Thinking prayer : theology and spirituality amid the crises of modernity 9780268038458, 0268038457

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THINKING RRA ER THEOLOGY AND SPIRITUALITY AMID THE CRISES OF MODERNITY

mus

ANDREW

PREVOT

University of Notre Dame Press Notre Dame, Indiana

Copyright © 2015 by the University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, Indiana 46556

undpress.nd.edu

All Rights Reserved Manufactured in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Prevot, Andrew L.

Thinking prayer : theology and spirituality amid the crises of modernity / Andrew Prevot.

pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-268-03845-8 (pbk. : alk. paper) — ISBN 0-268-

03845-7 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Prayer—Christianity. 2. Philosophical theology. I. Title. BV210.3.P738 2015 248.3'2—dc23 2015031819

co The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and durability of the Committee on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the Council on Library Resources.

To the millions who have died in slavery

If you are a theologian, you will pray truly. And if you pray truly, you will be a theologian. —Evagrius Ponticus

I’ve been in the storm so long, O give me little time to pray. —slave spiritual

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

_ ix

Introduction: The Untold Promise of Prayer

1

PART 1. FROM METAPHYSICS TO DOXOLOGY Chapter 1 Chapter2 Chapter 3

Doxological Impurity: Martin Heidegger 37 Doxological Theory: Hans Urs von Balthasar Doxological Subtlety: On the Intersections of Prayer and Phenomenology il PART 2. SPIRITUALITY IN A WORLD OF VIOLENCE

Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6

Poverty of Spirit: Johann Baptist Metz 165 Discernment of Spirits: On the Integrity of Doxology and Liberation _— 218 Songs of the Spirit: James Cone —280 Conclusion Notes

326 335

Bibliography Index 423

395

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“This ambitious and ultimately successful book will fundamentally change » how theologians understand prayer. Prevot handles the most complex philosophical and theological figures with skill, from Heidegger to Balthasar, from Cone to Marion. Writing about prayer tends to be fluffy or dismissive, but Prevot manages to be both rigorous and graceful. As the title advertises, this book brings together thought and prayer—lucidly, powerfully, and elegantly. It is a must-read for all theologians thinking and praying today.” —VINCENT LLOYD, Syracuse University

“With clarity, breadth, and depth, Andrew Prevot reintroduces the subject of prayer within theology as the quest for a synthesis of prayer with thought. It is unusual for a scholar to dare—and to have the intellectual patience needed—to bring Hans Urs von Balthasar on doxology and his postmetaphysical interlocutors into nuanced engagement with German political theology, with Latin American liberation theology, and above all, and to the greatest effect, with the heritage of the narratives and music of African American slaves as honored and interrogated by black theologian James Cone. Prevot proposes that prayer, thought in terms of doxology and liberation, can provide an effective protest against secularity and violence. This is an unusually good book that should be widely read and discussed.” — BRADFORD HINZE, Karl Rahner, S.J., Chair in Theology, Fordham University

% “Thinking Prayer is a passionate manifesto. Through subtle, discriminating readings of an impressive range of contemporary philosophers and theologians, Andrew Prevot argues that the practice of Christian prayer can point us beyond the intellectual and moral crises of modernity. At the same time, he moves forward Christian theological discussion with a new exuberance and rigor.” —PHILip ENDEAN, S.J., author of Karl Rahner and Ignatian Spirituality

ANDREW

PREVOT is assistant professor of theology at Boston College.

Cover design: Bruce Gore |Gore Studio, Inc. Front cover image: The Creation,byAaron Douglas, 1935. © Heirs of Aaron Douglas/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY.

UNIVERSITY OF

ISBN-13: ISBN-10:

978-0-268-03845-8 0-268-03

NOTRE DAME PRESS Notre Dame, IN 46556 undpress.nd.edu

9"780268"038458

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