Suspended God: Music and a Theology of Doubt

Description

Heaney traces the hidden history of music's presence in Christian thought, including its often unrecognized influence on key figures such as von Balthasar, Barth and Bonhoeffer. She uses Lonergan's theological framework to explore musical composition as a theological act, showing why, when and how music is a useful symbolic form. The book introduces eleven ground-breaking theologians, and each chapter offers an entry point into the thought of the theologian being presented through an original piece of music. Heaney argues that music is a universally important means of making sense of life with which theology needs to engage as a means of expression and of development. Musical composition is presented as an appropriate and even necessary form of doing theology in its quest to engage with the past, mediate truth to the present and tradition it into the future. Title Page Copyright Page Contents Figures Foreword Acknowledgements Introduction: An apologetics of theological thinking Theology for the twenty-first century The role of doubt in a theology of faith Theology as multimodal: Meaning in musical form Who is the book for? Part I: The theological dimension of Christian songwriting Chapter 1: Truth matters and living in the incomplete It is the theologian who does theology A brief history of truth and doubt In defence of doubt in a theology of faith Lessons from the past The shape of faith in a trustworthy God Broken bridges: Theological aesthetics, beauty and the arts When the artists left the room Theopoetics and the importance of uncertainty The embodied, open form of music Chapter 2: The hidden story of music in theology Music and musicking: Defining our terms Unwritten scores: Behind the scenes of theological creativity Music in a Scriptural worldview A musical cosmos Foundational figures Music as ministry in a medieval world Reformation theologies of music The discord of epistemological dissonance A syncopated story: Key figures Chapter 3: Unsung sources: Theology in the public square of music-making Unsung sources In the beginning was sound From faith-shaped musicking to God-sized ventriloquism Word and music: Inseparable rivals The ecclesial lungs of Western ‘classical’ music Musical figures of theology performed The counter-reform of music: Postmodern and post-tonal musical movements The avant-garde spirituality of post-tonal music The time-honoured tradition of music’s mutiny A coda: Theological endings? Chapter 4: From theory to interiority: When is song-writing theological? A theological method with space for the arts A theological method defined by questions Theology in culture Theology’s functional specialities Foundations: Finding our theological feet The complementary dynamics of theological knowledge Accessing Foundations: The sense music makes of faith Patterns of consciousness in theological self-appropriation and authenticity Caveats and consequences: Foundations, doctrines and the community of faith Part II: Musicking theology: A theopoetical weaving of Christian thinkers through music Chapter 5: Can the arts contribute to our knowledge of truth? What place do music and the arts have in human life and knowledge? On the quest for a definition How do I define the arts? Bernard Lonergan, SJ: An ‘orthodox who thinks a lot!’ Major theological themes and works Look, sense, breathe: Stretching human experience so God can break in Lonergan’s critical realist epistemology Art and the aesthetic in Lonergan’s epistemology Art and the aesthetic pattern of human consciousness Come Alive ‘Come Alive’ lyrics Selected further reading For an introduction to Bernard Lonergan’s life and theology For an introduction to his theological method Good starting points for Lonergan’s thought Lonergan on Art Chapter 6: Is Scripture a world for women? The issue of women and Scripture: A foundational problem The emergence of feminist awareness and theology Shared approaches, positions and themes The issue of women and/in the Scriptures Sandra Marie Schneiders: ‘Some woman for one woman!’ Colliding worlds: From claimless to powerful Principles and methodological presuppositions Questions define method: The development of biblical hermeneutics Women in and in front of the biblical text Nameless ‘Nameless’ lyrics Biblical hermeneutics Christian spirituality Religious life Feminist theology and spirituality Chapter 7: Is beauty superfluous to human life and Christian faith? When did we lose sight of God’s beauty and power of attraction? Hans Urs von Balthasar: Theology on our knees Life and influences Adrienne von Speyr Theological works and background Influence and evaluation Eyes closed to see: Beauty, glory and the crucified Christ God as beauty What kind of beauty? When faith becomes worship Every Moving Light ‘Every Moving Light’ lyrics On Balthasar’s life and theology Balthasar’s writings On the significance of his writings Chapter 8: How to believe in God in such an unjust world? Poverty and faith in God: A different reading The emergence of liberation theologies and method Jon Sobrino SJ: When suffering wakes up knowledge Between you and I: No salvation without the poor Jerusalem: Salvation in the Poor ‘Jerusalem’ lyrics On liberation theology Sobrino’s life and thought On a spirituality of liberation Sobrino’s approach to liberation theology Chapter 9: Is original sin an outdated doctrine? When new life is so heartbreakingly beautiful, why do Christians talk about sin? Sebastian Moore: Taking human experience seriously From personality to theological explorations of psychology Context and influences Theological approach and style We all change names: The original blessing of (God’s and our) goodness Song Unfolding (for Julian) ‘Song Unfolding’ lyrics For an introduction to Sebastian Moore’s life and theology On Original sin Moore’s Existential Christology His poetic approach to various theological themes On the significance and influence of his theology Chapter 10: Who’s going to go to Heaven? What will happen to those we love who are not Christians? Karl Rahner, SJ: Our ‘last’ systematic theologian? Rahner and the Church Theology in collaboration Rahner’s theology and writings Standing in the gap as theology becomes Church teaching Rahner’s theology of grace and Church teaching Meet My Friend ‘Meet My Friend’ lyrics On the life and development of Rahner’s theology On spirituality and mysticism On anonymous Christianity On creativity and poetry in Christian life and theology Chapter 11: What is it with Christianity and martyrdom? What can one life achieve in such a messed-up world? Dietrich Bonhoeffer: When thought costs a life Bonhoeffer: Pastor, martyr, academic theologian Theological thought and development Later themes Influence and limitations One Life: Faith in the public square of the Body of Christ Becoming human A life-for-others Strange Life ‘Strange Life’ lyrics For an Introduction to Bonhoeffer’s Life and Thought Bonhoeffer’s Spirituality and Understanding of Ministry Bonhoeffer’s Correspondence: Bonhoeffer’s Theology of Reconciliation Bonhoeffer’s Major Works On the Influence of Afro-American Spirituality on Bonhoeffer Chapter 12: Is celibacy ever a good idea? Why would Christianity bless an option to not love? Doctors of the Church The issue of loving a greater love? Background and meaning of consecrated life Teresa of Avila: From friend of God to doctor of the Church Teresa of Avila: Life and context Teresa’s writings Teresa’s writing style You complete me: When love demands the consecration of one’s whole being I Think I Might ‘I Think I Might’ lyrics On Teresa’s life and context Teresa of Avila’s writings On the significance of her writings Chapter 13: Where on earth is God? Where on earth can God be found? Denis Edwards: A natural theologian Theological concerns and collaborations Where are you and where am I? Finding God in the world The bigger picture: An expanding universe in crisis Ecological theology and the Spirit in creation Meet You in the Middle of the Air Meet You in the Middle of the Air’ lyrics On Denis Edwards’ life and theology Eco-theology Theology of the spirit An overview of his theology of the natural world On his approach to Christianity in Australia On the significance and influence of his theology Chapter 14: Is how we name God important? Between past, present and future: ‘What is your name’? Elizabeth A. Johnson, CSJ: On a quest for the living God She who is She who is: Imagining Wisdom Sophia God by Any Other Name ‘God by Any Other Name’ lyrics An introduction to her life and thought The naming of God Dialogue bringing together women of different theological approaches Christology Creation and eco-theology Theological method applied to contemporary questions Chapter 15: How can we know if God is trustworthy? How do the ‘reasons of the heart’ fit into faith seeking understanding? Pierangelo Sequeri: Theologizing ‘from the centre of the soul to one’s fingertips’ A cultural paralysis with theological roots Spirituality, culture and aesthetics Show me your face: God as utterly trustworthy Exploring the believing conscience Trust in a God who is on our side Lament: In the Pouring Rain ‘Lament: In the Pouring Rain’ lyrics An introduction to Pierangelo Sequeri’s theology Theology of faith An insight into his thought on music A narrative reading of Scripture Chapter 16: What role does sexuality have in Christian faith? Does Christian faith frustrate or empower romance and human sexuality? Rosemary Luling Haughton: A fully lived life (1927–) Haughton’s early years: Called into Catholicism The prophetic spirituality of family and community living Haughton’s writing journey Haughton’s theological method and style Come move in me: God is passionate Human beings as embodied and sexual God as passionate Sexual love versus? celibacy Can I Have This Dance? Lyrics offertory version of ‘Can I Have This Dance?’ Lyrics wedding version of ‘Can I Have This Dance?’ An introduction to her life and thought Sexuality and Marriage Ecclesiology God as passionate love Theological method Introduction to Part II Coda: An invitation to autoethnography: Being an Irish theologian Down Under ‘Down Under’ lyrics Bibliography Name Index Subject Index