This extensive academic work by James K. Smith argues that human beings are fundamentally "desiring animals" shaped primarily by "love" and "practices" rather than solely by intellect or beliefs. The author contends that many secular institutions and activities, like malls and universities, function as "secular liturgies," subtly "training our hearts and loves" towards particular visions of the "good life" that often conflict with biblical teachings. In contrast, Christian worship serves as a "counter-formation," providing practices—such as confession, baptism, Eucharist, and the reading of the law—that reorient desires toward God and cultivate a "sacramental imagination" of the world. Ultimately, the text proposes that Christian education should transform into an "ecclesial college" model, deeply rooted in the formative liturgies of the church to cultivate students as "radical disciples of Jesus" who embody a unique, future-oriented vision of the kingdom of God.
This is a book review or commentary on an academic subject with content curated by Ivelisse Valentin-Vera and recorded with the power of NotebookLM to ensure every AI generated conversation is accurate, deep and accessible, and does not represent the opinion of the authors.
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