Contemporary with Christ

Very few books are philosophically sophisticated, theologically rich, and meticulous in their reading of a tradition. By succeeding on all these fronts, Contemporary with Christ is not only an exemplary piece of analytic theology but also a groundbreaking work in Kierkegaard studies. It will be hard for any theologian to come away from this book without a profound appreciation for its Kierkegaardian vision of spirituality—one that, to paraphrase Kierkegaard, is grounded in the kinship that God establishes with us in time. By bringing new light to this vision, Joshua Cockayne has done an enormous service to the theological world.

~Andrew Torrance, Senior Lecturer in Theology, University of St Andrews

Joshua Cockayne undertakes in this volume the thoroughly Kierkegaardian project of seeking to understand what it means for Christianity to be lived. Christian existence, Cockayne explains, is a life lived in relationship with the God who comes to us in Jesus Christ. As Kierkegaard himself makes clear, such a life is nourished through prayer, participation in the Eucharist, the reading of Scripture, and through the daily effort to follow Christ through the trials and tribulations of life. Cockayne is a sure and perceptive guide to this great theme that lies at the heart of Kierkegaard’s authorship.

~Murray Rae, Professor of Theology, University of Otago

In this scholarly and spirited study, Joshua Cockayne has given us a new reading of Kierkegaard, showing how central themes in his thought can be newly understood following recent developments in philosophy and psychology. Through an array of persuasive examples and carefully honed distinctions, he has also given us a new reading of the Christian life, including prayer, study of the Bible, and the Eucharist—showing how each constitutes a form of relationship to Christ. This is a book that will speak powerfully to theoreticians and also practitioners of the spiritual life.

~Mark Wynn, Nolloth Professor of the Philosophy of the Christian Religion, University of Oxford

Contemporary with Christ is a remarkable book on many levels. Here Cockayne provides a clear and convincing account of Kierkegaard’s work while giving a profound and provocative account of the spiritual life. He shows that Kierkegaard’s voice is one that needs to be heard by contemporary analytic theologians. This book brings Kierkegaard into fruitful conversation with a host of thinkers; even more important, it will bring Kierkegaard’s thought into the heart of the reader’s life.

~C. Stephen Evans, University Professor of Philosophy and Humanities, Baylor University

Cockayne’s text accomplishes many things. It presents Kierkegaard’s authorship to an analytically-inclined audience. The clear presentation of key ideas makes his text an excellent choice for someone new to the field, and his unique insights make it an interesting one for those who have been long in it.

~Amber Bowen, Sapienta

We can be thankful to Joshua Cockayne for teasing out the dimensions of Kierkegaard's spirituality for us and integrating it with the contemporary second-personal literature.

~Adam Green, Journal of Analytic Theology

Cockayne’s text is quite thorough in its reading of Kierkegaard. It is well-researched, well-referenced, and serves competently as a guide into Kierkegaard’s spirituality and current research.

~Matthew Kruger, Reading Religion