the divine dance -- a book review

The Divine Dance: The Trinity and Your Transformation by Richard Rohr and Mike Morrell explores that one topic that seems to occupy so much theological thinking these days -- the doctrine of the Trinity -- in ways that allows us to make connections with real Christian living. That's because, usually, the doctrine of the Trinity is the reserve topic of trained academic theologians who discuss the "homoousian" ("of the same substance") of each of the divine figures while trying to leave room for "periochoresis" ("mutual indwelling"). Leaving the trinity to vague theological concepts allows academics to divorce the doctrine from life.

Rohr and Morrell will have none of that.

Immediately, even from the first pages of Paul David Young's (of The Shack fame) foreward, theology is given its proper context, because "bad theology is like pornography". Young immediately sets the stage for what is to follow. That is, a confession of an addiction to theological porn. And who better to take it on than Fr. Richard Rohr?

At the heart of Christian revelation, God is not seen as a distant, static monarch but -- as we will explore together -- a divine circle dance, as the early Fathers of the church dared to call it (in Greek perichoresis, the origin of our word choreography). God is the Holy One presenced in the dynamic and loving action of Three (p. 17). This "loving action" is the substance of the dance, as presented by Rohr and Morrell. Not something rigid and without fluidity, but that which participates in an event of intimate care and playful dance. Far from Arminian notions of "free will", it is rather a consent to participate that seems to be offered as our "part" in the dance.

Those familiar with Rohr's themes will find themselves drawn into the mystery of Christian theology where the table is set for our participation in the very divine life of the Trinity.

This book is one I enthusiastically couldn't put down and cannot recommend too highly. Especially for those who want a fresh and exciting exploration into the doctrine of the Trinity (one that utilizes a number of theologians, like Torrance, Barth, Lagcuna and Moltmann) but in language that draws you in as a reader. The Divine Dance is itself a meditation on living in and with the Trinity.

This is a book to which I will return again and again.
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I received a free copy of this book from the Speakeasy Bloggers program in exchange for my honest review here.