8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Unique Reference with a Misleading Name, May 30, 2006
This review is from: The Biblical Foundations of Christian Worship (Complete Library of Christian Worship) (Hardcover)
First, this is a unique and valuable work. As the first volume in Webber's "The Complete Library of Christian Worship," the book provides information from a broad variety of Christian traditions (the newly published "Oxford History of Christian Worship" is one of the few recent publications with similar breadth). A surprising variety from teachers and clergy from denominations and traditions well-known to obscure provide information throughout the series. Where else can you glean views related to worship from the perspectives of Pentecostals, Mennonite, Greek Orthodox, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, and Churches of Christ, all in a single work?
As might be expected, considering the worldwide variety in Christian worship, the series focuses primarily on worship practices within the United States. Ethnic practices, such as Latino worship, are approached as they exist within an American context.
With this strong affirmation, the book, as well as the series, is clouded by several weaknesses. First, Robert Webber is primarily the editor, not the author, of the work. As is often the case in edited compilations, the articles vary widely in depth and value. Second (and this is more true of the series as a whole than any single volume), there is a good deal of redundancy and overlap in the materials presented.
Finally, those purchasing this book expecting to sit down for a long and enjoyable time of reading, as is true of many of Webber's others titles, will find it fails in that area. Since it is clearly not intended to be read from beginning to end, as one would read his classic "Worship is a Verb" for example, makes this observation less a weakness than a characteristic. The book's title and byline may be misleading, however. At first glance, some may assume it is another of Webber's own writings on worship.
A good resource -- but, definitely not an engaging or inspiring book.
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