TY - JOUR

T1 - Theology and the fragmentation of the self.

AU - Woodhead, Linda J. P.

PY - 1999/3

Y1 - 1999/3

N2 - Modern Christian anthropology frequently adopts from socio-cultural theory the thesis that modern selfhood is fragmented. This 'fragmentation thesis' should be placed within a framework which sees modernity not as homogeneous but as stranded. Four conflicting construals of modern selfhood can be discerned: the bestowed self, the rational self, the boundless self and the effective self. In promoting versions of the bestowed self through communitarian and Trinitarian ideas, contemporary theological anthropology often fails to meet the challenges posed by other construals of selfhood, or to take seriously lessons learnt from contemporary forms of Christianity like the evangelical–charismatic upsurge.

AB - Modern Christian anthropology frequently adopts from socio-cultural theory the thesis that modern selfhood is fragmented. This 'fragmentation thesis' should be placed within a framework which sees modernity not as homogeneous but as stranded. Four conflicting construals of modern selfhood can be discerned: the bestowed self, the rational self, the boundless self and the effective self. In promoting versions of the bestowed self through communitarian and Trinitarian ideas, contemporary theological anthropology often fails to meet the challenges posed by other construals of selfhood, or to take seriously lessons learnt from contemporary forms of Christianity like the evangelical–charismatic upsurge.

U2 - 10.1111/1463-1652.00004

DO - 10.1111/1463-1652.00004

M3 - Journal article

VL - 1

SP - 53

EP - 72

JO - International Journal of Systematic Theology

JF - International Journal of Systematic Theology

SN - 1463-1652

IS - 1

ER -