BOOK REVIEWS
BELIEVING IN A REVEALING
GOD: THE BASIS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE by Gabriel Moran. Liturgical Press,
Collegeville, Minn. ©2009. 193 pages, paper. US $29.95. Reviewed
by Edwin Buettner, SFO.
How is God revealed? What
is the relationship between what is sometimes known as the “deposit
of faith” and the work of the Holy Spirit? How do authority structures
within the church affect its ability to function as a light to the world?
What does it mean to be known as “the People of God”? How
does “responsibility for” differ from “responsibility
to”? How does “inter-religious dialogue” differ from
“interfaith dialogue”?
These are but some of the
questions explored in this book by Gabriel Moran, a professor in the
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at New York University
and an acknowledged leader in the area of religious education. Though
the book is somewhat academic in tone, it is clearly focused on the
lived response to the challenges of the 21st-century church. Moran’s
perspective is broad; he competently synthesizes ideas from the fields
of theology, sociology and organizational theory, drawing out their
implications for the modern-day person of faith.
Among the foundational themes
of this work is that God’s revelation is ongoing and dynamic.
While by no means dismissing the importance of Scripture and church
teachings over the centuries, Moran believes that “Christ is still
being formed.” God, in his manifestation as the Holy Spirit, continues
to refresh and animate the church (seen by Moran as a “demonstration
community” for the world) in its evolution in time. In the words
of the author, “The dialogue between divine and human reached
its greatest expression in the life of Jesus and continues today through
participation in the living Christ by the work of the Spirit.”
For Moran, one of the major
stumbling blocks to the work of the Spirit in the church is its authority
structure. He is more than a little suspicious of a self-serving bureaucracy,
which “. . . almost eliminates responsibility for a person’s
actions.” It is important to note, however, that Moran acknowledges
that any organization (of more than 10 people) cannot be governed in
a fully democratic or egalitarian way. In other words, for an organization
to be effective, structure is necessary. Moran believes that the organizational
model of “circles within circles” would be the most appropriate
for the church of today and would effect a shift “. . . away from
bureaucracy toward particular communities embodying a universal church.”
This book is not a quick
or easy read. It has the quality of a series of carefully crafted lectures
inviting thoughtful response. Moran’s clear delineation of the
static and dynamic models of revelation should stimulate much lively
thought and discussion. For many readers, its bold evolutionary vision
will serve as a refreshing antidote to the narrowness of the current
media frenzy related to the church. Its broad perspective makes it ideal
reading for those working in the areas of ecumenical or interfaith dialogue.
Most importantly perhaps, this book is a testament of the author’s
strong belief in the continuity of the “faith of our fathers”
with God’s revelation in this day and age.
Originally from the St. Brieux district, Buettner is a retired educator living in Winnipeg. He is a member of the Secular Franciscan Order.
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