Religious Affections: A Christian's Character Before God [Paperback]

Jonathan Edwards (Author), James M. Houston (Editor), Charles Colson (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2003

In the wake of recent revival movements, Christians need Jonathan Edwards' classic Religious Affections more than ever. Edwards, the central figure in New England's first Great Awakening, offers here his most detailed description of the signs-false and true-of revival, while highlighting the role truly balanced emotions play within the Christian life. An engaging introductory essay by Charles Colson details the impact of Religious Affections on his own life and its implications for today's church.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Regent College Publishing (February 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573832405
• ISBN-13: 978-1573832403
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #254,463 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Final Word, September 17, 2005

By 

Robert W. Kellemen "Doc. K." (Crown Point, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Religious Affections: A Christian's Character Before God (Paperback)

Jonathan Edwards penned "Religious Affections" in a day much like our own. Battle lines were drawn over religion of the heart and religion of the head. Edwards, the consummate scholar, but his biblical mind and spiritual heart fully into the task of explaining the scriptural, theological, and practical truth of the nature of spiritual conversion and spiritual growth.

Unlike many Christian scholars today, Edwards recognized the age-old (Old Testament, New Testament, and Church History) truth/tradition of the affections. He saw them as the relational motivation that impelled the soul. Further, he saw the affections, or our longings, desires, and thirsts, as God-created/designed core components of the healthy human personality.

He then traced the relationship between the affections, our cognitions, our volition, and our emotions. Brilliantly he demonstrated that we pursue (volition) what we perceive (cognition) to be pleasant (affections) and pleasing (emotions). In other words, the "action" is in the affections. Capture the affections through the imagination (the deepest aspects of our cognitive capacity) and you capture the soul.

To understand the biblical psychology of the soul, other than the Bible itself, this is THE book to devour.

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Soul Physicians," "Spiritual Friends," and the forthcoming "Beyond the Suffering: The Story of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction."