Saving Face

Stephen Pattison University of BirminghamUK

• Introduction; Chapter 1 Fixing Face; Chapter 2 The ‘Facts’ of Face; Chapter 3 Losing Face:Shame, Defacement and Problems with Face; Chapter 4 Face, Presence and the ‘Face behind Face’; Chapter 5 Seeing the Face of God in the Bible; Chapter 6 Seeking the Face of God in Post-biblical Christian Life and Theology; Chapter 7 Modern Theological Resources for the Saving of Face; Chapter 8 Shining Up the Face of God:Practical Theological Horizons for Enfacement; Chapter 9 Just Looking: Seeing Faces More Clearly;

Featured in a roundtable review in Practical Theology:'Every now and then a book comes along that opens up whole new ways of seeing the world. This is certainly one of those books … This is a book that invites us to see humanity and God more clearly.' – Stephen Roberts, Senior Lecturer in Modern Theology, University of Chichester, UK'This is a remarkable book … which merits re-reading and deep reflection, full of insights which will remain with the reader for a long time.' – Manon Ceridwen James, Director of Ministry, Diocese of St Asaph, UK'… a remarkable and generative work of practical theology.' – Andrew Todd, Coordinator for the Centre for Contemporary Spirituality and Programme Leader for the MA in Christian Spirituality, Sarum College, UK'Pattison could not write a dull book should he ever wish to try and, with its surprising byways and challenging propositions, this is perhaps his most creative yet. It is a work rich in theological ideas.' – Graeme Smith, Professor of Public Theology and Head of the Department of Theology, Philosophy and Religious Studies, University of Chichester, UK'Pattison’s book is, I think, one of the three great contemporary Christian works on the sanctity of the face' – Melissa Raphael, Professor of Jewish Theology, University of Gloucestershire, UK*'The issues discussed by Pattison are relevant to us all, offering novel perspectives on faces and the ways we relate to them. His accounts of people with facial differences and difficulties give a literal sense of shame as the self-in-the-eyes-of-the-other… Scientists are likely to find themselves having a worthwhile dialogue with the book; readers in the humanities may learn about peculiar properties of faces; Christians may reconsider the divine face… [A] complex and valuable contribution, and I urge you to read the book.' – Centre for Medical Humanities, Durham University, UK 'This is a book that synthesises theology, praxis and the physical reality of our enfaced existence. …you will mine a rich seam of theological and pastoral enquiry.' – Regent’s Reviews 'While the preliminary nature of some of the ideas and analysis here is tantalizing, the book is conceptually fascinating, and represents an important addition to an under-theologized area.' – Theology