The Divine Trinity

This book, the first serious analysis of the doctrine of the Trinity for many years, presents a defense against the conservative treatment of the Trinity as an impenetrable mystery, and against the radical position that the doctrine is incoherent and therefore unacceptable. Brown favors the founding of a new discipline of philosophical theology (or the widening of the horizons of the philosophy of religion) to apply more widely the type of penetration of theology by philosophy that he exemplifies in his treatment of the Trinity. He argues for belief in an interventionist God (theism rather than deism), and contends that biblical criticism and historical research do not imply the abandonment of Christian belief, since the historical original should not be equated with theological truth. Although historical difficulties must prevent any literal acceptance of the Gospel accounts in toto, the true Christ can be disentangled from the historical Jesus by philosophical method. Wide-ranging in scope, rigorous and candid in argument, Brown's work will prove of interest to educated Christian laypersons and others beyond the boundaries of professional theology and philosophy of religion. Perhaps most provocative is Brown's assertion that the Resurrection must be accepted as a literally true visionary experience, and that anyone who accepts it must be prepared to take seriously other visionary experiences, for example, visions of the Virgin Mary, even if he rejects them in the end. It is certainly an astonishing truth that God should be so interested in a being of such vastly inferior powers as man, says the author. But that clearly must be the implication of the doctrine of the Trinity . . . To have reached this conclusion by means of philosophical argument is to have taken a major step toward the complete penetration of theology by philosophy that Brown calls for.

The Divine Dance has become a classic for fans of Richard Rohr and an important book on Christian mysticism, it provides a fresh perspective for anyone studying or teaching the trinity. The Trinity is the central doctrine of Christianity, but it is still widely considered a mystery we won't ever fully understand. Should we still try to understand it, even so? If we could, how would it transform our relationship with God? In this stimulating and thought-provoking book, internationally recognised teacher Richard Rohr explores the nature of God and the paradoxical idea of the Holy Trinity as both three and one. With clear, surefooted wisdom, he encourages us to build on the early Christian understanding of the relationship between Father, Son and Spirit as a flow and dance - a Divine Dance - that we are invited to join in. An engaging, accessible look at the nature of God, The Divine Dance will challenge the way you think about the Trinity and give you a much fuller understanding of the triune relationship that is at the heart of Christian doctrine. It will leave you with a faith that is renewed and strengthened, and show you how you can engage more deeply in your relationship with God and the world through the Trinity.

The second volume of Robert M. Doran’s magisterial The Trinity in History continues his exploration of the Trinitarian theology of Bernard Lonergan, focusing now on the notions of relations and persons and connecting the systematic proposals with the so-called "Third Quest for the Historical Jesus." Doran not only interprets Lonergan’s major work in Trinitarian theology and Christology but also suggests at least a twofold advance: a new version of the psychological analogy for understanding Trinitarian doctrine and a new starting point for the whole of systematic theology. He links these theological concerns with René Girard’s mimetic theory, proposes a theory of history based in Lonergan’s scale of values, and creates a link between exegetical and historical scholarship and systematic theology.

Every Catholic will come face-to-face with anti-Catholic attacks that are launched against the Faith. Don't you owe it to yourself to make sure you have the very best in apologetic resources right at your fingertips? There's no better time to arm yourself with what we consider a must for every Catholic's home library. The Essential Catholic Survival Guide. By compiling seventy of our best apologetic tracts into one cohesive, comprehensive book that can be used by anyone, anytime, anywhere to defend the Catholic faith, we've created what many consider the "go-to" resource when it comes to answering questions about the Faith. Topics include: The Church and the papacy-Scripture and Tradition-Mary and the saints-The sacraments-Salvation-Last things-Morality and science-Anti-Catholicism-Non-Catholic churches and movements-Practical apologetics.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 257-284) index.

God the Holy Trinity brings together leading scholars from diverse theological perspectives to reflect on various theological and practical aspects of the core Christian doctrine of the Trinity. Throughout, the essays highlight the trinitarian shape of spiritual formation. Contributors include: Alister McGrath Ellen T. Charry Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J. Frederica Mathewes-Green J. I. Packer James Earl Massey Gerald L. Bray Cornelius Plantinga Jr. Timothy George "Though the doctrine of the Trinity is basic for all Christian life and reflection, it often remains shrouded in the theologians' obfuscating mystery. This book, by contrast, with its stellar line-up of contributors, shows why the Trinity is so important for all communities of whatever denomination, documents powerfully the practicality of the doctrine, and does so with crystal clarity. It is an ideal volume for students, church classes, laypeople, and ministers--indeed for anyone who desires deeper understanding of the heart of the Christian faith." --Mark A. Noll, McAnaney Professor of History, University of Notre Dame "The Christian name of God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This admirable book helps explain why the renewal of trinitarian theology is critically important for all of us." --Richard John Neuhaus, author of American Babylon: Notes of a Christian Exile "This book brings into the twenty-first century some of the fruits of the remarkable ecumenical rediscovery of the Trinity in the second half of the twentieth. Grounded in Scripture and illustrated from the early, the medieval, and the post-Reformation church, trinitarian doctrine here both illuminates several confessional traditions in Christianity and also offers resources for facing various contemporary issues. Yet warnings are rightly raised against too facile an application of the recently fashionable 'social' construction of the triunity of God. All in all, a stimulating collection of essays for both positive and critical purposes." --Geoffrey Wainwright, Cushman Professor of Christian Theology, Duke University

"Dispensing means to distribute. God dispenses Himself to you just as you may dispense food to your guests. Many readers of the Bible have realized that in the Gospel of John the Father is revealed, the Son is revealed, and the Spirit is revealed. But not many have realized that in the Gospel of John the Triune God the Father, the Son, and the Spirit is revealed for the dispensing of Himself into us first as life, then as life supply, and then as everything."