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Books > Church Reference > Parish Reference
Pastoral Theology

Pastoral Theology

A Reorientation
ISBN: 9781608997442
Publisher: Wipf and Stock
288 pages
Binding: Paperback


$33.00
   


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This is a book about pastoral priorities and parochial spirituality. Mr. Thornton argues that considerations of biblical and philosophical theology, history, and psychology alike demand that pastoral work should be based on that Remnant of faithful souls—often very few in number—to be found in any parish; and that their training and direction is of very much greater importance than devising schemes to interest the multitude. He argues forcefully against the parochial activity which aims at adding numbers of individuals to the Church by methods of recruitment; this he holds to be theologically unsound and ascetically ineffective. His faith is that God will add to the Church such as are being saved when there is at the heart of the parish this Remnant living by rule, a center of adoration and charity—the rightful heir, he contends, of medieval monastic Order. There is probably no other modern work which attempts such a serious and thorough examination of the type of spirituality to which Christians can aspire in the world today.

This is one of the books for the Shaping the Parish program.

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Average Customer Review
 1 reviews

A decidedly Anglican theologian

This is a great overview of Martin Thornton's ascetical and parochial theology. Fr. Thornton's style is accessible and learned; focused on the holy and decidedly earthy (which always surprises me a bit in an Englishman!) A refreshing reminder of the purposes of the parish church and the importance of building up the center rather than diluting the priest's energy and trying to be all things to all people. That said, it was written in the '50s and a number of the literary/intellectual references are a little opaque for me. Hence 4 stars. It is, though, good to engage something challenging and I think the 4 stars are more a reflection of my deficits than the book's.

By: Michelle - Seattle, WA


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