By Sister Joan Chittister, Rowan Williams

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UNCOMMON GRATITUDE

ALLELUIA FOR ALL THAT IS

Joan Chittister & Rowan Williams

Liturgical Press, Collegeville , Minn. 2010

Sister Joan Chittister states in the introduction that: “We were both clearly marked by a monastic mindset that valued reflection above all else in the marketplace of spiritualities.”  That statement is clearly evident throughout their joint effort to offer thought and inspiration to all who wend our way through life.

They don’t probe into topics such as Old or New Testament studies, Christology, or even Theology, except to briefly examine the question of God as good or not good.  (They declare him “good”.) 

Their book is essentially a resource suitable for daily readings touching on most all of the kinds of experiences and challenges that most all of us encounter.  What they write is neither new nor striking, but most of us, especially those facing difficult times, will find their comforting and uplifting words likely to be of help. 

While I would categorize their thinking as “traditional”, it will not likely upset either liberals nor conservatives. 

While I would have liked to have them examine more deeply the meaning of the concept of God as “good”, that would have put their work in an altogether different category and likely deprived it of it’s inspirational value.  They instead wrote for a much wider audience.

Reviewer:  Dean Watt