Carol S. (xmascarol) reviewed on 12/15/2005 + 261 more book reviews

The Banquet's Wisdom traces the practice of the eucharist in the first 1500 years of Christian unity and shows the rich variety of theological understandings that were proposed during those long centurires that led up to the time of the Reformation. The author offers new ways of reading the history of the sacrament which will reveal many diversities that later becamse lost in the heated debates of the sixteenth century.

Each chapter describes what attending a liturgy might be during a particular historical period and details its unique social setting and particular theological approach. Theis examination of our multifaceted history introduces new insights into our traditional way of thinking, and also begins to uncover some of the biases that have existed since the time of the Reformation.

This book is an excellent account of Christian thought throughout the ages, and speaks to all denominations. A glossary is provided to expain some of the lesser-known names of the past. The author's suggestions for rediscovering Christianity's former unity based on our common past are certain to capture the attention of both the scholar and the student.

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