Hopeful Realism
Reclaiming the Poetry of Theology
Imprint: Wipf and Stock
For those in the church and alongside it who remain dissatisfied with simplistic language and shallow spirituality, Hopeful Realism reclaims the poetry of theology while skillfully addressing the religious and social concerns of the Christian faith.
Douglas F. Ottati is the Craig Family Distinguished Professor of Religion and Ethics at Davidson College.
"In a time when too much theology is dominated by shrill voices and extreme positions, this book offers what is most needed: a careful and compelling account of Christian life that is capable of responding faithfully and realistically to the complexities of our time. Read this book and ponder its message!"
-William Schweiker,
Associate Professor of Theological Ethics,
University of Chicago Divinity School
"In his opening chapter, Ottati reenvisions leadership not as managerial manipulation but as an invitation to a banquet. This image is also fitting for the book as a whole. Ottati moves from his reflections about leaders to serve up a rich bouquet for Christian leaders, . . . a veritable smorgasbord of poetic theology. Come and feast."
-Rebekah Miles,
author of Moral Guides: A Practical Guide to Ethics in the Parish
"Through 'cruciform spectacles,' Ottati honestly faces human misery, conflict, and estrangement, inside and outside the churches. Yet based on God's reconciling power, Ottati calls for hopeful, faithful participation in all spheres of life. This is needful reading for pastors, theology students, and all who want to explore the religious and social impulses of Christian faith."
-Douglas J. Schuurman,
Professor of Religion
St. Olaf College
"In this basic theology book, Ottati draws from a deep knowledge of the Christian tradition, explicating ancient controversies and contemporary issues at a level far beyond a dry introductory primer. He is also able to use this tradition so skillfully as a lens through which to see 'the world, our possibilities, and our limits in relation to God,' as he puts it, that we barely notice what an amazingly erudite theologian this author is."
-Mary McClintock Fulkerson
author of Changing the Subject: Women's Discourses and Feminist Theology