Children of God: Towards a Theology of Childhood

by Angela Shier-Jones (editor)

Children and childhood are among the most neglected subjects of Christian theology. What does it mean to be a child of God if the examples of childhood in Scripture and the Christian tradition are taken seriously and placed in dialogue with twenty-first century science, sociology and morality? This collection of essays draws together a wealth of different perspectives on a much neglected but vital subject of theology and Christian living. It takes into account the ambiguity of childhood and so begins with expectancy and ends with teleology, intending to cover each major stage of childhood in-between in chronological order. Thus from expectancy we move to birth, from birth to babe in arms, and from thence to that most mysterious stage of being educated and more obviously 'related to'. Delinquency and adolescence are not synonymous although they do share some characteristics, they are therefore dealt with as a twinned pair before we move to consider the effect of all of this on the child in adulthood. The volume thus concludes with an exploration of the interdependence of biological and spiritual childhood and asks whether or not the children of God can ever grow up, and what they would become if they did.

205 pages, Paperback

Published May 30, 2007

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main issue I have with this book are the theological starting points and the methodologies. Its a mixed bag with some truly terrible contributions and some stimulating but flawed chapters which I appreciated more.

The final chapter by Shier Jones is a case in point. Her consideration of childhood in light of theosis or Wesleyan sanctification is intriguing but ultimately appears to obliterate Childhood entirely.

One to read for its speculative theological proposals.