The Joy of Humility

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.

• 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

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.