A Theology of Love

Preface; Chapter 1: Horizons of love; Chapter 2: Biblical challenges to a theology of love; Chapter 3: Augustine's theology of divine love; Chapter 4: The subject in medieval theologies of love; Chapter 5: Love as agape: A Protestant paradigm; Chapter 6: Love and desire: Catholic perspectives; Chapter 7: Institutions of love: Rethinking family, friendship, and community; Chapter 8: Bodies of love: Sexuality, sacrifice and self-giving; Chapter 9: The praxis of Christian love in a pluralist age; Chapter 10: The politics of love: Human and divine love; Bibliography; Indices.

This book explores the different dimensions of Christian love. It argues that all expressions of love are wrestling with the challenge of otherness and hence with the experience of transcendence.

'From the first pages of this book Professor Jeanrond states his intention to offer praxis - how we 'do' love - rather than describing, however completely, a history or dogmatic theory. Love is now described in its institutional and political manifestations: Church, family, friendship, chastity, and sexuality. Love now offers a challenge to charity, to the individual, to global and ecclesial society. Love informs those individual and collective relationships by which we are fulfilled. Love is that which guides all interaction including our interaction with God. It is in this framework that Jeanrod explores the doctrines of creation, salvation, and forgiveness, revealing the self-giving love of God. Sensitive to the questions of our time, the tone of this section is more reflective on pastoral and spiritual concerns, showing that theology need not be separated into kerygmatic or dogmatic categories but is at its best when it endeavours to embrace both. No-one who gives time to this seriously well-researched work will ever again lazily use the word Love. Instead, they will find this book to be an indispensible tool in understanding more clearly both the human and religious experience of, and language about, love.'--Sanford Lakoff "The Furrow "