Spirituality As Natural Theology: A Lonerganian Approach

My motivation for this study originates from my Pentecostal-Charismatic background. Throughout this century, Christians from these traditions have emphasized vital experience with the Holy Spirit. My practice of ministry in Pentecostal churches has confirmed to me the significance of the infilling of the Spirit for an effective imitatio Christi. But my ministry has also led me to acknowledge a comparative lack of attention in my tradition given to foundational issues related to the spiritual life. Such issues include the subject-matter of spirituality, the relationship of grace and nature, and the viability of natural theology. Developing these academic topics will benefit the Pentecostal and Charismatic communities. My interest in spirituality was initially fueled by the teachings of contemporary ministers and pastors on the subject. Their studies helped my efforts at self-development and service to others. But I increasingly wondered about the historical background leading up to present-day analyses of the spiritual life. How have the central issues and the very notion of spirituality been discussed and organized over the centuries? As a result, I examined the history of Christian spirituality through anthologies. In graduate school, I began exploring Lonergan\u27s philosophy and theology, and came to appreciate his achievement in its own right as well as its relevance for grounding, structuring, and orienting academic spirituality..