Swear to God

[gtsecc]

The Promise and Power of the Sacraments by SCOTT HAHN (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=books&field-author=HAHN%2C%252520SCOTT/104-1154178-0774355)

Loved it?
Hated it?
There are better books out there on Sacramental Theology?

[Brian Augustyn]

The Promise and Power of the Sacraments by SCOTT HAHN (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=books&field-author=HAHN%2C%252520SCOTT/104-1154178-0774355)

Loved it?
Hated it?
There are better books out there on Sacramental Theology?




Wouldn't read it, actually. Hahn is a rather die-hard traditional Roman Catholic (and a bitter recovering Presbyterian). I've heard him speak, and I suspect that his sacramental theology would be based in the RC beliefs of transubstantiation. His theology would not line up with a great deal of Anglican theology, I think.

For an inspiring book on sacramental theology from an Anglican perspective, try John Macquarrrie's GUIDE TO THE SACRAMENTS. Macquarrie is an ordained priest (in the Episcopal Church of Scotland), and former Professor of Theology at Oxford. He has also taught at several Universities here in the US, and his books of Systematic Theology are the standard texts in most Episcopal Seminaries.

Though he is a Lutheran Pastor, professor and historian, the great Martin Marty has a lovely book on the Eucharist called THE LORD'S SUPPER. It's very approachable and warm and covers the sacrament from a wide range of Christian perspective, and does so respectfully and faithfully.

best,
Brian

[CSMR]

Luther, On the Babelonian Captivity of the Church?

(CSMR quickly escapes)

[Bonifatius]

Hi GTSECC,

have finished reading the book yesterday and found it very inspiring and gripping. HAHN looks on the seven sacraments mainly from a perspective of covenant theology, as he understands the church as the family of God's covenant (maybe this is also part of his Calvinist background). This perspective brings some interesting and fresh ideas about the sacraments, as I found. I have to admit that there was one point when I thought this perspective was getting a bit too Protestant, and that was when he wrote about the sacraments as "oaths" make every church a court room and evey service some kind of trial... I found that smelled a bit of Luther's understanding of justification as a juridical act, which I do not like particularly as I am more on the Catholic side and see it as a transformation. But this is just one point.

The book certainly is not meant as an introduction into all aspects of sacramental theology, but this would need more than one book anyway.

What I particularly like about this book was Hahn's use of typology and the fact that he does not get into controversial apologetics. So this book makes a good read for non RC and fits well with Anglican theology as I understand it. (This is the same with his book HAIL, HOLY QUEEN, where Hahn almost cuts out the really controversial bits of Marian theology and discusses mainly biblical texts). I also liked THE LAMBS SUPPER and read ROME SWEET HOME (and asked myself why he did not become an Anglican instead of RC).

I highly recommend the book!

[UberLutheran]

Though he is a Lutheran Pastor, professor and historian, the great Martin Marty has a lovely book on the Eucharist called THE LORD'S SUPPER. It's very approachable and warm and covers the sacrament from a wide range of Christian perspective, and does so respectfully and faithfully.

And I wholeheartedly concur with Brian -- the book is very approachable, and covers the sacrament from a wide range of Christian perspectives.

Actually, it helped me understand the Sacrament (or ordinance, from their perspective) of my Baptist/Church of Christ family of origin!