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 | | The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church by F. L. Cross (Editor), E. A. Livingstone (Editor) ISBN-10: 9780192116550 ISBN-10: 0-19-211655-X ISBN-13: 9780192116550 ISBN-13: 978-0-19-211655-0 Hardcover 1997-03-13 Oxford University Press, USA Find Lowest Price |
Editorials | ||
Product Description The third edition of this unrivaled book focuses on the important changes in academic opinion and church organization within the past few years. Extensively revised and updated, it contains increased coverage on Eastern churches, issues in moral theology, and developments stemming from the Second Vatican Council. New entries have been added on a diverse array of subjects including the ordination of women, the quest of the historical Jesus, and bibliographies. | ||
Reviews | ||
Great Reference Text for Academics The only reason I didn't give this review 5 stars is because I am just starting to use it for a few MA courses I am in. I will see if it can stand up to the demands of academics. This dictionary was highly recommended as a reference tool by my prof and not a required reading. It seems, then, that it will be a valuable tool. Plus, it's pretty expensive for a dictionary. It seems it would need to stand up to my classes with a price tag like that! We will see. I probably would not have purchased it if it were not for class. | ||
Comprehensive and Useful Reference Test The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church is without question a de-facto standard text for study in medieval history, church history, or any of the myriad of related topics which fall along such themes. A massive, comprehensive volume that has been put through three major revision editions over some 50 years, the book represents a modern day "summa" that more than admirably fulfills its purpose as a research and reference text. Entries in the dictionary are comprehensive to the point that one wonders why the word "dictionary" rather than "encyclopedia" was chosen for its title, but that oddity is of little concern to us. Looking up a term in the text is just the start of an exploration of the rich and detailed information that the volume contains. For example, let's say we wish to study scholasticism. In looking up the term, we don't just find a definition of the term as we might expect with a typical dictionary, but we instead find a detailed, expansive description that presents the historical context of scholasticism, its use in the medieval university, the pivotal roles of Abelard and Anselm in scholasticism's development, its connection with the medieval investigation of the notion of "universals," and even its roots in the writings of Porphyry's discussions of "genus" and "species" in the 3rd century AD. For each of the key terms that arise in the "scholasticism" entry, we are pointed also to each of their own specific entries within the dictionary so that we can further explore the topic to any desired level. In the specific case of scholasticism here, we end up with a comprehensive introduction of the term, learn its meaning and history, explore its implications for education, and even its philosophical underpinnings (including objections), and more. We are also given a listing of additional key references should we wish to pursue our studies in additional publications. The best way for you to see the level of detail that these entries provide is to use the "look inside this book" link (under the listing, above) and read through a few sample entries. I have little doubt you'll be as impressed as I. The text does not limit itself to conceptual entries. There is wide coverage of personages, philosophical positions, historical items, theological issues, church history, church liturgy, and more. The current incarnation of the text has resulted in an extended collaboration of hundreds of scholars, teachers, historians, and researchers to expand the coverage far beyond its original 1957 incarnation. The most surprising thing about the text is that it doesn't cost three times what it does. How to improve it? Well, the only thing I can come up with is that it would certainly be nice to have the book also released in electronic format, so that we can search by term, print selected entries, or copy selected references together for future study. Nevertheless, the book as it stands today easily takes its place among the premier reference works of the domain. Highly recommended. | ||
A Masterful Triumph The third edition of the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church retains its great reputation as the single best reference work for use when studying the Christian religion. Now in the hands of E. A. Livingstone (who took over for the late F. L. Cross), it combines excellent scholarship from all parts of the Church and presents each topic relatively free of ecclesial bias. The topics covered are not short descriptions of a few sentences but multi-paragraph articles that are well researched, very readable, and remarkably complete. For those who are developing an interest in Church history, it will be an indispensible tool for their research. All in all, it is a masterful triumph. | ||
The best! Indispensable for many areas of Theological research - Church history, Dogmatic overviews, biographies, editions, and so many many other things. A masterpiece! If I could afford it, I would give everybody who press the "yes" button by "was this review helpful to you?" a copy! :-) | ||
Authoritatively second to none... 'The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church', edited by the late F.L. Cross and E. A. Livingstone, is perhaps the authoritative, one-volume encyclopedia of information on Christianity. With over 480 contributors, from a myriad of denominational backgrounds, this book has a completeness that is unrivalled. Scholars from Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic and other denominations, as well as Jewish and secular authorities from all over the world, have written or contributed to articles that reflect as best possible an unbiased and authoritative compilation of history, theology, liturgy, scriptural study, art, biographies, denominational and calendrical organisation, and inter-religious attitudes. The current edition, published in 1997, is the third edition of the ODCC to appear since its was first issued in 1957. It has an unrivalled reputation since first being published by Oxford don and cleric F.L. Cross. After his death, Dr. E.A. Livingstone took the helm to oversee production of the current volume. There is increased coverage of the Eastern Churches, certain issues in moral theology, and developments stemming from the Second Vatican Council. Numerous new entries have been added and the extensive bibliographies have been brought up to date. Readers are provided with over 6,000 authoritative cross-referenced entries covering all aspects of the subject. The book is over 1750 pages in length, very much the ready reference rather than the narrative sort, but many of the longer articles provide depth and detail, and articles generally include references for further research at the conclusion. Topical entries include: Theology Patristic Scholarship Churches and Denominations Church Calendar and Organisation The Bible Biographical Entries New Entries I find this an almost indispensable reference book. Priced at suggested retail of [retail price], it is unfortunately out of the reach of most of those who need it most -- seminary students. But it belongs on the shelf of anyone who has intention of being scholarly in their approach to Christianity. | ||