Janet Soskice is a philosophical theologian who gets to the point quickly, and has a healthy down to earth approach to heavenly discourse about spirituality, and devotional life, and has little patience with those who recommend contemplative reflection as a higher form of spiritual activity. She can even make theological reflection on overdone spirituality funny Here's a paragraph from an essay on "Love and Attention", from her book The Kindness of God.
"There are many examples of theologians and poets who have praised the daily round and trivial task. But for the most part such things as attending to a squalling baby are seen as honourable duties, consonant with God's purposes, rather than spiritually edifying in themselves. Most Christian women, for instance, think that what they do around the home is worthy in God's service - they do not think, they have not been taught to think, of it as spiritual. And here monastic figures who, apparently found Go0d over the washing up or sweeping the floor will be called to mind,; but these are not really the point, since servile tasks were recommended because they left the mind free to contemplate. What we want is a monk who finds God while cooking a meal with one child clamouring for a drink, another who needs a bottom wiped, and a baby throwing up over his shoulder." (22-3)
You can read more about Professor Soskice in a Guardian article here.
And by the way her book Sisters of Sinai is education as entertainment as she traces the story of two Scottish women self taught in several Semitic languages, who made fabulous finds of Gospel manuscripts at St Catherine's Monastery in Sinai.
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