Christian Wisdom: Desiring God and Learning in Love

Cambridge Studies in Christian Doctrine

by David F. Ford

What is Christian wisdom for living in the twenty-first century? Where is it to be found? How can it be learnt? In the midst of diverse religions and worldviews and the demands and complexities of our world, David Ford explores a Christian way of uniting love of wisdom with wisdom in love. Core elements are the 'discernment of cries', the love of God for God's sake, interpretation of scripture, and the shaping of desire in faith. Case studies deal with inter-faith wisdom among Jews, Christians and Muslims, universities as centres of wisdom as well as knowledge and know-how and the challenge of learning disabilities. Throughout, there is an attempt to do justice to the premodern, modern and postmodern while grappling with scripture, tradition and the cries of the world today. Ford opens up the rich resources of Christianity in engaging with the issues and urgencies of contemporary life.

Genres: Theology

428 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

David Frank Ford (born 23 January 1948, Dublin) is an academic and public theologian. He has been the Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Cambridge since 1991. His research interests include political theology, ecumenical theology, Christian theologians and theologies, theology and poetry, the shaping of universities and of the field of theology and religious studies within universities, hermeneutics, and inter-faith theology and relations. He is the founding director of the Cambridge Inter-Faith Programme and a co-founder of the Society for Scriptural Reasoning.

Reviews

[John Funnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was bought for me by a dear friend. I am very grateful for it.

David Ford is a gifted writer. It is an academic read with deep and profound ideas that compel you to explore the scripture.

David substantiates every claim with reams of Bible verse, printed in large chunks for you to read and asses for yourself. I am grateful to the publisher for not simply including a reference. Such practice affirms David’s overall point and personal motivation of the book - for us to reread the Bible in love!

David’s argument for Christian Wisdom that stood out for me…

1. Christian wisdom is listening to the cries of those in need (following the example of Christ who discerns and embodies such).

2. Christian wisdom is fearing and trusting and loving God for His own sake. (Again embodied in Christ and shown in Job).

3. Christian wisdom comes in the understanding of traumatic events as critique and renewal of existing traditions, a catalyst of transformation and reformation.

4. Christian wisdom is trusting God beyond all received ideas about God.

5. Christian wisdom is developed in and through the local church as we live life together in love.

A wonderful read that has got me through Covid isolation! Praise the Lord!

[Rob Eastwood Dewing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wide ranging and scholarly there is the sense in which this is a culmination of Ford's own accrued wisdom. I found his thoughts on how we should approach scripture (rereading in love), an openness to multiple voices in seeking understanding, his exploration of the place of suffering (considered through Job and the Shoah) and his understanding of wisdom as ‘fearing God for nothing’ (Job 1.9) particularly helpful. The case studies reflect Ford’s own interests and are helpful, though reading the chapter on L’Arche and Jean Vanier in the light of subsequent revelations about him provides an additional challenge of discerning the wisdom in a flawed voice.

[Gini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished the first pass at this one. Not a light read and sufficiently different from other academic work I'd managed to read to require pauses to think. Yes, I had to think! That ought to make this a five star. But, the discussions of the last chapters didn't work for me. Seems like he had hopes that just aren't going to be fulfilled for the universities, especially. The coverage of L'Arche I found very interesting and sad. To lose sight of a goal for some brief pleasure is such a waste, and all too common in founders. But, still, the good remains.
The closing chapter is pure artistry.

[Lenita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, thoughtful and well-written. There is a reason why I read David Ford's books as much for pleasure as for my academic work. I highly recommend it!

[Kate Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite without focus, and a sleep-inducing academic tone. But, very useful for understanding wisdom tradition (especially w/r/t Book of Job and the L'Arche communities).