Inventing Catholic Tradition

Terrence Tilley's honest, creative yet faithful treatment of tradition could hardly be more timely. Tilley shows the complexity of 'inventing Catholic tradition' without avoiding the hard questions. And the clarity of his prose makes reading this book a real pleasure. Susan Ross, Loyola University, Chicago Dr. Tilley argues convincingly and movingly in this wonderful new book that tradition is much more the practice of a complete way of life than the set of doctrines that make up a part of that life's vision. . . . If you wish to understand how to explain our Catholic tradition in a clear, precise, hopeful and often delightfully entertaining way, I would point to Inventing Catholic Tradition as the work of a master. Gary Macy, University of San Diego Here is ecclesiology from below, where 'tradition' is an organic, living reality, a set of corporate practices in which we all participate: making it, receiving it. . . . Technically expert, yet concrete and accessible, [Inventing Catholic Tradition] will resonate with all reflective members of the Christian churches. Roger Haight, SJ, Weston Jesuit School of Theology This book is necessary reading for anyone trying to understand and explain Tradition in today's complex theological and philosophical contexts. Tilley's theoretical proposal is interdisciplinary, extremely well argued, and demands serious consideration by Catholic and non-Catholic scholars. His 'practical theory of tradition' is a very important contribution to the growing field of tradition studies. Orlando O. Espin, University of San Diego Not only does [Tilley] gather up many of the insights that theology, philosophy, and social theory have developed around this topic since Vatican II, but he weaves them into an original theological synthesis which marks a real advance in the contemporary discussion of Catholic identity. . . . At the point where Tilley lays out the hallmarks of Catholic identity in the form of a 'grammar of the Catholic intellectual tradition, ' fundamental theology is transformed into pastoral theology, a marvelous moment which expresses some of the best Catholic (and catholic) thinking being done today. Anthony J. Godzieba, Villanova Universit