Way to Water: A Theopoetics Primer

by L. Callid Keefe-Perry, Veling Terry A. (Foreword)

Way to Water has two primary to trace the development of the nascent field of theological inquiry known as theopoetics and to make an argument that theopoetics provides both theological and practical resources for contemporary people of faith who seek to maintain a confessional Christian life that is also intellectually critical. Beginning with the work of Stanley Hopper in the late 1960s, and addressing the early scholarship of key theopoetics authors like Rubem Alves and Amos Wilder, this text explores how theopoetics was originally developed as a response to the American death-of-God movement, and has since grown into a method for engaging in theological thought in a way that more fully honors embodiment and aesthetic dimensions of human experience. Most of the extant literature in the field is addressed to allow for a cumulative and comprehensive articulation of the nature and function of theopoetics. The text includes an exploration of how theopoetic insights might aid in the development of tangible church practices, and concludes with a series of theopoetic reflections. "Theopoetics is so elusive that it seems an unlikely subject for a primer. Yet Callid Keefe-Perry has given us just that, and beautifully. In an engagingly conversational style, he takes us through the emergence and development of this strange mode of theological speech. He then invitingly demonstrates how practical these abstractions can really be for pastoral and liturgical work. The text is persuasive, committed yet without dogmatism, and amazingly accessible--a great introduction for anyone." --Karmen MacKendrick, Le Moyne College, Syracuse, NY "With the emergence of theopoetics in the church and society, a primer on the genre is most welcome. Yet more than a primer, Keefe-Perry offers his own constructive work as one of the leading writers in this artful mode of spiritual and intellectual reflection. This book will become a required text in my theopoetics course." --Scott Holland, Bethany Theological Seminary, Richmond, IN L. Callid Keefe-Perry is a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and travels in the ministry within and beyond that denomination. He is the founder of Theopoetics.net and an editor of the journal Theopoetics, as well as a cohost on the podcast Homebrewed Christianity.

Genres: Theology, Spirituality, Poetry

242 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 10, 2014

Reviews

[Jeff Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book can be very heady. It references so many different philosophers, theologians, and poets, and presumes a certain level of understanding and knowledge even though it is a primer. However, I found it exceptionally illuminating, and I appreciate the creative exploration of theology in a non-traditional way. I think the church, Christians, humanity at large could all benefit from a more well developed theopoetic approach to life.

[Shawn Enright · Rating 4 out of 5]

An erudite, well researched catalogue of thinkers and theologians — both professional and otherwise. I’m not gonna try to explain the book because it’s like explaining mysticism: as soon as you think you “have it,” you’ve lost it.

Still, I’m really compelled by theopoetics as a theological posture. Theopoetics makes the most sense to me in this stage of life, when I feel a bit cynical and afraid of tautologies and claims (and they are claims) of theological certainty. It busted open a lot of damns in my mind, and I’m excited to see where the water flows (probably, against my best intentions, back to the reformers lol).

PS: I was wonderfully surprised to find out that Thornton Wilder’s (author and playwright) brother, Amos, was, like, a *really* influential theologian. Most of my underlinings are quotes from him. Genius runs in the family, I guess, kinda like the James’s.

[Piet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boven het artikel in Trouw waarin deze week filosoof Theo de Boer werd herdacht stond: 'Poëzie is de ouverture van de filosofie'. Deze zin raakt precies de theologische stroming die Callid Keerfe-Perry in zijn boek beschrijft. De theologie moet zich ontworstelen aan de alles overheersende logos in haar naam. Theo-logie moet theo-poëzie of theo-poëtica worden. Het gaat om een denkwijze die (in mijn woorden) de zintuigen en de (gods)ervaring serieus neemt en de ijle abstracties vermijdt. De poëzie is de taal die daar het best bij past. 'Kort door de bocht: mensen ontmoeten God gemakkelijker in het (theo)poëtische dan in het (theo)logische.' Deze jonge loot aan de 'God-talk' wordt in kaart gebracht door de schijver en hij gaat op zoek naar een bruikbare definitie van wat zij voorstaat. Een mooi overzicht.

[Audrey Webber · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute must-read for any theologian or individual interested in faith, the Church, or our relationship with God. This is the ideal introduction to this important way in which both the academic and the individual can and should talk with God. Theopoetics allows us to open up our relationship to God in a creative way which is so much closer to how Scripture writers responded to God - whether you are a writer or artist this should be essential reading for anyone even kind of interested in learning more about our faith.

[Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

A very good primer on theopoetics, modeling one approach. I’m not sure the field is as innovative as it imagines itself to be, and many of the descriptions of more formal theology don’t do the field justice. Perhaps this is because of the work of those named in the book, and their labor in changing some of the content and form of theological discourse.

Still, a thorough and insightful introduction.

[Rob Eastwood Dewing · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough, readable introduction to a fresh approach to theology set to introduce us to the key ideas, the principal scholars and some possible applications of this approach. Plenty of food for thought.

[Porter Sprigg · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last fifty pages are where it’s at.