Art Of Listening In The Early Church, The

Art Of Listening In The Early Church, The

By Carol Harrison

Book Description

In the earliest centuries of Christianity, faith reached believers not through written texts but through the profound act of listening. Carol Harrison explores this forgotten dimension of spiritual formation, revealing how the ancient Church understood hearing as far more than a passive reception of information.

Drawing from early Christian practices of catechesis, preaching, and prayer, Harrison uncovers a sophisticated understanding of listening as a transformative spiritual discipline. Early Christians, many of whom could not read, developed what she terms "literate listening" - a refined ability to absorb not just the basic tenets of faith but also the subtle variations and deeper meanings woven throughout Christian teaching and worship.

This study challenges modern assumptions about how spiritual knowledge is acquired and retained. Rather than viewing listening as simply gathering facts, early Christians understood it as an art requiring constant practice and refinement. The divine Word they encountered could not be easily categorized or controlled, demanding instead an active response of attention, reflection, and personal transformation.

Harrison demonstrates how early believers learned to stretch toward the transcendent source of what they heard, allowing themselves to be reshaped in the process. Her research illuminates the profound spiritual wisdom embedded in practices of sacred listening, offering contemporary readers insights into how attentive hearing can become a pathway to deeper faith and understanding.

This exploration reveals listening itself as a salvific practice, essential for spiritual growth and transformation.

Who Is This For?

📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~8 hours)

📄 Length: 302 pages

What You'll Discover

  • ✓ Explore Frühchristentum
  • ✓ Explore Hören
  • ✓ Explore Zuhören
  • ✓ Explore Geistliches Leben
  • ✓ Explore Kerygma
  • ✓ Explore Listening
  • ✓ Explore Religious aspects
  • ✓ Explore Christian education

Topics Covered

Frühchristentum Hören Zuhören Geistliches Leben Kerygma Listening Religious aspects Christian education Oral communication Preaching Verkündigung Glaubensbegründung Primitive and early church Church history Faith Theology, doctrinal Christianity Early church Prayer History

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