In this sequel to Tradition and Imagination, Brown continues to argue for an understanding of revelation that takes post‐biblical developments seriously. In the first three chapters, changing attitudes in Christian discipleship are explored by taking successively the issue of the equality of the sexes, imitation of the saints and eschatology. It is argued that any assertion of total equality between the sexes cannot be justified on the basis of Scripture alone, and so the move of the medieval Church towards a cult of saints and a heavenly realization of eschatol ... More

In this sequel to Tradition and Imagination, Brown continues to argue for an understanding of revelation that takes post‐biblical developments seriously. In the first three chapters, changing attitudes in Christian discipleship are explored by taking successively the issue of the equality of the sexes, imitation of the saints and eschatology. It is argued that any assertion of total equality between the sexes cannot be justified on the basis of Scripture alone, and so the move of the medieval Church towards a cult of saints and a heavenly realization of eschatology cannot be condemned simply because the focus is different from Scripture. The middle two chapters then look in detail at two examples of the impact changing experience has had on the formulation of Christian doctrine. This is explored first with respect to attitudes to suffering as these have been mediated across the centuries through interpretations of the Book of Job. Then the treatment of the Virgin Mary is examined, and in particular, the way in which defective christologies have lead to compensating emphases in understandings of Mary's role. Finally, the last two chapters investigate questions of authority and truth. The positive value of conflict in securing recognition of truth is offered as one way of reading Christian history, while great insistence is also placed on the capacity of imaginative, fictive writing to convey truths no less significant than what is offered by more narrowly factual or historical writing.