Christian Doctrine, Christian Identity: Augustine and the Narratives of Character

by Christopher J. Thompson

Christian Doctrine, Christian Identity is an elegant study of Augustine's Confessions , a classic narrative of Christian experience written 1600 years ago. With insights concerning character, the development of integrity and the organic nature of moral experience, Confessions provides an excellent example for those wishing to promote a narrative approach to Christian theology. In this book, Christopher Thompson investigates the impact of Augustine's work on leading figures in narrative ethics, including MacIntyre, Hauerwas, Stroup, and Crites. He then considers Confessions on the subject of Creation and discusses the influence of this important theological theme on the nature of Christian identity. By considering contemporary narrative ethics in light of Augustine's reflections, Thompson eloquently reveals that a doctrine of creation is essential for truly understanding the meaning of life. Theologians and other religious scholars will find much to their liking in this thought-provoking study.

124 pages, Hardcover

First published February 22, 1999