Imitating God and Familiar Identity: An Exploration in Developmental Psychology, Theology, and Ecclesial IdentityMarried Priests in the Catholic Church, Adam A. J.Deville (ed.), University of Notre Dame Press, 2021 (ISBN 978‐0‐268‐20010‐7), XXVI + 350 pp., pb $35Made in the Image of God: Being Human in the Christian Tradition, MichaelFuller, and DavidJasper (eds), Sacristy Press, 2021 (ISBN 978‐1‐78959‐170‐5), x + 282

Abstract

AbstractThe nature of familial identity is central to a growing number of theological works. The authors of the volumes here each represent a different set of issues, disciplines, and perspectives. The discussions, ironically, center around family. Made in the Image of God gives the readers a series of reflections on diverse theological topics oscillating around the image and identity. Forming Resilient Children is unlike Made in the Image of God in that it is not strictly speaking a theological reflection on diverse issues, but a work of developmental psychology focusing on the nature of the child and the familial context for the child. Married Priests in the Catholic Church offers the reader a series of ecclesial engagements on the topic of the vocation of priesthood as either married or celibate. Overlapping with the previous two volumes in content by touching on identity, the image of God, and the nature of creaturely relations to God, Married Priests is, in one sense, a sustained reflection on the meaning of familial and organic identity (as an image of God) to the Church.