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Canonical Theism: A Proposal for Theology and the Church. Edited by William J. Abraham, Jason E. Vickers, and Natalie B. Van Kirk. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans Pubhshing Company, 2008. 352 pp. $36.00 (paper).
Canonical Theism is an ecumenical compilation of essays intent on orienting Christian theology toward a recovery of neglected aspects of the canonical heritage. This project is ecumenical both in the diversity of its participants and the resources upon which it draws. The contributors come from Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox backgrounds, united by a set of shared theses. The resources are also ecumenical in that they appeal to the received canonical heritage of the undivided church.
The canonical heritage consists of a list of books (the Bible), creeds, desert mothers and fathers, icons, practices, and more. Engagement with the entirety of this heritage is critical for the formation of persons, the healing of the church, and ultimately the whole world. Canonical Theism situates this canonical heritage at the forefront of Christian dieology, while accentuating its soteriological function. "It operates as a complex means of grace that restores the image of God in human beings and brings them into communion with God...