Since its beginning in the 1990s, Radical Orthodoxy has become perhaps the most influential, and certainly the most controversial, movement in contemporary theology.
This book offers an introduction to the Radical Orthodox sensibility through sermons preached by some of its most notable proponents, including Stanley Hauerwas, Catherine Pickstock and Graham Ward.
Accessible, challenging and varied, the sermons together help to suggest what Radical Orthodoxy might mean in practice.
Table of Contetnts
I. Reclaiming Time: Advent
II. Preaching Paradox: Christmas to Candlemas
III. Unfolding the Story: Lent to Easter Sunday
IV. Real Resurrection: Eastertide to Trinity Sunday
V. For the Time Being: Trinity Season and Christian Lives
I. Reclaiming Time: Advent
Lifting the Veil on the World - Ian Boxall 11
The Christ Who is Coming - Arabella Milbank 15
Waiting and Birthing - Kirsten Pinto Gfroerer 19
II. Preaching Paradox: Christmas to Candlemas
Nativity: Words and the Word - Alison Milbank 27
Epiphany: Surprised by Joy - Alison Milbank 30
Music and What Matters Most - Andrew Davison 33
Christ's Baptism: The Cold Water of Baptism - Joseph Vnuk 37
Amiably Drawn Edmund Newey 41
Conversion of St Paul: The Road to Insight - Silvianne Aspray 45
Christian Unity: Splendour with no Bounds - Martin Warner 49
St Thomas Aquinas: Beatific Theology - Jeffrey Phillips 52
Presentation of Christ: Out of the Dark Time - John Milbank 56
III. Unfolding the Story: Lent to Easter Sunday
Ash Wednesday: On Being Dust - Anthony Baker 63
Living in the Rhythm of Worship - David Moss 67
God and Nature - David Neaum 72
Passion Sunday: A Wondrous Exchange - Rachel Greene 76
Palm Sunday: Inside the Story - Melanie Marshall 80
Maundy Thursday: Food Enough to Triumph - Jeffrey P. Bishop 82
Good Friday: Passionate Actions - John Muddiman 87
Easter Sunday: Death's Name for Love is Resurrection - David Widdicombe 92
IV. Real Resurrection: Eastertide to Trinity Sunday
Disturbing Faith - Ruth Jackson 99
Being Witnesses - Peter Groves 104
Heaven is Other People - Jeremy Morris 108
Love is the only Politics that Matters - Matthew Bullimore 112
The Tangled Vine - Jennifer Strawbridge 117
Ascension: Becoming Heaven-bent - Simone Kotva 121
St Philip and St James: Love's Labour - Graham Ward 126
Pentecost: Language of Joy - John Inge 129
Trinity: Finding Ourselves in the Trinity - Alison Milbank 134
V. For the Time Being: Trinity Season and Christian Lives
Corpus Christi: Consume and be Consumed - Gregory Platten 141
The Sound of Silence - Stanley Hauerwas 145
St Mary Magdalene: Witness to the Depths of God - Stephen Conway 151
Transfiguration: The Beauty in the Ugliness - John Hughes 156
Assumption: Mary, Battered and Glorious Vessel - Melanie Marshall 160
Challenging Christians? - Fergus Kerr 164
Michaelmas: I Believe in Angels - Robert Chapman 168
Lord of the Harvest - Michael Northcott 171
Dedication Festival: The Feast of You and Me - Richard Stanton 176
Holy Fear, Holy Play Frances Ward 181 Remembrance: Remembering Well - Philip Krinks 186
Baptism: Higher than the Angels - John Hughes 189
Confirmation: Divine Athletes - Stephen Platten 192
Confirmation: God's Designer Label - Nigel Peyton 195
Marriage: The Abundant Economy - Simon Oliver 198
Ordination: Are You Real? - Anna Matthews 202
First Mass: Overlapping Gifts - Catherine Pickstock 206
Funeral: Repeating Ourselves- James Robinson 211
Alison Milbank, John Hughes, Arabella Milbank
Alison Milbank is Associate Professor of Literature and Theology at the University of Nottingham, and Canon Theologian of Southwell Minster. John Hughes was Dean of Chapel of Jesus College Cambridge, and one of the Church of England’s most promising theologians until his death in 2014. Arabella Milbank is an ordinand at Westcott House and is completing her postgraduate studies in English and Theology at the University of Cambridge.
"Those who know only the austere and abrasive dimension of Radical Orthodoxy’s reputation will find here food to make their soul grow and an invitation to participate in nothing less than the life of God. Those who believe the word is a sacrament will find themselves worshipping through this book. Those who don’t will need to think again." -- Sam Wells, Vicar, St Martin-in-the-Fields, London
"This collection of sermons delivered by representatives of different ecclesial traditions show-cases the art of homiletics. The ideas are expressed in edifying language and the sentences are crafted with due attention given to their rhythm so that the congregation is offered some ideas for reflection that are not only true and good but beautiful as well." -- Tracey Rowland, University of Notre Dame (Australia) and International Theological Commission