Includes bibliographical references (pages 281-307) and indexes.
Contents:
The context of singleness: Singleness in society -- Singleness in the church -- The diagnosis of singleness: The character of Christian singleness -- The value and belonging of Christian singleness -- The retrieval of singleness: Retrieving singleness in church history -- Retrieving singleness in Biblical exegesis -- Retrieving singleness in Christian theology -- The meaning of singleness: Telling the time -- Making the meaning -- Continuing the conversation.
Summary:
Is Christian singleness a burden to be endured or a God-ordained vocation? Might singleness here and now give the church a glimpse of God's heavenly promises? Dani Treweek offers biblical, historical, cultural, and theological reflections to retrieve a theology of singleness for the church today. Drawing upon both ancient and contemporary theologians, including Augustine, Ælfric of Eynsham, John Paul II, and Stanley Hauerwas, she contends not only that singleness has served an important role throughout the church's history, but that single Christians present the church with a foretaste of the eschatological reality that awaits all of God's people. Far from being a burden, then, Christian singleness is among the highest vocations of the faith.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.