Tradition and Apocalypse - An Essay on the Future of Christian Belief

David Bentley Hart

Summary

In the two thousand years that have elapsed since the time of Christ, Christians have been as much divided by their faith as united, as much at odds as in communion. And the contents of Christian confession have developed with astonishing energy. How can believers claim a faith that has been passed down through the ages while recognizing the real historical contingencies that have shaped both their doctrines and their divisions? 
 
In this carefully argued essay, David Bentley Hart critiques the concept of "tradition" that has become dominant in Christian thought as fundamentally incoherent. He puts forth a convincing new explanation of Christian tradition, one that is obedient to the nature of Christianity not only as a "revealed" creed embodied in historical events but as the "apocalyptic" revelation of a history that is largely identical with the eternal truth it supposedly discloses. Hart shows that Christian tradition is sustained not simply by its preservation of the past, but more essentially by its anticipation of the future. He offers a compelling portrayal of a living tradition held together by apocalyptic expectation--the promised transformation of all things in God.

Available since: 02/08/2022.

Print length: 208 pages.

Religion

Other books that might interest you

What's So Great about the...

Richard Phillips

Do Christians choose to have faith, or is faith a supernatural work of God? Far from an abstract intellectual exercise, this question has vast implications for the hope, joy, and assurance of the Christian life. When the truth of God’s sovereign grace breaks into our minds and hearts, it changes everything.  In What’s So Great about the Doctrines of Grace? Dr. Richard D. Phillips takes us on a tour of the doctrines of grace, also known as the five points of Calvinism. With clear biblical exposition, he helps us to see the extent of our corruption in sin, to anchor our faith in the fullness of grace, and to trust in God’s promise to finish what He started—the salvation of His people. When we rely on God’s all-sufficient grace, we can truly live for His all-consuming glory.

Show book

Alien Goddess - UFOs AI and the...

Dr. Joanna Kujawa

What if the beings we call "aliens" are not invaders, but messengers from higher realms of consciousness, warning us against the dead-end path we are racing toward? What if the true threat to humanity is not an alien invasion, but rather our surrender to machines? And what if the antidote resides in wisdom we abandoned long ago? 
 
Alien Goddess enters this urgent conversation with a perspective no one else is offering. Drawing on contemporary accounts of contact phenomena, esoteric texts, and ancient mythologies, it asks what happens when a civilization replaces the sacred with the synthetic. Who becomes the architect of human destiny when the soul is written out of the equation? 
 
Part I—The Messengers: UFOs investigates the possibility that UFO phenomena are visitations from consciousness realms within the liminal spaces of multidimensional realities. 
 
Part II—The Message: AI critiques the promises of transhumanism and artificial intelligence (AI), exposing the confusion between artificial experiences and true spiritual evolution. 
 
Part III—The Goddesses of Ascension offers an alternative in the initiatory wisdom of Goddess traditions. 
 
Alien Goddess is both a warning and a map.

Show book

Betrayal of Genius

Robin Patchen

Her invention could save thousands of lives…if she can survive long enough to share it.  
Jacqui’s research could lead to a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, and she’s determined to ensure the technology goes to the company with the best shot at creating life-saving products, not just the highest bidder. When her lab is broken into, she realizes her partner is desperate to get his hands on her research and the money it’ll bring. Jacqui goes into hiding, planning to lie low until she can find a buyer who lives up to her expectations.  
Reid’s life is all about protecting his daughter, but when she leaves for a month to visit her mother, he finds himself at loose ends. The pretty new manager at the ice cream shop seems like a good diversion, but he soon realizes there’s more to Jacqui than doling out scoops of rocky road. When he senses danger, he’s tempted to step away—he won’t allow any threat to come near his daughter—but how can he turn his back on a woman in danger, one he’s coming to care for?  
Jacqui’s former partner is closing in and getting more desperate by the day. He’ll stop at nothing to get the payout he feels he deserves.  
Join Jacqui and Reid as they navigate this pulse-pounding, faith-filled adventure into the high-stakes world of medical research, innovation, and greed.

Show book

Hell and Its Torments

St. Robert Bellarmine

Hell is a terrible place…but how horrific is it actually?
What would happen to me if I were to be there eternally?
St. Robert Bellarmine, Doctor of the Church, explains the horrors of Hell in clear details in Hell and its Torments. St. Robert explains why Our Lord repeatedly mentions the “fires of Gehenna” and the fate of the souls who turn against him. Of Judas he says. “it would be better for that man if he had never been born” (Matt 26:24). Our dear loving Lord’s numerous references to Hell and warnings against it should prompt us to consider it in detail and understand its horror.
If we cannot be inspired to run towards God by the rewards and joys of Heaven, let us at the least begin our movement towards our loving God by fleeing the fires of Hell.
Originally one part of a four-part sermon, St. Robert Bellarmine’s vigorous examination of the reality of Hell will inspire you to amend your life and desire even more the blessedness of Heaven. This small and powerful booklet is perfectly composed so as to focus our minds on the essential realities of Hell.
The meditations on the pains of Hell, written in 1574, remain surprisingly relevant to our modern world. The sermon considers the tremendous gravity of sin, the complete and unthinkable suffering of those in Hell, and the contrast of Hell with the blessed souls in Heaven. In all these considerations, St. Robert Bellarmine vigorously pursues the truth of Hell and its relevance to us as sinners.
The brief and powerful lessons in Hell and Its Torments will touch your soul and inspire to abandon sin and turn to the grace that God constantly offers so that we can become saints.

Show book

Handprints

Marie Phero

Did you ever have someone leave their handprint on your soul? Did you ever have a friend that changed your life forever? This is a story about a friendship that changed my life forever. If you have or had a dear friend in your life that you cherished, I hope you can share my need to share what this dear friend did for me. I am not the same person since I met her. 
She took a frightened woman lacking self-confidence and transformed me into a self-confident, daring woman. I want this book to be a thank you to a strong, enduring woman who faced so many challenges and trails in her life but still found time to be a devoted friend. She always had time to listen, laugh, cry, and shout when I needed her to. 
I would like this book to encourage those who have a dear friend to always make sure you take time to spend with your dear one. Time is precious, and before we know it, we are longing for moments that we so casually took advantage of. If you are one of the lucky ones who have someone who has left their handprint on your soul, I hope you feel this book in the depths of your soul. If not, I pray that the future may lead this special friend to you. I have been blessed to have this friend's handprint on my soul. Every, day she continues to press her hand on my soul.

Show book

The Other Side of Special -...

Carrie M Holt, Amy J Brown, Sara...

Find Hope, Joy, and Community as a Special Needs Mom 
 
 
 
For the special needs mom who yearns for community and support on what can be a lonely road, The Other Side of Special reminds you that you are not alone, your best is good enough, and even on the hard days, there are blessings to be had. 
 
 
 
As you pour your energy and resources into raising a special child, it's easy to struggle with feelings of isolation, competition, guilt, and overwhelm. Here's the encouragement and practical help to navigate the emotional reality of your situation. 
 
 
 
In The Other Side of Special, three mothers raising children with physical, medical, mental, and emotional special needs have joined forces and pooled their experience and expertise to provide such a resource. They take a deep dive into the most common emotions felt by special needs moms. They acknowledge the hard things as those who have been there. They celebrate the unique joys of being a special needs mom. And they offer encouragement for the journey, remaining realistic about the challenges special needs moms will continue to face.

Show book