The Future of Christian Theology represents a personal
manifesto from one of the world's leading theologians, exploring
the ways Christian theology in the twenty-first century has been,
and can now continue to be, both creative and
wise.
* Represents an outstanding and engaging account of the task of
theology today
* Offers an insightful description of what makes for discerning
and creative theology.
* Written from the perspective of decades of experience, and in
close dialogue with theologians of other faiths
* Features a strong interfaith and public theology dimension, and
a contemporary portrait of the field from the inside
* A hopeful and illuminating search for wisdom and understanding
in the increasingly complex religious and secular world of the
twenty-first century.
Autorentext
David F. Ford is Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Cambridge. He is the author of numerous books, including Christian Wisdom. Desiring God and Learning in Love (2007), The Shape of Living (2002), Theology: A Very Short Introduction (2000) and Self and Salvation: Being Transformed (1999). He is also the Director of the Cambridge Inter-Faith Programme.
Klappentext
In The Future of Christian Theology, one of the world's leading theologians tackles the question of how we should think about Christian faith and practice today -- and especially tomorrow. With engaging clarity and great insight, the book explores the ways Christian theology in the twenty-first century can face the challenges of our complex religious and secular world in a way that is creative, empathetic, and wise.
Inspired by a passion for wisdom, noted Christian theologian David Ford seeks to answer some of the most thought-provoking questions in contemporary theological thinking and scholarship. After addressing the reasons why the past century has been one of the most fruitful in the history of Christian thought, Ford looks forward to explore some of the most important and generative ways to consider contemporary theological issues. Themes and topics covered include what makes for 'good theology,' the relationship of Christian theology to church, academy, society, and other faiths; and what it takes to become a theologian in today's world. At the heart of Ford's vision for theology is the God of love and wisdom who stretches minds, hearts, and imaginations by inviting people deeper into the drama of contemporary life and thought. Above all, this theology faces the challenges of -- and our responses to -- the cries of suffering, joy, fear, wonder, despair, desire, and more that pervade our world.
Zusammenfassung
The Future of Christian Theology represents a personal manifesto from one of the world's leading theologians, exploring the ways Christian theology in the twenty-first century has been, and can now continue to be, both creative and wise.
- Represents an outstanding and engaging account of the task of theology today
- Offers an insightful description of what makes for discerning and creative theology.
- Written from the perspective of decades of experience, and in close dialogue with theologians of other faiths
- Features a strong interfaith and public theology dimension, and a contemporary portrait of the field from the inside
- A hopeful and illuminating search for wisdom and understanding in the increasingly complex religious and secular world of the twenty-first century.
Inhalt
Preface.
Source Acknowledgments.
1 A Cry for Wisdom: Theology for the Twenty-first Century.
From the Twentieth to the Twenty-first Century: Theological Abundance and Variety.
Four Elements of Wise Creativity.
Conclusion.
2 Drama in Bible, Theology, and Life.
The Bible: More Dramatic than Epic or Lyric.
Gospel of John Epic, Lyric, and above all Dramatic.
Intensity and Extensity in the Ongoing Drama.
Conclusion: Drama, Wise Theological Creativity, and an Unanswered Question.
3 A Dramatic Code for Twenty-first Century Theology.
Modern Secularity and the Health of the Public Sphere.
A Drama-centered Account of Modernity.
A Dramatic Code for Theology Today.
Conclusion: Within and Beyond the Drama.
4 Desire Above All.
A Balanced Dynamic of Theological Moods.
Between Closed Religion and Wide Open Religion.
Theological Moods in Bible and Tradition.
God-centered Moods: The Divine Passive.
5 Belonging: Church, Collegiality, Conversation.
Belonging to God and Each Other through Covenant.
Theological Creativity in and for the Church.
Learning and Teaching Together: Collegiality.
Extended Belonging: Conversations.
Intensive Belonging: Cohabitations, Collaborations, and Movements.
Intimate Belonging: Friendships.
Conclusion: Complex Belonging.
6 Church and Society.
First Case Study: Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Continuing This Drama.
Contemporary Case: Theological Tasks for the Church in Democratic Civil Societies.
7 Inter-Faith Blessing.
A Jewish Blessing: Dabru Emet.
A Muslim Blessing: A Common Word.
Scriptural Reasoning as "First Inter-Faith Theology".
Seeking Wisdom for Inter-Faith Engagement: A Muscat Manifesto.
Civil Wisdom.
8 New Theology and Religious Studies: Shaping, Teaching, and Funding a Field.
What is New Theology and Religious Studies?
A Framework for Creativity.
Other Frameworks.
Curriculum and Teachers.
Funding.
The Global Potential of New Theology and Religious Studies.
9 Becoming a Theologian: The Apprentice.
Disciple and Apprentice.
Retrieval A Receptive, Reading Self.
Engagement A Loved and Loving Self.
Thinking An Imaginative, Discerning Self.
Communication A Witnessing, Poetic Self.
10 The Bible: Creative Source of Theology.
How the Bible Has Shaped This Manifesto.
What Sort of Bible Reading is This?
The Four Elements of Wise and Creative Theology in the Bible.
A Biblical Hope for Twenty-first Century Theology.
Notes and References.
Index.