Naming God: Addressing the Divine in Philosophy, Theology and Scripture (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781108834469)

Generations of Christians, Janet Soskice demonstrates, once knew God and Christ by hundreds of remarkable names. These included the appellations 'Messiah', 'Emmanuel', 'Alpha', 'Omega', 'Eternal', 'All-Powerful', 'Lamb', 'Lion', 'Goat', 'One', 'Word', 'Serpent' and 'Bridegroom'. In her much-anticipated new book, Soskice argues that contemporary understandings of divinity could be transformed by a return to a venerable analogical tradition of divine naming. These ancient titles - drawn from scripture - were chanted and sung, crafted and invoked (in polyphony and plainsong) as they were woven into the worship of the faithful. However, during the sixteenth century Descartes moved from 'naming' to 'defining' God via a series of metaphysical attributes. This made God a thing among things: a being amongst beings. For the author, reclaiming divine naming is not only overdue. It can also re-energize the relationship between philosophy and religious tradition. This path-breaking book shows just how rich and revolutionary such reclamation might be.

Author: Janet Soskice
ISBN-10: 1108834469
ISBN-13: 9781108834469
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Language: English
Published: 07/20/2023
Pages: 256
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 0.55lbs
Size: 8.58h x 5.35w x 0.94d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 04/01/2024