Spiritual Theology : The Theology of Yesterday for Spiritual Help Today
Publication Type |
Book |
Year of Publication |
1997 |
Author |
|
Pages |
169 |
Publisher |
Cowley Publications |
Place Published |
Boston |
Language |
English |
Keywords |
'beauty of the
world' |
Annotation |
References to Weil are scattered throughout Allen's book. In the first chapter, "What is Spiritual Theology?” he makes specific reference to Weil in relation to "the indirect contemplation of God" (pp. 12 - 13). He discusses Weil's concept of the 'beauty of the world' in the second chapter "The Journey and the Goal "(pp. 31 - 32). In chapter four, "Three Journeys to God", he presents what he calls Weil's 'conversion experience'. (pp. 56 - 63). The sixth chapter "Progress in the Spiritual Life" offers a discussion of Weil's views on evil. (p. 90). Weil's influence on Iris Murdoch and her writings on attention are taken up in Chapter Seven, "Contemplation" (pp. 102 - 104). In Chapter Eight, "The Book of Nature", Allen offers a discussion of Weil's unique way of uniting what he calls 'the inward and the outward way' and a brief presentation of her view of work as the centre of spiritual life (, p. 118, pp. 121 - 123). In the final chapter, "Christian Doctrine and the Spiritual Life", Allen briefly mentions Weil's comment that the task of theology can be compared to a flashlight. (p. 158). |