The Evangelical Universalist Forum

"Origen; Spirit And Fire" Reading Group

Is anyone interested in reading Hans Urs von Balthasar’s “Origen; Spirit And Fire: A Thematic Anthology Of His Writings” within a small discussion group? I have a copy and it looks to be a very good, quite thorough, 400-page summary of Origen’s thinking. I know I mightn’t get round to reading this one without a little push from my peers, so it would be nice to read it with some friends over the next year. I already know someone else who is quite keen, and another who is also interested (pending on a few things). I’m not sure whether the EU forum would be happy to host a thread here to discuss the book, but we could set up an email group. Anyway, let me know if you think that might be something you would be interested in doing.

I have two tentative calendars in mind (a 6-month, pp.56 p/month plan; and a 9-month, pp.37 p/month plan), which I can post up if people show an interest. Just thought I’d throw this idea out there.

(I’m not sure whether this is the most appropriate board to post this thread, so if the moderators think it is better suited elsewhere, do move it.)

I would be interested. What a great person and subject to discuss!

There is a partial copy of the book available on Google Books:

books.google.com.au/books?id=kM1Yvc9taEMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Origen:+Spirit+and+Fire+:+a+Thematic+Anthology+of+His+Writings&hl=en&sa=X&ei=TVpvUrWoHM2CkwWuwIGIAQ&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Origen%3A%20Spirit%20and%20Fire%20%3A%20a%20Thematic%20Anthology%20of%20His%20Writings&f=false

It can be downloaded using Google Books Downloader. I have found the cheapest copy to be about $30.

Steve

It could be in the book section i guess!

sounds interesting…i might join in, but i expect i’ll be rather slower than the rest as life is busy currently!

I’ll move the thread to the Books section, but I’ll leave a shadow thread here; so your request will be in two different threads. :slight_smile:

I’m not sure what is involved in a reading group, but I’m willing to join.

Maybe Steve’s partial copy at Google Books would be more advantageous – there may be people who’d like to join but don’t want to spend $25 US to buy the book (me, for example). I don’t know whether I’d participate as I’m pretty swamped with other reading material at the moment – first I’d have to have a look at Steve’s link and see whether it captures me. :wink:

But . ~ . ~ . ~~~ >>>> choosing the free downloadable book (unless it’s too, too incomplete) might entice more people. Just a thought.

I’m interested – whether or not I would actually find the time to read is another matter, but I’d at least try to keep up.

Sonia

I’m glad there’s interest :smiley: I hope to keep it at a slow pace (which might frustrate some readers), but hopefully we won’t lose steam either. I suspect its going to be a reasonably solid read and I want time for us to reflect. Below are the two plans I had thought about, but I’d love to hear your own ideas. Total pages for each section are in red.

[size=125]9 month plan[/size] (average 37 pages per month)

Front Matters (Translators Foreword — Prologue; pp.xi-33) 41 pages

  1. I. Soul (The World and the Soul — Fall and Return; pp.37-76) 39 pages
  2. II. Word A (Word with God — Word as Scripture; pp.77-112) 35 pages
  3. II. Word B (Word as Flesh: Christ; pp.113-147) 34 pages
  4. II. Word C (Word as Flesh: Church — The Law of Sublation; pp.148-182) 34 pages
  5. III. Spirit A (Life in the Spirit — The Inner Senses: Hearing; pp.183-234) 51 pages
  6. III. Spirit B (The Inner Senses: Sight — Food; pp.235-267) 32 pages
  7. III. Spirit C (Generation — Mystical Body; pp.268-316) 48 pages
  8. IV. God A (The Mystery of God — God-Fire: The Cunning of Love; pp.317-348) 31 pages
  9. IV. God B (God-Fire: Fear and Love — Appendix: The Paschal Mystery; pp.349-368) 19 pages
    Back Matters (Translator’s Epilogue; pp.371-376) 5 pages

[size=125]6 month plan[/size] (average 56 pages per month)

Front Matters (Translators Foreword — Prologue; pp.xi-33) 41 pages
1.** I. Soul** (pp.37-76) 39 pages
2. II. Word A (Word with God — Word as Flesh: Christ: The Life of Jesus as Parable; pp.77-132) 55 pages
3. II. Word B (Word as Flesh: Christ: The Eternal Christ — Word as Flesh: The Law of Sublation; pp.133-182) 49 pages
4. III. Spirit A (Life in the Spirit — The Inner Senses; pp.183-257) 74 pages
5. III. Spirit B (Food — Mystical Body; pp.258-316) 58 pages
6. IV. God (pp.317-368) 51 pages
Back Matters (Translator’s Epilogue; pp.371-376) 5 pages

Jason, I’m not really sure what would be required either. Reading groups I have participated in either had professional supplementary notes or a competent facilitator. I’m happy to post/email a few questions and thoughts as I read each section and could post them up before or after the allocated reading to provoke our discussion. Though I am aware that I do not have much time or energy to go into much detail, and my thoughts are clearly homespun, so hopefully everyone can just post their thoughts.

Steve, yes, that is a very partial copy (intermittent pages are missing and a significant section: pp.234-423). The book will probably cost between $30-35. Those members from Australia, should check the book price comparison website booko (shipping costs to Australia are included in estimates).

Insane/hardcore enthusiasts can read his full works for free here.

If you are keen and are a known EU member, but cannot afford the book let me know via PM, and we might be able to work something out.

The 6 month plan suits me.

S