By: rhbaker275 on October 27, 2013
Writing an introduction to a vast area of study, such as theology, is a significant undertaking. Alister McGrath in Christian Theology: An Introduction has written just such a course of study. I say “course of study” because McGrath in the introductory material indicates his intentional use of the writing as a text book and addresses…
By: gfesadmin on October 27, 2013
How We Got Here Comments On Theology: by David Ford. To best describe what I was able to read in David Ford’s work on theology is, answers to how we got where we are today in our world of complex and diverse theological beliefs. Ford gives an amazing historical overview of the development of the…
By: Cedrick Valrie on October 27, 2013
In much astonishment to some people, as humans, we are meant for relationships. Be it a spouse, brother, sister, mother, father, coworker, or a stranger we have yet to get to know, we hold the influence to make the relationship healthier or weaker. One characteristic in human interaction to maintain balance is emotions. Emotions are…
By: Miriam Mendez on October 27, 2013
In the book, Christian Theology: An Introduction, Alister McGrath does a great job in presenting the material in a simple and rewarding manner. At first glance I was a bit overwhelmed by all the material in the book. However, McGrath extends a gracious “do not be afraid”- he assures the reader that we must not…
By: Liz Linssen on October 26, 2013
(Apologies…I posted this on the wrong blog last Thursday) Perhaps one of biggest takeaways I received through reading McGrath’s formidable work, Christian Theology: An Introduction, is an appreciation of the value and importance of excellent theological and spiritual education. From his fascinating historical presentation to how theology developed over the centuries to his excellent introduction of…
By: Stefania Tarasut on October 26, 2013
As I picked up Alister McGrath’s Christian Theology: An Introduction, I found myself overwhelmed by the amount of information that flooded my mind. What stood out to me the most in the midst of the 500 pages is people and tradition. I don’t know if it’s my lack of confidence in my abilities to minister,…
By: Richard Volzke on October 26, 2013
Reading Christian Theology by Alister McGrath’s it reminded me of my theology classes I took at Wesley Biblical seminary. I appreciate McGrath going through the history of Christianity starting from the first century and moving forward. I believe this is very important and every Christian should have some kind of training or education and early…
By: Sam Stephens on October 25, 2013
The present post modern age presents many new challenges for leaders and leadership. Old paradigms and definitions that were generally accepted are not as readily and willingly embraced as they used to be. In a world that is increasingly interrelated and rapidly moving forward, there is the pressure on leadership to adapt and change more…
By: Carol McLaughlin on October 25, 2013
In explaining to the student on “How to Use This Book,” Alister McGrath asserts, “Christian theology is one of the most fascinating subjects it is possible to study.”[1] After three weeks of reading about theology from different entry points each presenting compelling perspectives, I agree. The last of the three[2], Christian Theology: An Introduction is…
By: Sandy Bils on October 25, 2013
In the last books I read for my DMin program, I came across concepts of leadership and parameters to measure and interpret responses of members to certain leadership actions or problematical situations. It is interesting, that in Jim Collins book „Good to great. Why some companies make the leap and others don’t“ aswell as in…
By: John Woodward on October 25, 2013
While reading Alister E. McGrath’s Christian Theology: An Introduction, I was reminded of a conversation I had with Bible college student named Chad. After a good discussion about the seismic and painful changes over the last forty years in how we do church in the USA (including worship styles, women’s roles, attire, social concerns, etc.),…
By: Michael Badriaki on October 25, 2013
It seems to me that all the readings about theology I have studied in the past and present have turned out to be academic and devotional. The attempt to learn about the doctrine of God and how it is relevant for life has required the application of both the left and right brain activity and…
By: Telile Fikru Badecha on October 25, 2013
When reading Christian Theology: An Introduction. Fourth Edition, by Alister E. McGrath, I appreciated how McGrath presents succinctly all the basics of Christian theology that one needs to know to understand the stages of development that Christianity has gone through.Despite the fact that most of the history of Christian theology in this book and others…
By: Mark Steele on October 25, 2013
Businesses must change to thrive in this global world we live in. Kets de Vries in his book The Leadership Mystique talks about global leadership from a Psychoanalytical viewpoint. He talks about the “Mussel Syndrome”. The mussel is mollusk that makes one existential decision in its life, where to settle down (Kets de Vries 2001).…
By: Julie Dodge on October 25, 2013
Where does one begin an honest journey of exploration? McGrath, in his work Christian Theology: An Introduction, [i] starts at the beginning. Sort of. He starts at the beginning of Christianity as a forming religion. McGrath provides a crash course through the history of Christianity (post Christ) and its formative ideas, then quickly moves through…
By: Richard Rhoads on October 25, 2013
During my seminary years I worked as a trauma MRI tech at a University Hospital here in the States. On one of my first days at work, my mentor which was assigned to me shared with me that one of the greatest assets in saving patients lives was our human imagination. She was so right! …
By: Bill Dobrenen on October 24, 2013
As I read Alister McGrath’s Christian Theology[1] (2011), I was struck by many thoughts. But one theme that kept rising again and again was the notion that we cannot forget those who came before us. This is especially true for people of faith. We Christians often think of our faith as being personal, but it…
By: Ashley Goad on October 24, 2013
“Hakuna Matata. What a wonderful phrase! It means no worries, for the rest of your days. It’s a problem free philosophy! Hakuna Matata!” So sing characters Timon the Meerkat and Pumbaa the Warthog to Simba the Lion while dancing through the African plains in the movie The Lion King. It finally hit me! For years,…
By: Mitch Arbelaez on October 24, 2013
Ready! Set! Go! From the Patristic Period through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Hurry now, round the loop through the Age of Reformation and a lickety-split finish at the Modern Period and present day. And that was just the first of three sections (97 pages) of the 464 page 5th edition of Alister E.…
By: David Toth on October 24, 2013
The Leadership Mystique by Manfred Kets De Vries is one of the best practical books on leadership that I have read. In the book he covers the full range of leadership aspects, from the ‘inner life’ of a leader, to dealing with change, understanding failure, characteristics of effective leadership, to global leadership profile, and leadership…
