The Church in the Thought of Bishop John Robinson

Résumé du livre

“This is the first complete, systematic study of all the writings of the Bishop of Woolwich. It provides a valuable introduction and analysis of Robinson’s views. The book takes on added interest because the author is a Roman Catholic and because Robinson has written a Foreword on the current theological reformation which, to such a large extent, his own Honest to God helped to launch.In his Foreword, Robinson comments, “One of the valuable features of Fr. McBrien’s treatment is the way in which he has detected the continuing influence on my thinking of the formula… ‘Have as high a doctrine of the Ministry as you like, as long as your doctrine of the Church is higher; and have as high a doctrine of the Church as you like, as long as your doctrine of the Kingdom is higher.’ This subordination of the Ministry to the Church and of the Church to the Kingdom has affected the perspective of all my writings. It has meant that I have never been interested in the Church or in a doctrine of the Church for its own sake.”Dr. McBrien begins his book with a survey of the contemporary theological scene and considers the life and writings of Robinson in this context. He analyzes Robinson’s understanding of the nature of the Church (as the Body of Christ), his concept of the Church as the eschatological community, and his approach to the liturgy and ministry of the Church. He gives a critical exposition of Robinson’s concept of the Church’s mission, of her function as secular community and as missionary community. Here Dr. McBrien discusses specifically the various sources of Robinson’s theology of the Church.Throughout the entire study, Dr. McBrien views Robinson’s writings in the context of current Anglican, Protestant, and Roman Catholic theology. The study suggests that Bishop Robinson’s emerging doctrine of the Church is the key to understanding all his writings.Here is a book that will helo ministers of all denominations, students and teachers of theology, and questing laymen will understand not only Robinson’s thinking but also its significance in the theological renewal of today.”- Publisher