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PDF versionElizabeth Johnson and The Quest for the Living God -- Part 1
Sep. 08, 2009
Sr. Elizabeth Johnson
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Episode one: Rules for the quest (17 min.)
Tom Fox asks, What are the ground rules for the journey of this quest to recognize the living God? Johnson names three: 1) God is an ineffable, incomprehensible mystery and we can never wrap our minds around the fullness of who God. 2) Therefore, every word we use to speak about God is metaphorical, symbolic or analogical. It always means that and more. 3) Therefore, we need many words, many names, many images, many adjectives for God. Each adds to the richness and texture and the greatness of what we mean when we say "God."
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All the episodes in this series
Elizabeth Johnson and The Quest for the Living God -- 1 of 2
Elizabeth Johnson and The Quest for the Living God -- 2 of 2
A God worthy of belief
Sr. Elizabeth Johnson, distinguished professor of theology at Fordham University, talks with Tom fox about her new book, Quest for the Living God Mapping the Frontiers in the Theology of God. Of this book, Roberto S. Goizueta, Associate Professor of Theology, Boston College, wrote, "Karl Rahner had an abiding concern that much of Christian theology presented God ‘unworthy of belief.' Here Johnson has given us a God truly worthy of our belief, fidelity, and love. Every word breathes with the author's own deep love of God, the church, and the world."
A transcript of this interview is available here: A God worthy of belief
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A sister in the congregation of St. Joseph who hails from Brooklyn, Elizabeth Johnson has been president of both the Catholic Theological Society of America and the American Theological Society.
She has served as a member of the national Lutheran-Catholic Dialogue, a consultant to the Catholic Bishops' Committee on Women in Church and Society, a theologian on the Vatican-sponsored dialogue between science and religion, and on the Vatican-sponsored study of Christ and the world's religions.
She is also the author of the much acclaimed She Who Is, as well as Truly Our Sister: A Theology of Mary in the Communion of Saints, Consider Jesus: Waves of Renewal in Christology, The Church Women Want, and Friends of God and Prophets. Today, Elizabeth Johnson is a distinguished professor of theology at Fordham University.
Thank you for this clear and
Thank you for this clear and vibrant interview. It has given me great encouragement in my own understanding and increasing insights into the Mystery we call God and shed light on the richness of the metaphors we use to open our eyes to the wonder of the "Whither" to which we are all called. What a wonderful way of expressing hope in today's world! Elizabeth has a quiet but convincing and intelligent way of explaining how something has changed so that the starting point is more from experience, not just intellectual appreciation.
What bunk. Really. The word
What bunk. Really. The word "God" is too narrow. She and Rahner ARE of a pair. How sad. And how happy that Bishops can call a spade a spade.She needs to retire and quit thwarting the Holy Spirit.
as usual the small minded
as usual the small minded lack the ability to grow into a more conscious belief in God our creator. Sr.Elizabeth does Not undermind our God..instead she gives Him more glory and honor than those who chose to place Limits on His limitlessness. instead of being a critic try opening your mind And Soul to the Holy Sprit..you may get the surprise of your life. Please God that you do.
this lady is an intellectual
this lady is an intellectual giving her 'intellectual' opinions.
If she experienced the Living God this book she has written would be ridiculous in her own eyes.
It is no wonder the Catholics are so befuddled.
Get back to the catechism! Get real!
1.Be respectful. Do not
1.Be respectful. Do not attack the writer. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
2.Use appropriate language. Avoid vulgarities and slurs.
How unfortunate that three of the comments ignore the two directives above. These are not intelligent rebuttals of Sr. Elizabeth Johnson's ideas. She is a well respected theologian and knows what she is talking about. Instead of dialogue, the comments are attacking the writer and using vulgar language; vulgar in the sense of deficient in taste and boorish, common.
The slurs are really distressing, asking her to retire and to get back to the catechism! How boorish are these comments and inappropriate. As for the third point:
3.Keep to the point. Deliberate digressions don't aid the discussion
These are not discussions at all, but a rude attacks.
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