Rethinking Christian Identity: Doctrine and Discipleship

Recent decades have seen major shifts in our understanding of Christian identity. This timely book explores contemporary theological theory in asking what makes a Christian in the twenty–first century: what unites and sets Christians apart from other social or political groups, and how is this identity forged and then passed on to others? Volpe engages with these changing ideas through the work of Kathryn Tanner, Rowan Williams, and John Milbank, whose accounts of Christianity challenge older views. Drawing these theologians into conversation with Gregory of Nyssa, she clearly and persuasively discusses the importance of doctrine in identity formation, the unexplored ideas of the significance of sin on Christian identity and its effects, and the need for an inclusive account of Christian identity. As Christianity declines in parts of the Western world, and yet expands in others, the nature of Christian identity is more crucial and vexed than ever before. This important book makes a valuable contribution to these ongoing debates.

Giving Thanks viii List of Abbreviations xi Introduction: Rethinking Christian Identity 1 1 Between the Postliberal and the Postmodern: "True Discipleship" as Cultural Style 12 2 Stories of Identity: Rowan Williams on Being a Christian 52 3 "It is no longer I who live": Receiving the Identity of Christ 105 4 The Body′s Reason: Gregory and Macrina on the Soul 145 5 The Nature of Doctrine Revisited: Gregory of Nyssa on the Formation of Christian Imagination 183 6 Doctrine, Discipleship, and Christian Identity 222 Bibliography 242 Index 254

Medi Ann Volpe is Lecturer in Theology and Ethics at Cranmer Hall, Durham University. She has published in Modern Theology , amongst other journals, and is co–editor of The Oxford Handbook of Catholic Theology (forthcoming, with L. Ayres).

“This is a substantial work that explores a considerable gap in the literature of discipleship, conversing as it does with three of the most significant contemporary theologians (unlike much literature on discipleship which ignores theology altogether. . . Academic libraries will want this book, and those interested in a way of integrating systematics and practical theology, but whether they can afford to do so is another matter (25 pence per page seems rather expensive to me, even if this hardback binding is as robust as any.) It has caused me to return to Milbank and Williams, and to explore Tanner afresh, but more significantly, to read Gregory. For that alone I am grateful to Volpe.”  ( Regent′s Reviews , 1 October 2013)