By: Raphael Samuel on October 27, 2013
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 christian faith and its…
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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Deve Persad on October 24, 2013
Sunday afternoon, while in London, at our recent Advance, a choice was set before me. I could use the time I had remaining to immerse myself in one or two historic landmarks (i.e. museum, aquarium, palace) or I could get a quick overview of almost everything historically significant. I chose the latter, paid my thirty…
By: Stefania Tarasut on October 18, 2013
It is hard to place “theology” and “short” in the same sentence because just hearing the word theology stirs in us a plethora of feelings, images and complexities. In his little book “Theology: A very Short Introduction” David Ford does a pretty good job of not only being short, but being pretty objective as he…
By: Miriam Mendez on October 18, 2013
In reading, Theology: A Very Short Introduction, I found myself saying: “Yes! Yes! Yes!” Yes, because David Ford not only challenges and encourages me to think deeply about theology but also challenges me to go beyond thinking. Ford challenges me “to move from thinking about the discipline of theology into direct theological thinking, beginning with…
By: Telile Fikru Badecha on October 18, 2013
After reading Theology: A Very Short Introduction I noted a couple of crucial issues the author David Ford brilliantly discusses in relation to theology and religious studies. Throughout this book he emphasizes the need to think further and deeper to be able to engage with issues that are relevant to us in our ministry context.…
By: Michael Badriaki on October 18, 2013
This week’s reading “Theology: A Very Short Introduction” by David Ford drew out my thoughts about theology even further in rather unique ways. “Theology: A Very Short Introduction”, put to words what I’ve always wanted to articulate about my ongoing journey with Christian theology. Admittedly, there are times when I intellectually connect with Christian theology…
By: Julie Dodge on October 18, 2013
As I sat to write about David F. Ford’s, “Theology: A Very Short Introduction”[1] I was uninspired. And then a phrase came to my mind: “Taste and see that the Lord is good…” (Psalm 34:8). It was then that I discovered what I was missing. Ford’s purpose is to provide an introduction to the huge…
By: rhbaker275 on October 18, 2013
Who needs theology? What is theology? How do we study theology? The weekly readings in the course of study on “Engaging Leadership Concepts” have attempted to stimulate our thinking as we consider these questions. What leaders believe is obviously important; equally important is to consider the basis and the source of belief. How leaders have…
