Struggling with God - by Simon D Podmore (Paperback)

About the Book

A theological exploration of the tradition of 'spiritual trial', drawing on Kierkegaard's treatment of the topic to propose a modern understanding of the struggle of the Spirit towards God.

Book Synopsis

A theological exploration of the 'spiritual trial', drawing on Kierkegaard's treatment to propose a modern understanding of the Spirit's struggle towards God.

Invoking the biblical motif of Jacob's struggle with the Face of God (Genesis 32), Simon D. Podmore undertakes a constructive theological account of 'spiritual trial' (tentatio; known in German mystical and Lutheran tradition as Anfechtung) in relation to enduring questions of the otherness and hiddenness of God and the self, the problem of suffering and evil, the freedom of Spirit, and the anxious relationship between temptation and ordeal, fear and desire. This book traces a genealogy of spiritual trial from medieval German mystical theology, through Lutheran and Pietistic thought (Tauler; Luther; Arndt; Boehme), and reconstructs Kierkegaard's innovative yet under-examined recovery of the category (Anfægtelse: a Danish cognate for Anfechtung) within the modern context of the 'spiritless' decline of Christendom.

Developing the relationship between struggle (Anfechtung) and release (Gelassenheit), Podmore proposes a Kierkegaardian theology of spiritual trial which elaborates the kenosis of the self before God in terms of Spirit's restless longing to rest transparently in God. Offering an original rehabilitation of the temptation of spiritual trial, this book strives for a renewed theological hermeneutic which speaks to the enduring human struggle to realise the unchanging love of God in the face of spiritual darkness.

Review Quotes

... an excellent historical and constructive foray into one of theology's more problematic areas ... Kierkegaard scholars will recognize this as a helpful resource for presenting a full and careful accounting of this key aspect of his thought ...this is a very helpful resource for those interested in the Lutheran history of interpretation of spiritual trial, those researching a Kierkegaardian appropriation of Anfechtung, and those doing constructive work in the place of spiritual struggle in theological reflection.--Joseph McGarry "Theological Book Review, volume 26, no 1, 2014"

... Podmore offers a groundbreaking development in kierkegaard Studies that shores up the constructive and inter-confessional work that can be done with the theological aspects of Kierkegaard's writings... Podmore rightly argues that in solidarity, Kierkegaard offers his theology of spiritual trial as a hope filled consolation to those who are otherwise tempted to despair...--Joshua Furnal "Reviews in Religion & Theology, Volume 21, issue 4, 2014"

A thoroughly-researched and carefully-presented book, Struggling With God merits attention from both Kierkegaardian experts and those with an interest in Christian spirituality.--Myles Hannan "The Heythrop Journal, vol.55, issue 5, (Sept, 2014)"

Simon Podmore is establishing a distinctive place within Kierkegaard studies and one which is promising a significant contribution to wider theological discourse [...] This is more than a book about Kierkegaard, it is also a reminder of the theological resources of Christian spiritual traditions.--George Pattison "Theology, vol.117, issue 4, (2014)"