Reviews for Down from Olympus

The average rating for Down from Olympus based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2016-03-08 00:00:00 Cm Coomer This is an excellent book and worthy of acceptance. Louth argues that historical-critical interpretive methods are an attempt at a systematic scientific approach to understanding Scripture, part of an effort to legitimize and gain respect for theology and biblical studies in our modern era enamored as it is with the success of the hard sciences. However, drawing on arguments from Gadamer, Polanyi and others, Louth shows that there are ways of knowing other than experimental science and that even modern scientific knowledge/methodology, upon further examination, depends far more on tradition and traditional ways of knowing than people realize. Louth says theology must really be done from within the historic stream of church tradition, from within a liturgical community, and by people committed to prayer and pursuit of holiness. Only by reuniting theology/biblical study with the spiritual life is theology returned to its proper context: within a loving covenant relationship with the Triune God, contemplating the mystery of Christ in God. Louth's characterization of the principle of sola scriptura is not true of all Protestant/Reformed theologians/biblical scholars (though it is certainly true of many). Many do believe proper interpretation can only be done in the context of the church and in conversation with the saints who have gone before, and many Reformed theologians reject the dominance or historical-critical method, even while, like Louth, using it as a helpful 'detective' tool for interpretive 'ground clearing'. That straw-man aside, this is an excellent book. I highly recommend it to pastors, teachers/preachers, students of the Word and armchair theologians everywhere.

Review # 2 was written on 2015-02-14 00:00:00 Ma Nic Tough but worth the effort. Louth examines the Enlightenment division between hard sciences and the humanities in order to realign the discipline of theology with its purpose - living lives "close to the mystery of God in Christ..." rather than leaving it as an intellectual tool only used to solve problems.