Rethinking Catholic Theology: From The Mystery of Existence to the New Creation provides readers with an intelligent, informed, critical grasp of at least the central truths of the Catholic/Christian tradition. It aims to help readers to rethink more deeply these essential truths, and moreover, in what specific ways the understanding of the Catholic faith has changed and/or remained the same since Vatican II.

The first part centers on Jesus Messiah and the mystery of existence. It delineates how his life, death, resurrection as “transformed physicality,” and ascension usher in the kingdom of God and best answer the questions: Who am I? Who are we? Where did we come from and where are we ultimately headed? What is the meaning of it all?

The second part focuses on how Pentecost, the Trinity, the Church, the Scriptures, the Sacraments, Christian life itself, Mariology, the Communion of Saints, and Christian mysticism shed light on the mystery of existence. It demonstrates how the church flows intrinsically and naturally from the person of Jesus Christ and how the Scriptures and the sacraments likewise arise intrinsically and naturally from the church.

Part three stresses considers various views of afterlife mainly from the Judeo-Christian tradition. It raises difficult after-death questions, such as individual and general judgment, the intermediate state, the nature of the soul after death, Limbo, and Purgatory. Finally, it outlines the idea of Jesus’s Second Coming and considers such concepts as Deep Incarnation, and the New Creation.

Endorsements

“Father Harvey J. Egan, SJ, is one of the premier interpreters of the mystical tradition on the current scene. Well known for his many insightful studies of the mysticism of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Fr. Egan has also written on the broad history of Christian mysticism, including his impressive Anthology of Christian Mysticism.”
—Bernard McGinn, University of Chicago

“Let Fr. Harvey Egan, a master not only of Fr. Rahner’s spirituality but also of spiritu¬ality itself, take you to this center of his life and theology and then on to its wonderful whole wide range.”
—Leo J. O’Donovan, SJ, President Emeritus, Georgetown University

“I can think of no better guide to the Christian mystical tradition than Fr. Harvey Egan, SJ. Learned, prayerful, articulate, inviting and always accessible, he is among the best of teachers.”
—James Martin, SJ, author of Jesus: A Pilgrimage

ISBN: 978-08091-5607-8

Paperback $89.95