AUGUST 2004 - ISSUE 3 - ISSN 1448 - 632

Foundations of Christian Faith: an introduction for students (Southbank, Vic: Social Science Press, 2004). pp. xv, 200. $39.95.

Occasionally we are drawn to a book by its cover *. This was my first reaction to Foundations of Christian Faith, a work edited by three members of the Sub-Faculty of Theology at the Australian Catholic University. It is visually attractive, clearly presented and, while comprehensive in scope, still has an uncluttered feel about it. The opening pages provide the student or interested reader with the basics to start the formal study of theology. There is an introduction, a statement of purpose and limitations, a table of major Church documents from and since Vatican II and brief summaries of each chapter. It ends with a glossary of theological terms, an extensive bibliography and recommended web sites, a list of contributors and a comprehensive index.

Content

The book comprises three major sections with individual chapters written by Australian theologians. Part 1 covers Jesus and the Church. From Jesus Christ and his Jewish origins and context (Laurie Woods) we are introduced to the different theologies of Jesus and his saving work in the New Testament and early Church (Ormond Rush) arriving at an institution with its standardised creed, code and cult by the fourth century (Bronwen Neil). An examination of the relationship throughout history between Church, Word and Sacraments by Gerard Moore leads into Veronica Lawson’s discussion of the role and impact of the Second Vatican Council.

The Experience of Belief (Section 2) investigates the task of theology, namely of faith seeking understanding. Tony Kelly reflects on the divine revelation of God’s love-life and its effects on human consciousness. A treatment of three specific theological topics follows: the Christian Trinity and the mystery of God’s life as one of persons in loving relationship (Anne Hunt); the offer of salvation within Christian experience and the different ways that has been understood (Damien Casey); Christian Anthropology which examines the human being as created in God’s image, made for relationship and called to fulfillment through the exercise of freedom (Anne Tuohy). Kerrie Hide closes the section with an overview of Christian Spirituality.

The third part of the book covers Christian Life and Praxis. Since theology is inherently practical, Brian Kelty argues that it entails the reflective action of believers and emerges, in an ethical life at the personal, social, political levels (Yuri Koszarycz). The diversity and pluralism within today’s world has an impact on our understanding of the Church’s identity and its call to preach the Gospel. This is taken up by Gerard Hall who points to an emerging paradigm for mission where the spotlight is on the ‘reign of God.’ Dennis Rochford discusses the interaction between Christian faith and post-modern culture. What does ‘secularity’ have to say to people of faith? What counter-cultural, questioning responsibility do Christians have in relation to surrounding culture(s)? In the book’s epilogue Indigenous and Christian, Joan Hendriks explores whether Australian theology can find a home for the experience of indigenous people and those of other cultural origins. This is a challenge to Christian Churches in that they remain predominantly European in their theologies, life and worship.

Presentation, Style and Some Observations

Restraint characterizes each chapter in the use of footnotes and in the brief lists of further references (to books, articles and online resources). There are helpful headings and subheadings throughout the text. The book seems to achieve a consistency both in the level of ideas presented and in its accessible style and language. The authors, by explicitly linking their material with earlier chapters, enhance its continuity. This unity and cohesiveness is not easy to achieve in a work with many different contributors - a mark of editorial skill.

This book’s symmetry is particularly influenced by David Binns' art work. Each chapter opens with a Gospel scene. The progressive visual walk through the life and ministry of Jesus to his death and resurrection is an effective counterpoint to the historical trajectory of the book's chapters. Given Binns’ role in its overall design, perhaps he should have been included in the list of contributors.

As a practitioner in the field I have two observations. I wonder whether in a subsequent edition it may help to provide two timelines early in the book. They could cover from c. 1800 BCE (Abraham) to Jesus and then from the early Church to the present day. With some key dates, events and names, the beginner in theology can have some sense of the trajectory of the human and religious story of the West. Today’s students, hobbled by an increasing lack of adequate (or any?) background in history, find such a visual overview extremely helpful, especially if presented in terms of a specific question. It could be one about personal identity and its development from ‘who are we?’(classical and medieval), through ‘who am I?’ of the modern period to ‘who are you?’ in our post-modern world.

Secondly, perhaps we can tend to leave theological reflection to courses in pastoral or practical theology. Theology is not simply a matter of thinking about our faith (understanding our tradition). It is, more basically, thinking with our faith and its scope is to understand life itself. We may easily underestimate the ‘spiritual’ reflection already going on in people’s lives. In an introductory course envisaged by this book, we should tap into this attentiveness to human experience by fostering people’s confidence and encouraging them to expand their horizons.

This can be done by offering them at the start a simple method of theological reflection. It may be about an experience in childhood or adulthood (of happiness, joy, success or of pain, loss, failure) in which they became more aware of God’s presence, protection or love. I have found that, almost without exception, students (young and old) find this exercise surprisingly powerful. They become more sensitive to the self and its inner movements, to faith in relation to daily experience and to God present and acting in the world. It is a very positive first step in the study of theology.

To sum up: for students, whether undergraduate or graduate, particularly those without any theology and who need to do it for e.g. a teacher's course, I would have no hesitation in recommending Foundations of Christian Faith as the basic text. We need books with this level of quality both in content and presentation and are indebted to the theology staff of ACU for initiating this project.

* Cover Design: Photograph from: Lake source. Central Queensland, mixed media on canvas by Linsay Farrell (used with the permission of the artist). Text cover design by Madeleine Allen-Cawte.

Tom Ryan SM is a Marist priest who is on the staff of the College of Theology at the University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle WA.

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