Dickens, Christianity and 'The Life of Our Lord': Humble Veneration, Profound ConvictionWhile Dickens's religion and religious thought is recognized as a significant component of his work, no study of Dickens's religion has carefully considered his often ignored, yet crucially relevant, The Life of Our Lord. Written by a biblical studies scholar, this study brings the insights of a theological approach to bear on The Life of Our Lord and on Dickens's other writing. Colledge argues that Dickens intended The Life Of Our Lord as a serious and deliberate expression of his religious thought and his understanding of Christianity based on evidences for his reasons for writing, what he reveals, and the unique genre in which he writes. Using The Life of Our Lord as a definitive source for our understanding of Dickens's Christian worldview, the book explores Dickens's Christian voice in his fiction, journalism, and letters. As it seeks to situate him in the context of nineteenth-century popular religion—including his interest in Unitarianism—this study presents fresh insight into his churchmanship and reminds us, as Orwell observed, that Dickens "was always preaching a sermon". |
Contents
An Easy Version of the New Testament | 1 |
Telling that Gracious and Compassionate History | 21 |
The Eternal Majesty of Heaven | 38 |
Where the Two Ends of Life Meet | 58 |
It is True He is the Son of God | 84 |
Our Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ | 108 |
Seeking for No Other Footsteps | 136 |
Notes | 153 |
165 | |
177 | |
Other editions - View all
Dickens, Christianity and 'The Life of Our Lord': Humble Veneration ... Gary Colledge Limited preview - 2011 |
Dickens, Christianity and 'The Life of Our Lord': Humble Veneration ... Gary Colledge Limited preview - 2009 |
Dickens, Christianity and 'The Life of Our Lord': Humble Veneration ... Gary Colledge Limited preview - 2011 |
Common terms and phrases
according Anglican atonement attempt basic believe Broad called chapter character Christ Christian Church clear clearly common concept concerning considered consistent context death deity described designation developed Dickens Dickens’s discussion divine doctrine eschatology especially eternal evil example expression fact faith Father first forgiveness further God’s Gospel hand harmonization heart heaven hope human idea important includes indicate instance intended issues Jesus John judgement letter Lives Lord Luke Mark Matthew means mind moral narrative nature never nineteenth century novels observed particular passage perhaps person popular precisely present Providence question reasons redemption reference regard religion religious remarked represented response salvation Saviour Scriptural seems sense serious significant simply sins spiritual story suffering suggest Synoptics taken teaching Testament theological things thinking thought TLOL understanding understood Unitarian women worldview writing wrote