In a study that is sometimes dull and sometimes lively, Charry (By the Renewing of Your Minds: The Pastoral Function of Christian Doctrine) enters the by now tired cultural conversation regarding happiness. As she did in her earlier book, Charry seeks to make theology practical; in this study, she addresses her concern that Christian theology lacks a substantial doctrine of human flourishing. In the book's first section, Charry surveys the history of philosophy and Christian doctrine to reveal overlooked thinkers from Augustine to the Anglican divine Joseph Butler who encourage human flourishing. In the second section, Charry examines the biblical foundations of a doctrine she calls asherism (from the Hebrew asher, to be happy) and finds that Scripture encourages Christians to organize life around God so as to be buoyed by God's love, beauty, goodness, and wisdom. Happiness, she concludes, is celebrating our own spiritual growth and well-being and God's enjoyment of these. In her typically thoughtful and engaging style, Charry demonstrates that Christians need not be dour and gloomy about life, but that their traditions do encourage them to put on a happy face.
