Alive in God: A Christian Imagination

by Timothy Radcliffe

Timothy Radcliffe considers the strength of the Christian imagination in its ability inspire others.

How can Christianity touch the imagination of our contemporaries when ever fewer people in the West identify as religious? Timothy Radcliffe argues we must show how everything we believe is an invitation to live fully. God "I put before you life and choose life."

Anyone who understands the beauty and messiness of human life--novelists, poets, filmmakers and so on--can be our allies, whether they believe or not. The challenge is not today's secularism but its banality.
We accompany the disciples as they struggle to understand this strange man who heals, casts out demons and offers endless forgiveness. In the face of death, he teaches them what it means to be alive in God. Then he embraces all that afflicts and crushes humanity. Finally, Radcliffe explores what it means for us to be alive spiritually, physically, sacramentally, justly and prayerfully. The result is a compelling new understanding of the words of "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

Genres: Theology, Religion

432 pages, Paperback

Published February 4, 2020

About the author

Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe, a former Master of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), is a well-known progressive theologian whose views on some of the Church’s moral teachings, particularly homosexuality, have caused considerable controversy.

Born on August 22, 1945, Radcliffe is one of six children who had a privileged upbringing: on his father’s side he descends from an Anglican clergyman whose own father had been raised to a baronetcy in the 19th century, adopting the name Radcliffe. He joined the English Province of the Dominican Order in 1965 and was ordained priest in 1971. He studied at Blackfriars College and St. John’s College in Oxford, as well as in Paris under noted French theologian Yves Congar, a proponent of the contested Nouvelle Théologie liberal movement. In October 2023 and at the Pope’s invitation, Radcliffe offered spiritual reflections to members of the Synod on Synodality, beginning with a pre-synod retreat. At the synod’s second and final Rome meeting in October 2024, Radcliffe was given an expanded role, offering spiritual reflections throughout much of the month-long meeting as well as at a retreat before the assembly began. He spoke, among other topics, on the importance of listening and dialogue, being open to God’s Providence, and cautioning against fear-driven decision-making, whether fear of change or fear of staying the same.

After Pope Francis announced in October 2024 he would elevate Father Radcliffe to the College of Cardinals, Radcliffe requested an exemption from dressing like a cardinal which the Pope granted in “full understanding,” freeing him “from using such elaborate clothing.”

Reviews

[Klaas Klamer]

Prachtig boek. Vriendelijke,open zoektocht naar verbinding en verbeelding van het trancendente. Naar onze beelden van God , de wereld en mensen. Vol beeldspraken, die geen dogma's of Waarheden willen zijn. Ontsnapping uit de kooi naar een plek onder een open hemel. Weg van afgoderij met wetenschap, materie, geweld.

[Ruth]

Very inspiring book, with lots of pointers to other inspiring books.
Great takeaway for me is just that someone with lots of life experience shares his thoughts on faith and big questions of life.
Though it's not so much about thoughts, really, but much more about lived experience.

[Sarah Linville]

One of the most impactful books I’ve read in a long time!

[Barbara Moss]

Timothy Radcliffe's latest book lacks the coherence and dynamism of Why Go to Church? He claims, "I want to explore how Christian faith can make sense to our contemporaries" and this might succeed for those many contemporaries are lapsed Catholics. As a committed though questioning Anglican, I found a few gems, like the story of a blind monk visiting a new city and asking someone if he could cross the busy road with him - only to discover, on the other side, that his "guide" was blind himself. There was a good chapter on ecumenism, on what we learn from good disagreement, and a gruelling one on affliction - the Passion of Christ and suffering in many other contexts - which perhaps comes nearest to his purpose of "making sense". The author begins his chapter on the liturgical imagination with the remark "One of my brethren gently suggested that I was not the best person to write this chapter", and, having read it, I am inclined to agree with the brother. The following one, on the life of prayer, brings a fresh approach to the routine of the Daily Office. Conclusion: Good in parts.

[Salpi]

I enjoyed this book. The connections he makes, the practical perspectives he provides, all of it is spot on. In my opinion, the main argument of the book is ‘choose liveliness’ and I agree with it. Although, this is not the only pointer of Christianity but one aspect and of course there are myriad of other life affirming beliefs and ideologies. While I was reading I thought about Jung very often and then Freud, namely his approach to Eros and Thanatos. Jung argued a full life would require a rich internal tapestry, I believe this book was roaming around those ideas.

One thing I disliked is certain bold and untrue claims such as ‘last century was the most violent’.

While I like this book when it comes to religious studies I usually prefer the more scientific ones thus I won’t be returning as a reader.

[Frances]

This is a book that would do most Christian some good to read. It is about how we can live without giving in to the culture of business and distraction around us. Although the author is a Catholic monk, he still has a lot to say that is relevant to other non-catholic Christians.

[Patricia Brown]

Excellent book on prayer, theology and challenges of our times.
inspiring and liveable