Customer Reviews

Why Narrative? Readings in Narrative Theology

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is not easy going: a colection of 17 reprinted articles (plus a helpful new introduction) which explore the philosophical and theological side of narrative and seek to show how it can be a useful tool for thinking about the meaning of life. Everyone's into 'story' these days and how important it is, but few can agree on exactly what a 'story' enables us to say or to know about anything. This book is a tremendous step in that direction. A particular highlight is David Ford's 'System, Story, Performance'.

It's hard going but if you persevere it will refresh and reform your ways of thinking.

`Why Narrative' is a solid introduction to narrative theology, and far more; I would highly recommend it for the reader who is interested in the importance of narrative and Christian theology. I think this is primarily due to the book's broad inclusion of scholarly articles from the world of philosophy and theology. In fact, this might be the first time I have been comfortable with such a blend. The reader is given a solid introduction by the editors and the first group of articles gives you a good sense of the recent historical roots of the growing apology for the importance of narrative, which includes two of the most relevant essays by MacIntyre. The subject is really that of "narrative structure," and the reader is left with an expanded world in addition to a broadened understanding of contemporary theology. Narrative structure can have important ramifications in ethics, epistemology, interpretation, consciousness, and revelation; the editor's careful selection allows the reader to take a peak into it all.