Acknowledgments
Thank you to the scholars and therapists whose teaching, writing, and personal support has shaped this project: Joseph Schner, Pam McCarroll, Sean McGrath, Arthur Boers, Peter Erb, Dorothy and Robert Gardner, Harold Bloom, Jeffrey Kripal, Cyril O’Regan, John Dourley, Ann Ulanov, and Margaret Barker. Your graceful offerings of time and your kind responses to my questions have meant more than you know. And to those who first mentored my interest in this area many years ago: Barbara Forrest, Travis Kroeker, Ellen Charry, James Loder, and Deborah Hunsinger, your influence has shaped me in ways that I am still realizing, with gratitude. A special thanks goes to Michael Stoeber, who helped guide this project from its inception, and surrounded it with his calm affirming presence. His unique gifts of patience, support, and insight were remarkably sensitive in allowing my own vision to emerge. To my children, Cole, Ashlyn, and Caleb, who were born in the midst of these pages, and who often visited my desk with their own forms of inspiration: thank you for your urgent needs, your bright eyes, and your playful hearts, which all came trailing clouds of glory. And of course to Rachel, for her support on this stretch of the journey. I gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Knox College Bursary Committee, The Toronto School of Theology Scholarship Committee, the Ontario Graduate Scholarship fund, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Thank you for supporting a dreamer. And to Perry Hall and the staff at Robarts library: thank you for your invaluable assistance.