The Joy of Humility: The Beginning and End of the Virtues

by Drew Collins (Editor), Ryan McAnnally-Linz (Editor), Evan C. Rosa (Editor)

Overview

The true meaning of humility persistently drives debate, largely because we cannot agree on the word’s definition. The "correctness" of normative terms matters, and humility carries a distinctive normative weight. How we understand humility is not a matter of mere semantics. It is a pursuit of inquiry with the potential to inform—perhaps even to transform—our lives.

The Joy of Humility takes up this task with a view toward the perennial question of what entails a truly flourishing life. Here, philosophers, theologians, ethicists, and psychologists work to frame the debate in such a way that the conversation can move forward. To model this goal, each chapter prompts a response to which the chapter’s author offers a reply. Part one considers the scope and implications of humility as a contested concept; part two works toward clarity on how to measure humility as a trait and its potential impact on individuals and society.

With contributions from Miroslav Volf, Norman Wirzba, Stacey M. Floyd-Thomas, Jason Baehr, Lisa Sowle Cahill, Don E. Davis, Kent Dunnington, Jane Foulcher, Sarah Gazaway, Jennifer A. Herdt, Elizabeth J. Krumrei-Mancuso, Robert C. Roberts, and Everett L. Worthington Jr., The Joy of Humility offers an engaging discourse for everyone, laypeople and scholars alike, to consider these profoundly human questions. By opening up the space for dialogue to push past ideological and cultural assumptions, this volume challenges us to consider how humility, in calling us to esteem others as integral to our own well-being, opens us up to a life of joy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781481311830
Publisher:	Baylor University Press
Publication date:	06/15/2023
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.85(d)

About the Author

Drew Collins is Associate Research Scholar and Lecturer for the Yale Center for Faith and Culture at Yale Divinity School.

Ryan McAnnally-Linz is Associate Director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture at Yale Divinity School.

Evan C. Rosa is Assistant Director for Public Engagement at the Yale Center for Faith and Culture at Yale Divinity School.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Contesting Humility
Drew Collins and Ryan McAnnally-Linz
Part 1. Normativity
Introduction to Part 1

1 Oppressive Humility
A Womanist View of Humility, Flourishing, and the Secret of Joy
Stacey M. Floyd-Thomas
Response to Stacey M. Floyd-Thomas—Robert C. Roberts
Reply to Robert C. Roberts—Stacey M. Floyd-Thomas

2 Liberating Humility
A Variation on Luther’s Theology of Humility
Miroslav Volf
Response to Miroslav Volf—Lisa Sowle Cahill
Reply to Lisa Sowle Cahill—Miroslav Volf

3 Magnanimous Humility
The Lofty Vocation of the Humble—Jennifer A. Herdt
Response to Jennifer A. Herdt—Lisa Sowle Cahill
Reply to Lisa Sowle Cahill—Jennifer A. Herdt

4 Creaturely Humility
Placing Humility, Finding Joy
Norman Wirzba
Response to Norman Wirzba—Jane Foulcher
Reply to Jane Foulcher—Norman Wirzba

Part 2. Methodology
Introduction to Part 2

5 Observing Humility
Relational Humility and Human Flourishing
Don E. Davis and Sarah Gazaway
Response to Don E. Davis and Sarah Gazaway—Jane Foulcher
Reply to Jane Foulcher—Don E. Davis and Sarah Gazaway

6 Defining Humility
The Scope of Humility
Jason Baehr
Response to Jason Baehr—Robert C. Roberts
Reply to Robert C. Roberts—Jason Baehr

7 Employing Humility
The Role of Humility in Servant Leadership
Elizabeth J. Krumrei-Mancuso
Response to Elizabeth J. Krumrei-Mancuso—Everett L. Worthington Jr.
Reply to Everett L. Worthington Jr.—Elizabeth J. Krumrei-Mancuso

8 Living Humility
How to Be Humble
Kent Dunnington
Response to Kent Dunnington—Everett L. Worthington Jr.
Reply to Everett L. Worthington Jr.—Kent Dunnington

What People are Saying About This

Nancy E. Snow

Featuring contributions by theologians, philosophers, and psychologists, The Joy of Humility’s chapters explore such tantalizing topics as womanism, flourishing, and humility; a variation on Luther’s theology of humility; the vocation of the humble; and the role of humility in servant leadership. It is an incisive and insightful collection that pushes our understanding of humility into new and fascinating terrain. I highly recommend it for anyone who wishes to fathom the depths of humility.

David F. Ford David F. Ford

This multifaceted engagement with humility brings together ancient and modern wisdom and a range of disciplines in order to explore and argue about this transformative yet controversial virtue. It also offers rich, deep, and challenging material to any readers open to examining themselves, their way of life, and their priorities.

Matthew Wilcoxen

In Christian scripture, thought, and practice, humility is taken for granted as a virtue. At the same time, there is a lack of conceptual clarity about what it means to be a humble person. Even more urgent, the traditional Christian emphasis on humility runs a serious risk of being oppressive, particularly to women and people of color. The Joy of Humility brings together an impressive group of theologians, philosophers, and psychologists for an important interdisciplinary dialogue on humility’s definition(s), practices, and value. Both easy-to-read and learned, this book is essential reading for scholars, students, and practitioners interested in Christian virtue formation.

Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung

This fascinating and comprehensive collection of essays is the single best volume on the state of humility scholarship today. With wise insight and erudite scholarship, contributors guide us through contemporary studies in psychology, key figures and theological texts in the historical and Christian virtue tradition, probing philosophical analyses, and ardent protests against humility’s misuse. Their responses to each other deepen the account each essay offers, offering students of humility a winsome and engaging model of fruitful intellectual exchange.

David F. Ford

This multifaceted engagement with humility brings together ancient and modern wisdom and a range of disciplines in order to explore and argue about this transformative yet controversial virtue. It also offers rich, deep, and challenging material to any readers open to examining themselves, their way of life, and their priorities.

Editorial Reviews

"This book is to be commended for opening up 'the beginning and end of virtue' in such an engaging way."

Modern Believing - Frances Ward

The eight essays in The Joy of Humility comprise a worthwhile discussion about the definition of humility by scholars from different disciplines, while also touching on distinct concerns like social justice and leadership. The contributions are divided into normative and methodological issues with the purpose of deepening their thematic affinity.

--Marco Oliveira "Studies in Christian Ethics"

From the Publisher

The eight essays in The Joy of Humility comprise a worthwhile discussion about the definition of humility by scholars from different disciplines, while also touching on distinct concerns like social justice and leadership. The contributions are divided into normative and methodological issues with the purpose of deepening their thematic affinity.

Marco Oliveira