Life Abundant: Rethinking theology and economy for a planet in peril

by Sallie McFague

A compelling visionbefore it's too late In this splendidly crafted work, McFague argues for theology as an ethical imperative for all thinking Responsible discipleship today entails disciplined religious reflection. Moreover, theology Without serious reflection on their worldview, ultimate commitments, and lifestyle, North American Christians cannot hope to contribute to ensuring the "good life" for people or the planet. To live differently we must think differently. McFague's has therefore written primer in theology. It helps Christians assess their own religious story in light of the larger Christian tradition and the felt needs of the planet. At once an apology for an ecologically driven theology and a model for how theology itself might be expressed, her work is expressly crafted to bring people into the practice of religious reflection as a form of responsible Christian practice in the world. McFague shows the reader how articulating one's personal religious story and credo can lead directly into contextual analysis, unfolding of theological concepts, and forms of Christian practice. In lucid prose she offers creative discussions of revelation, the reigning economic worldview (and its ecological alternative), and how a planetary theology might approach classical areas of God and the world, Christ and salvation, and life in the Spirit. Enticing readers into serious self-assessment and creative commitment, McFague's new work encourages and models a theological practice that "gives glory to God by loving the world."

Genres: Theology, Religion, Environment, Economics, Ecology, Politics, Social Justice

274 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2000

About the author

Sallie McFague (born 1933) was an American feminist Christian theologian.

Reviews

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stopped agreeing with most theologians I read awhile back, but reading McFague was a bit like discovering the theological fragments that float in the back of my mind suddenly coherently placed on paper in front of me.

The problem with this is, that while predominately in agreement, I have the strong feeling that many of her arguments are not on solid ground; that, in fact, they really are hanging in mid-air. Only I can't articulate the problems with the whole framework yet, or somehow put it all on firmer footing. This is, to say the least, unsettling.

[Rev. Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A textbook for a Brite course in Fall 2016, Spiritual Life and Leadership - From the Publisher: "A compelling vision-before it's too late In this splendidly crafted work, McFague argues for theology as an ethical imperative for all thinking Christians: Responsible discipleship today entails disciplined religious reflection. Moreover, theology matters: Without serious reflection on their worldview, ultimate commitments, and lifestyle, North American Christians cannot hope to contribute to ensuring the "good life" for people or the planet. To live differently we must think differently. McFague's has therefore written primer in theology. It helps Christians assess their own religious story in light of the larger Christian tradition and the felt needs of the planet. At once an apology for an ecologically driven theology and a model for how theology itself might be expressed, her work is expressly crafted to bring people into the practice of religious reflection as a form of responsible Christian practice in the world. McFague shows the reader how articulating one's personal religious story and credo can lead directly into contextual analysis, unfolding of theological concepts, and forms of Christian practice. In lucid prose she offers creative discussions of revelation, the reigning economic worldview (and its ecological alternative), and how a planetary theology might approach classical areas of God and the world, Christ and salvation, and life in the Spirit. Enticing readers into serious self-assessment and creative commitment, McFague's new work encourages and models a theological practice that "gives glory to God by loving the world."

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

McFague's theological work is a challenge to any well-off North American Christian to live less conspicuously and more simply. Her ideas of God as reality, the world as God's body, and humans as the hands of God are radical to her idea of Christians who should live to be more communal-minded and less as Westerners idealizing individuality. All should hear her wake up call to sustainability and care of the earth as a theological mandate. I loved it!

[Terese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Takes North American Christians and the middle class to task! As a non-Christian the theology aspects held less interest to me, but honestly everyone should read this book and think about its contents long and hard. This does not only apply to the American middle class, this applies to all of us. Well done McFague, well done

[Ryan Motter · Rating 5 out of 5]

McFague's treatment of economic theology proves just the same as her other works: fantastic. Also, she is surprisingly confessional in this volume and deeply personal, making it that much better.

[Psanders · Rating 2 out of 5]

Of course I agree with McFague's view of the world as it could be, but I find it weak that she leaves it to the economists to figure out how her model could actually work.

[Micah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Creation section is the strongest in this classic work of ecological theology.