Connected at the Roots

Written for beginning seminary students, this interdisciplinary study argues that recent advances in the social and cognitive sciences demonstrate that knowing involves not only our physical bodies but also our tools, our communities, and our social institutions. As important as these discoveries are for understanding general cognition, they are even more important for understanding the nature of faith. The Bible is rich with metaphors that emphasize the living church as a source of wisdom and spiritual depth. We always need other Christians if our faith is to be both rich and deep. We are like groves of aspen trees--individual trees that are connected at the roots.

Jerry Camery-Hoggatt is emeritus professor of New Testament and narrative theology at Vanguard University. His publications include two books on the Gospel of Mark, two on interpretive method, one on gossip and the spiritual journey, a historical novel set in first-century Rome, a novel set in thirteenth-century Wales, a book of Lenten reflections based on the life of John the Baptist, two Christmas novellas, a collection of short stories, and an illustrated children’s book.