Introduction; 1. Theology and Poetry; Hell: 2. Hell: Dante and Aquinas; 3. Does Dante's Hell Exist?; Purgatory: 4. Purgation and Purgatory; 5. Hope, Memory, and the Earthly Paradise; Paradise: 6. Paradise and Paideia; 7. The End of Poetry.
A leading contemporary historian of religion makes a compelling case that will revolutionise understanding of how Dante should be interpreted.
Denys Turner is Horace Tracy Pitkin Professor Emeritus of Historical Theology at Yale University. His widely-acclaimed books include The Darkness of God (Cambridge University Press, 1995, which famously separated medieval mystical thought from contemporary ideas of experiential spirituality), Julian of Norwich, Theologian (Yale University Press, 2013) and Thomas Aquinas (also Yale University Press, 2014). This new book is a loosely related companion to the latter titles, completing a trilogy.
'Dante the Theologian is a significant, brilliant and illuminating
contribution to theological reflection on Dante's Commedia. As
such, it can both build on and help strengthen further the growing
body of scholarly reflection on the theological dimensions of
Dante's work. It presents an unusually compelling combination of
depth of content and accessibility of style while offering new
insights into Dante's poetry. Its central argument is that a
theological analysis that ignores the poetic prevents us from
recognizing both the uniqueness of Dante's theological voice and
the contribution this can make even today to our theological
thinking. Among the most significant contributions of the book are
its splendidly incisive highlighting of the theological nature of
Dante's poetry as poetry, and its marvellously fruitful treatment
of the question of the relationship between fiction and truth. In
both respects, Denys Turner's book is a powerful and novel
contribution to key debates concerning Dante's work and its
theological implications.' Vittorio Montemaggi, King's College
London
'Dante the Theologian is a significant, brilliant and illuminating
contribution to theological reflection on Dante's Commedia. As
such, it can both build on and help strengthen further the growing
body of scholarly reflection on the theological dimensions of
Dante's work. It presents an unusually compelling combination of
depth of content and accessibility of style while offering new
insights into Dante's poetry.' Vittorio Montemaggi, King's College
London
'This is a superb book, and will be very welcome. It's written with
energy, and a sense of excitement and fun - all qualities which are
often lacking in books on Dante. It brings a +avenues for research
on and discussion of its subject.' Matthew Treherne, University of
Leeds
'This is an odd and brilliant book. Its brilliance lies in its
compelling drawing out of the theology running throughout the whole
of the Comedy. Its oddity stems from how it does not fit easily
into established academic categories. It cannot be simplistically
cataloged as Dante scholarship, or historical theology, or
historical reconstruction, nor does it fit neatly under the heading
of doctrinal or spiritual theology. This oddity is the book's best
feature. For in its stubborn refusal to fit into tidy academic
categories, Turner's work mirrors Dante's.' The Living Church
Magazine
'This volume is a delightful read, explaining the main contours of
the Divine Comedy in modern theological terms.' Alison Cornish,
Theological Studies
'This is an odd and brilliant book. Its brilliance lies in its
compelling drawing out of the theology running throughout the whole
of the Comedy. Its oddity stems from how it does not fit easily
into established academic categories. It cannot be simplistically
cataloged as Dante scholarship, or historical theology, or
historical reconstruction, nor does it fit neatly under the heading
of doctrinal or spiritual theology. This oddity is the book's best
feature. For in its stubborn refusal to fit into tidy academic
categories, Turner's work mirrors Dante's.' Matthew Rothaus Moser,
The Living Church
'[This book] makes a number of inroads for the study and
appreciation of a theological Dante. Turner opens up a rich set of
possibilities for treating Dante as an authority in thinking and
speaking meaningfully about the deepest mysteries of existence.
Thanks to Turner, I think, students of medieval theology will
undoubtedly be able to find in Dante a true companion in the life
of the mind and spirit.' Stephen Pepper, The Heythrop Journal
'Turner's writing and argumentation is energetic and fresh, with a
lightness of touch likely to engage even the most suspicious of his
readers.' Rachel K. Teubner, Journal of the American Academy of
Religion
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