler presents his work as a clear account of his own quest for an answer; but although suggesting possibilities, he leaves others to come to their own judgements using the evidence available. Written in a clear and attractive style, this is a book for anyone without any prior knowledge of history, theology or philosophy, be they atheists, Christians looking to explore their faith, students or simply anyone interested in the history of religion.
By examining the ideas of key writers down the ages, whose ecclesiastical or intellectual power has allowed their insights to become embedded in the mainstream traditions of the Christian churches, Butler seeks to answer one central question: Why is it that people across the ages have claimed to have seen so many different and sometimes contradictory faces of the Christian God? Or more specifically: If there is one true God, and if He is known to those who believe in him through the revelation of Himself in history, why hasn't a consistent and unified understanding of Him emerged in the witness and testimony of those who claim to have seen his face?
In the best of scholarly traditions, Butler presents his work as a clear account of his own quest for an answer; but although suggesting possibilities, he leaves others to come to their own judgements using the evidence available. Written in a clear and attractive style, this is a book for anyone without any prior knowledge of history, theology or philosophy, be they atheists, Christians looking to explore their faith, students or simply anyone interested in the history of religion.
Reviews / Votes
"This beautifully written book tells the fascinating story of the evolving portrait of the Christian God from Abraham to the present day. It is an illuminating read for those who feel the need to cross their fingers whenever they say the Nicene Creed - and for many who don't!"Rt Rev Richard Llewellin, Former Bishop at Lambeth
"I read this in one sitting. I found it utterly compelling. Firstly, it was so approachable - honest, succint, racy. And also because it was so focused on the reader's need to make sense of often contradictory images or doctrines about God. So the author runs through history and wrestles with ideas about God in a way that any searching person of the twenty first century will find useful. I loved it and hope many others do too."
The Revd Dr. Leslie Griffiths, The Lord Griffiths of Burry Port.
'The professor's argument combines brevity and clarity [...] For those no longer content with the image of God they have inherited, this book suggests new possibilities.'
Trevor Jamison, Reform Magazine, November 2013
"His fascinating presentation and flowing language captures and sustains reader's attention. The timeline and Butler's introduction to this book invite the readers to examine their own perception(s) of who God is and what this God does (or does not do) to them. After carefully reading it, they will thank Professor Butler for throwing fresh light on their theology."
-Daniel Jeyaraj, Liverpool Hope University, in Theological Book Review, Vol 25, No 2
"...beautifully clear and concise...Butler offers his personal voyage for illumination and for discussion of the future face of God. The final destination of his adventure is indeed illuminating."
-Hugh Rock, Modern Believing, Vol 55, Issue 2, (2014)
"Most readers will discover things here that they did not know..."
-David Grumett, The Expository Times, Volume 127(5), 2016
"...Butler achieves the aim which he declares at the outset and offers his readers an appealing invitation to join the search."
-Nicholas Papadopulos, Theology, Vol 117, No 4, 2015
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Publishing group
James Clarke & Co Ltd
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Weight
372 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7188-9296-8 (9780718892968)
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
12/2013
Lutterworth Press
€17.99
Available for download
E-Book
06/2013
The Lutterworth Press
€24.99
Available for download
Person
John Butler is now retired, having worked as an academic at the Universities of Nottingham, Manchester, and Kent. He has the title of Emeritus Professor of Health Services Studies at the University of Kent. He is a life Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and a guide at Canterbury Cathedral.
Content
Introduction: the author and the book
1. The origins of the gods
2. The God of Israel
3. The God of Laws and Psalms
4. The Jewish Messiah
5. The God of the Damascus Road
6. The Word made flesh
7. The God of dogma and heresy
8. The God of creeds
9. The God of selective grace
10. The God of the medieval scholastics
11. The God of reason and revelation
12. The God of the reformers
13. The God of predestination
14. The God of prevenient grace
15. The God of the gaps
16. The God for enlightened times
17. The God who warms the heart
18. The God who was no longer there
19. The God for the liberals
20. The God for the fundamentalists
21. The God of neo-orthodoxy
22. The God of silence and suffering
23. The God for the twentieth century
24. The God of the past and the God of the future
1. The origins of the gods
2. The God of Israel
3. The God of Laws and Psalms
4. The Jewish Messiah
5. The God of the Damascus Road
6. The Word made flesh
7. The God of dogma and heresy
8. The God of creeds
9. The God of selective grace
10. The God of the medieval scholastics
11. The God of reason and revelation
12. The God of the reformers
13. The God of predestination
14. The God of prevenient grace
15. The God of the gaps
16. The God for enlightened times
17. The God who warms the heart
18. The God who was no longer there
19. The God for the liberals
20. The God for the fundamentalists
21. The God of neo-orthodoxy
22. The God of silence and suffering
23. The God for the twentieth century
24. The God of the past and the God of the future