To Be Perfect Is to Have Changed Often: The Development of John Henry Newman's Ecclesiological Outlook, 1845-1877 - Hardcover

Ryan J. Marr

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1978700571 ISBN 13: 9781978700574

Publisher: Fortress Academic (UK), 2018

Synopsis

This study approaches John Henry Newman’s writings on the church from a fresh perspective by examining the development of Newman’s ecclesiological outlook over time. It demonstrates that it can be misleading to refer to Newman’s “Catholic ecclesiology” (singular), because such an approach gives the impression that Newman maintained a stable ecclesiological perspective during his Roman Catholic period. In reality, Newman’s outlook on the church underwent significant developments over the last four decades of his life. As a result of various events in his life, including the Rambler affair and his experience of the First Vatican Council, Newman slowly developed an ecclesiological outlook that counterbalanced the authority of the pope and bishops with a robust account of the role of theologians and the lay faithful in the reception and transmission of church doctrine. Whether consciously or not, Newman left his ecclesiological writings open for further development on the part of theologians who would follow after him.

About this title

About the Author

Ryan J. Marr received his PhD in historical theology from Saint Louis University and is director of the National Institute for Newman Studies.

Edition details

• Publisher: Fortress Academic (UK)
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1978700571
• ISBN 13: 9781978700574
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 234