BA History MTh, Applied Theology, University of Oxford MTS, Liturgical Studies, University of Notre Dame Doctoral Student, Marquette University Address: Milwaukee, WI
A review and discussion document for Rachel Muers, Keeping God’s Silence: Towards a Theological E... more A review and discussion document for Rachel Muers, Keeping God’s Silence: Towards a Theological Ethics of Communication (London: Blackwell, 2004).
An overview of Bernard Groethuysen's The Bourgeois: Catholicism vs. Capitalism in Eighteenth Cent... more An overview of Bernard Groethuysen's The Bourgeois: Catholicism vs. Capitalism in Eighteenth Century France (London: Barrie & Rockliff, 1968 [1927]).
A review essay with discussion questions for Sarah Coakley's God, Sexuality, and the Self: An Ess... more A review essay with discussion questions for Sarah Coakley's God, Sexuality, and the Self: An Essay on the Trinity
This bibliography provides a starting point for research on the theology and practice of the Dail... more This bibliography provides a starting point for research on the theology and practice of the Daily Office (Liturgy of the Hours) in Anglicanism, particularly as expressed in the 1979 American Book of Common Prayer.
An examination of the question of imputation as it is treated in the Joint Declaration on Justifi... more An examination of the question of imputation as it is treated in the Joint Declaration on Justification.
The patristic practice of allegorical preaching has been controversial since the Origenist contro... more The patristic practice of allegorical preaching has been controversial since the Origenist controversies of the late fourth century. This form of interpretation has ever since been associated with its greatest and most infamous practitioner. Reformation polemics firmly associated it with the most flagrant abuses in scholastic theology, and in the modern period it continues to be a byword for theological speculations that are related to biblical texts in only the vaguest of fashions. Would it not be more faithful to the text to limit one’s theological claims only to the intent of the author? But such a circumscription of ecclesial interpretation is born out of a refusal to read biblical texts as Scripture. In this short essay, I submit that a renewed practice of allegorical preaching can fruitfully guide contemporary hearers in the theological reading of Scripture, against the hidden ideologies of authorial intent.
Compares the text of the prayer in Latin as derived from the Gregorian Sacramentary, the Roman 19... more Compares the text of the prayer in Latin as derived from the Gregorian Sacramentary, the Roman 1973 English, ICEL's 1998 proposal, the 2010 Roman English, as well as Sarum, the 1662 BCP, and the 1979 American BCP.
Through the 1970s, American culture became increasingly concerned with the idea of healing, both ... more Through the 1970s, American culture became increasingly concerned with the idea of healing, both physical and emotional. This interest grew in an environment that included post-conciliar liturgical renewal in the Catholic Church, a movement for charismatic renewal that crossed the boundaries of various Christian communions, and post-modern explorations in sacramental theology. These explorations continue to reverberate in contemporary attitudes about faith and healing. In this essay, I will use a recent study of spiritual healing to provide a framework for comparing concepts of healing in charismatic practice as represented by Francis MacNutt, and in contemporary sacramental theology as represented by Bruce Morrill.
The language of sacrifice appears prominently in the New Testament and the liturgical theology of... more The language of sacrifice appears prominently in the New Testament and the liturgical theology of various early Christian writers. It has often been considered a “spiritualization” of the Israelite cult centered at the Temple in Jerusalem. As such it can be seen as an embarrassing holdover from primitive religion, or a moral progression in religious thought. The way that continuity with the Temple cult is applied to the death of Jesus and Christian eucharistic theology has proven ecumenically controversial, and this has in recent year revived interest in the way that the Old Testament cult informs Christian theology. In this paper I will consider how a Christian understanding of sacrifice might helpfully rely upon general contextual understandings of sacrificial rituals. By examining two prominent theologians’ work, I will demonstrate the limit of attempts to trace the language of sacrifice as it pertains to Jesus and Christian worship back to specific types of sacrifice. I will apply critiques from recent Old Testament studies that suggest no easy metaphorical readings for that cult. This will demonstrate that Christian theologians are on firmest ground when they use the Old Testament sacrificial system as a matrix of rituals that maintain Israel’s life with Yahweh. The atoning work of Jesus and the ongoing worship of Christians can be seen as reflecting some of the purposes of that system, but the analogies break down when a strictly defined theory of Old Testament sacrificed is advanced as the basis for them.
For centuries, Christians have begun their services of public and private prayer with Psalm 95. I... more For centuries, Christians have begun their services of public and private prayer with Psalm 95. It begins with a famous and oft-quoted call to praise, but turns to a dour warning of divine judgment upo faithlessness. In the modern era, some churches that retain Psalm 95 as the opening for their services have abbreviated it by ending the psalm at 7b or 7c, removing the warning of divine judgment. In this paper, I examine the theology engendered by Psalm 95, and discuss the reasons for this liturgical change and argue for its entire retention on the basis of a patristic understanding of the morally formative function of the psalter.
Should Christians keep quiet about their faith for a generation in order reclaim Christianity fro... more Should Christians keep quiet about their faith for a generation in order reclaim Christianity from the lure of worldly benefits? An evaluation of J. Malesic's recent proposal.
Provides an overview of the history of Christian hospitality, and examines its potential for Chri... more Provides an overview of the history of Christian hospitality, and examines its potential for Christian ministry in the modern world.
An examination of the ancient Christian understanding of the Church as a community of "resident a... more An examination of the ancient Christian understanding of the Church as a community of "resident aliens," and suggestions for this concepts integration into a contemporary theology of mission.
A review and discussion document for Rachel Muers, Keeping God’s Silence: Towards a Theological E... more A review and discussion document for Rachel Muers, Keeping God’s Silence: Towards a Theological Ethics of Communication (London: Blackwell, 2004).
An overview of Bernard Groethuysen's The Bourgeois: Catholicism vs. Capitalism in Eighteenth Cent... more An overview of Bernard Groethuysen's The Bourgeois: Catholicism vs. Capitalism in Eighteenth Century France (London: Barrie & Rockliff, 1968 [1927]).
A review essay with discussion questions for Sarah Coakley's God, Sexuality, and the Self: An Ess... more A review essay with discussion questions for Sarah Coakley's God, Sexuality, and the Self: An Essay on the Trinity
This bibliography provides a starting point for research on the theology and practice of the Dail... more This bibliography provides a starting point for research on the theology and practice of the Daily Office (Liturgy of the Hours) in Anglicanism, particularly as expressed in the 1979 American Book of Common Prayer.
An examination of the question of imputation as it is treated in the Joint Declaration on Justifi... more An examination of the question of imputation as it is treated in the Joint Declaration on Justification.
The patristic practice of allegorical preaching has been controversial since the Origenist contro... more The patristic practice of allegorical preaching has been controversial since the Origenist controversies of the late fourth century. This form of interpretation has ever since been associated with its greatest and most infamous practitioner. Reformation polemics firmly associated it with the most flagrant abuses in scholastic theology, and in the modern period it continues to be a byword for theological speculations that are related to biblical texts in only the vaguest of fashions. Would it not be more faithful to the text to limit one’s theological claims only to the intent of the author? But such a circumscription of ecclesial interpretation is born out of a refusal to read biblical texts as Scripture. In this short essay, I submit that a renewed practice of allegorical preaching can fruitfully guide contemporary hearers in the theological reading of Scripture, against the hidden ideologies of authorial intent.
Compares the text of the prayer in Latin as derived from the Gregorian Sacramentary, the Roman 19... more Compares the text of the prayer in Latin as derived from the Gregorian Sacramentary, the Roman 1973 English, ICEL's 1998 proposal, the 2010 Roman English, as well as Sarum, the 1662 BCP, and the 1979 American BCP.
Through the 1970s, American culture became increasingly concerned with the idea of healing, both ... more Through the 1970s, American culture became increasingly concerned with the idea of healing, both physical and emotional. This interest grew in an environment that included post-conciliar liturgical renewal in the Catholic Church, a movement for charismatic renewal that crossed the boundaries of various Christian communions, and post-modern explorations in sacramental theology. These explorations continue to reverberate in contemporary attitudes about faith and healing. In this essay, I will use a recent study of spiritual healing to provide a framework for comparing concepts of healing in charismatic practice as represented by Francis MacNutt, and in contemporary sacramental theology as represented by Bruce Morrill.
The language of sacrifice appears prominently in the New Testament and the liturgical theology of... more The language of sacrifice appears prominently in the New Testament and the liturgical theology of various early Christian writers. It has often been considered a “spiritualization” of the Israelite cult centered at the Temple in Jerusalem. As such it can be seen as an embarrassing holdover from primitive religion, or a moral progression in religious thought. The way that continuity with the Temple cult is applied to the death of Jesus and Christian eucharistic theology has proven ecumenically controversial, and this has in recent year revived interest in the way that the Old Testament cult informs Christian theology. In this paper I will consider how a Christian understanding of sacrifice might helpfully rely upon general contextual understandings of sacrificial rituals. By examining two prominent theologians’ work, I will demonstrate the limit of attempts to trace the language of sacrifice as it pertains to Jesus and Christian worship back to specific types of sacrifice. I will apply critiques from recent Old Testament studies that suggest no easy metaphorical readings for that cult. This will demonstrate that Christian theologians are on firmest ground when they use the Old Testament sacrificial system as a matrix of rituals that maintain Israel’s life with Yahweh. The atoning work of Jesus and the ongoing worship of Christians can be seen as reflecting some of the purposes of that system, but the analogies break down when a strictly defined theory of Old Testament sacrificed is advanced as the basis for them.
For centuries, Christians have begun their services of public and private prayer with Psalm 95. I... more For centuries, Christians have begun their services of public and private prayer with Psalm 95. It begins with a famous and oft-quoted call to praise, but turns to a dour warning of divine judgment upo faithlessness. In the modern era, some churches that retain Psalm 95 as the opening for their services have abbreviated it by ending the psalm at 7b or 7c, removing the warning of divine judgment. In this paper, I examine the theology engendered by Psalm 95, and discuss the reasons for this liturgical change and argue for its entire retention on the basis of a patristic understanding of the morally formative function of the psalter.
Should Christians keep quiet about their faith for a generation in order reclaim Christianity fro... more Should Christians keep quiet about their faith for a generation in order reclaim Christianity from the lure of worldly benefits? An evaluation of J. Malesic's recent proposal.
Provides an overview of the history of Christian hospitality, and examines its potential for Chri... more Provides an overview of the history of Christian hospitality, and examines its potential for Christian ministry in the modern world.
An examination of the ancient Christian understanding of the Church as a community of "resident a... more An examination of the ancient Christian understanding of the Church as a community of "resident aliens," and suggestions for this concepts integration into a contemporary theology of mission.
Criticizes the use of historical theology in Leo XIII's judgment on the question of Anglican orde... more Criticizes the use of historical theology in Leo XIII's judgment on the question of Anglican orders.
This study of Thomas Cranmer's reform of the liturgy of the hours, from early drafts to the 1552 ... more This study of Thomas Cranmer's reform of the liturgy of the hours, from early drafts to the 1552 Book of Common Prayer, examines his theological and humanist agenda in the work.
A review and evaluation of the Christian peace movement in Western culture in the late 20th centu... more A review and evaluation of the Christian peace movement in Western culture in the late 20th century.
Interprets the traditional accounts of St Alban's martyrdom as an appeal Anglo-Saxon values durin... more Interprets the traditional accounts of St Alban's martyrdom as an appeal Anglo-Saxon values during the Christianization of Britain.
Examines Basil the Great's understanding of Christian friendship in the Latin recension of his Ru... more Examines Basil the Great's understanding of Christian friendship in the Latin recension of his Rule, arguing that his pneumatology shapes a strongly communitarian ecclesiology.
Argues for literary and theological readings of biblical narratives as the basis for ecclesial re... more Argues for literary and theological readings of biblical narratives as the basis for ecclesial reading of Scripture, as an alternative to over-reliance upon historical-critical studies.
This homily is an attempt to exemplify a method of allegorial interpretation and preaching as dem... more This homily is an attempt to exemplify a method of allegorial interpretation and preaching as demonstrated by Origen of Alexandria.
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MTh Dissertation, University of Oxford
MTh Dissertation, University of Oxford