Books by Paul R. Sponheim

Paul Sponheim's theme is transformation-personal, social, cultural, and global. He addresses the violence, environmental destruction, and lost sense of self that plague modern society. In response, he finds a genuine desire among Americans for both individual and social transformation. He suggests, however, that we may have lost sight of the Creator's call for us to join in the work of creation through direct partnership with others (not just with other Christians) in nurturing change. Sponheim claims the ecstatic power of religion for individual and social transformation, and explores how "the human status as creature entails responsibility to God in the drama that creation constitutes." In central chapters on Interruption, Calling, and Relationship, he clearly shows how transformation takes place though our participation in God's ongoing creative work.

Existing Before God introduces readers to one of the most important 19th century Christian thinkers, Soren Kierkegaard. In this volume, Paul R. Sponheim, unfolds Kierkegaards Sickness unto Death a key text outlining the problem of the human condition and the paradoxical heart of authentic Christian faith, the qualitative difference between God and creatures and its synthesis in the God-man. Sponheim also draws out the connections between this text and Kierkegaards larger theological and ethical vision, and the reception and significance of this text in the modern and contemporary theological tradition.