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In *The Age of the Spirit: How the Ghost of an Ancient Controversy is Shaping the Church* (2014), Phyllis Tickle and Jon M. Sweeney contend that historical Trinitarian and pneumatological debates are fundamental to comprehending the contemporary Christian landscape. The authors posit that ancient theological controversies concerning the Holy Spirit are, in fact, foundational to understanding the significant shifts occurring within the modern church, particularly the rapid global expansion of Charismatic Christianity, which now encompasses over a quarter of the world’s believers. They argue that examining these past disputes provides crucial insight for a diverse audience, ranging from Pentecostals and traditional Protestants to the “spiritual-but-not-religious,” as they navigate questions of divine authority and lived faith in an era of profound upheaval. Building upon their earlier work, *The Great Emergence* (2008), Tickle and Sweeney situate the current spiritual climate within a broader historical framework of approximately 500-year cycles, each marked by profound reconfigurations of ecclesiastical authority. These paradigm shifts—such as the Reformation’s departure from medieval structures in the 16th century, which itself followed the Great Schism of 1054 CE, and the Great Fall of roughly 500 CE—are presented as antecedents to the contemporary phenomenon: a widespread Christian movement away from established traditional authorities. The book thus frames the modern church’s anxiety regarding its direction and the pervasive question of “where now is our authority?” as a recurring, cyclical inquiry, deeply rooted in the church’s historical struggle to comprehend the Spirit’s role. The authors meticulously trace this historical “back story” of the Spirit, employing clear and accessible language to delineate major controversies concerning the Trinity and the Spirit’s nature. From Augustine’s early formulations to the debates surrounding Arianism and Montanism, and through the development of creedal statements by the seven Church Councils, Tickle and Sweeney highlight how foundational theological concepts were forged. Particular attention is given to the *filioque* controversy, which they identify as a pivotal point leading to the Great Schism, thereby demonstrating that current questions regarding the Spirit’s identity and its relationship to God as Creator and Redeemer are not novel, but rather deeply embedded in two millennia of Christian thought. While acknowledging these questions remain unresolved, the authors suggest that “Emergence Christianity” represents a significant herald of a new era in the church’s ongoing quest for understanding the divine Spirit. However, reviewer Maggie Elwell offers a significant critique, observing that Tickle and Sweeney’s depiction of the Spirit’s historical trajectory is overly linear and confined to a singular axis. Elwell expresses a desire for an expanded account that acknowledges the multifaceted and often non-dogmatic expressions of the Spirit outside the strict confines of the “latinized church.” She specifically points to the diverse and often non-linear development of the Charismatic movement, particularly in the “Two-Thirds world,” suggesting that a more nuanced history would incorporate these “dips, twists, and branching-offs” alongside the official doctrinal developments. Ultimately, while endorsing the importance of historical knowledge, the review implicitly reinforces the profound mystery of the Spirit, echoing Basil the Great’s reflection, which the authors themselves quote: “What are the energies of the Spirit? Their extent cannot be told, and they are numberless. How can we comprehend what is beyond the ages?”
