Calvin's Ladder: A Spiritual Theology of Ascent and Ascension (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780802864499)

Are Christians truly invited to share in God or just in his gifts? The language of "participation" has been hotly debated for centuries, many Protestants protesting that aspiring to share in God is akin to attempting to ascend to his level. John Calvin's theology is often brought in to support this contention. Here Julie Canlis argues that to do so reflects a complete misunderstanding of Calvin. In fact, she says, it is precisely Calvin's inclusion of participation that makes his theology so robust and spiritually enduring. / Calvin's Ladder traces the theme of participation in early Christian spirituality, then reveals how Calvin reworks it into the heart of his Protestant manifesto on theology. This groundbreaking book suggests an entirely distinctive way of conceiving the relation between God and humanity, challenging not only old caricatures of Calvin but also our own self-portraits.

Author: Julie Canlis
ISBN-10: 080286449X
ISBN-13: 9780802864499
Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
Language: English
Published: 06/28/2010
Pages: 298
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 1.00d
Award: Christianity Today Book Award - Award of Merit

Review Citation(s):
Christianity Today 08/01/2010 pg. 54
Christianity Today 11/01/2010 pg. 72
Books & Culture 09/01/2011 pg. 17