Proclaiming and cultivating ‘childlikeness': a subversive thread in Christian anthropology

If contemporary public discourse struggles with truncated notions of what it means to be human, nowhere is this more obvious than in our discussion and treatment of children. By and large, in our public discourse, we treat children as ‘little adults' - as consumers, objects of beauty and fashio...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of children's spirituality
Main Author: Wrigley-Carr, Robyn (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Taylor & Francis [2018]
In: International journal of children's spirituality
IxTheo Classification:CB Christian life; spirituality
HC New Testament
KAH Church history 1648-1913; modern history
KAJ Church history 1914-; recent history
NBE Anthropology
Further subjects:B Friedrich von Hügel
B George MacDonald
B Gwendolen Greene
B Childlikeness
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
Description
Summary:If contemporary public discourse struggles with truncated notions of what it means to be human, nowhere is this more obvious than in our discussion and treatment of children. By and large, in our public discourse, we treat children as ‘little adults' - as consumers, objects of beauty and fashion, career aspirants and sometimes even as sexual beings. By contrast, Jesus put children - as children - at the centre of his project in proclaiming the kingdom of God. He preserved a special place for children in his ministry, and in all three synoptics, he called his followers to ‘childlikeness'. This paper examines a subversive thread in historic theological anthropology. The nature of ‘childlikeness' is explored and possible ways to cultivate childlikeness for adults are discussed. The notion of childlikeness has been rediscovered in recent times by the ‘Child Theology Movement', but, in this paper, I wish to examine three linked authors who wrote on ‘childlikeness' in the 19th and 20th centuries, predating the Child Theology Movement by some decades: George MacDonald, Baron Friedrich von Hügel and Gwendolen Greene.
ISSN:1469-8455
Contains:Enthalten in: International journal of children's spirituality
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/1364436X.2017.1416592