Doing Spirituality

The Journey of Character Formation toward Christlikeness

De: ALEXANDER VENTER

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

Doing Spirituality is a comprehensive textbook on the journey of character formation toward Christlikeness. The passion to progressively become like Jesus in life, character and power, is the heart of this book. Its distinctive feature, however, is that the understanding and practice of (Christian) spirituality is framed in the biblical theology of the Kingdom of God (that the historical Jesus taught and embodied), which is set against the infinite horizon of the Trinity (called the "new Trinitarianism" in theology). Part One, INTRODUCTION, begins with Alexander Venter's personal life journey in spirituality - his relationship with God. Then he gives an overview of ten different understandings of spirituality (spiritualities) in general, followed by a definition and discussion on Christian spirituality in particular. Then there's an overview of the four main spiritual traditions in the history of the Christian Church. Part Two, THEOLOGY, is a biblical theology of spirituality as in following Jesus in his (earthly) spirituality as a human person - not in his divinity - 2000 years ago under Roman occupation, in the crisis in which Israel found herself. Christian spirituality is being Jesus' apprentice in his Kingdom way of life in our real life context. The Jesus way, or Kingdom spirituality - to be emulated by every Christ-follower - is examined from the Synoptic Gospels, then John's Gospel, then from Paul's understanding in his letters to the early Churches. Part Three, PRAXIS, is the practice of Christian spirituality. Alexander lays out the classic threefold spiritual path of purgation, illumination and union. Then explains step by step how God transforms us, in terms of our spiritual, moral, character formation. This is followed by a discussion on each of the classic spiritual exercises: the eight disciplines of engagement, and the eight disciplines of abstinence. A further eight tools or aids for spiritual formation and growth are also introduced. The final chapter is the 'how to' live a balanced and integrated spiritual life to the full - to grow to maturity - and what that looks like in daily life.