By: Raphael Samuel on October 18, 2013
The most common definition of theology is that it is “the study of God”. Sounds simple but nothing about theology is really simple. Many within the christian faith including myself, often pretend that we know all the answers to questions people asking. We trend to over simplify our answers as in the local proverb, “ones…
By: Richard Volzke on October 18, 2013
Ford, in his book Theology: A Very Short Introduction, calls us to look at theology in a holistic context with regards to our entire lives and the world around us. The author asks, “what is distinctive about our own period as a setting for doing theology?”[1] Ford answers to this question is, “the pace, extent,…
By: Ashley Goad on October 18, 2013
Where does one even begin with Ford’s brief masterpiece? Though it claims to be a very short introduction to theology, the author presents an overwhelming amount of material filled with an array of subjects from the theology of prayer and worship to the interpretation of theological texts. And this vast material is presented in a…
By: Mitch Arbelaez on October 18, 2013
Once again the topic before us is theology. As we discussed last week everyone is a theologian to some degree, for everyone has some type of thoughts regarding God. Whether it be the Christian God, or a lesser God, (yes, I am bias) or no God at all, just by entering into the discussion regarding…
By: John Woodward on October 18, 2013
If Grenz and Olson’s book Who Needs Theology is Theology 101, Ford’s book Theology: A Very Short Introduction would be Theology 301 or 401. Where Grenz and Olson provide a concise explanation of the task of theology, Ford actually takes you into the very practice of theology. He explains theology while doing theology. The reader…
By: Bill Dobrenen on October 17, 2013
David Ford’s, Theology: A Very Short Introduction (1999)[1] impacted me in a most powerful way. I first read it this summer while on vacation in eastern Oregon. The most amazing thing to me about this text is its unapologetic use of questions to explain theology. The questions presented are honest and insightful. As a young…
By: Liz Linssen on October 17, 2013
Ford attempts to do several things through his book: bridge the dichotomy between the study of theology and religion; equip the theologian to effectively dialogue with other disciplines; and bring theology into practical relevance in our postmodern global community, all towards the goal of enabling individuals to find the Christian God. According to Ford, theology…
By: Deve Persad on October 17, 2013
Why ask questions? David Ford’s book, Theology: A Very Short Introduction, provides a challenging follow up to the Grenz & Olson book (Who Needs Theology?) from last week. Ford’s take on theology allows us the chance to think further, and deeper, about the role of theology in our own lives and its implications for our…
By: Telile Fikru Badecha on October 13, 2013
Reading “Who Needs Theology? An Invitation to the Study of God” by Stanley J. Grenz; Roger E. Olson refreshed my understanding about my theological studies and their contribution to the development of my Christian faith. I am reminded to appreciate the privilege that God has granted me to study theology so that I have a…
By: Stefania Tarasut on October 11, 2013
My favorite line in Who Needs Theology? comes almost at the end of the book and it sums up my feelings in four simple words… “Theology is not easy.” (P138) This book reminded me that no matter where you find yourself on the theology scale, theology is difficult because it requires you to deal not…
By: Miriam Mendez on October 11, 2013
I was spiritually nurtured in a church where the word “theology” was not part of our vocabulary. In fact, for many, the word “theology” was a scary word. It was a word associated with institutions, intellectuals and long and dry debates, which the people believed, only led to arguments and disagreements. In their book, Who…
By: Carol McLaughlin on October 11, 2013
As with many invitations that come in the mail, Who Needs Theology is inviting us to open and read through its pages. More than just read through the pages, the authors, Roger E. Olson and Stanley J. Grenz provide a comprehensive introduction focusing on what theology is and what theology does. Theology is not a…
By: Julie Dodge on October 11, 2013
I hadn’t really thought much about this identity. I think of myself as a follower of Christ, a social worker, a leader, a teacher, a woman… but a theologian? Like many, I had the understanding that a theologian was a professional academic. Grenz and Olson[i] argue that in our hearts, each of us is a…
By: Michael Badriaki on October 11, 2013
The idea that everyone is a theologian in his or her own right makes sense to me since I was raised in an environment where people worshiped, learned, taught and acknowledged a god or gods and spirits. My community was spiritually engaged with the other worldly at various intellectual, liturgical, mystical and superstitious ways. Indeed…
By: Mitch Arbelaez on October 11, 2013
In one of my favorite books The Knowledge of the Holy, A.W. Tozer states:”The most important thought that a man will have is his thought of God.”[1] He also goes on to say, “The highest form of idolatry is thinking wrong thoughts about God.”[2] I have come to believe these two statements to be true. …
By: Raphael Samuel on October 11, 2013
Comments on who Needs Theology By: Stanley J. Grenz & Roger E. Olson. Theology has always been an integral part of the Church, from its inception to its development throughout the past 2000 years. Today theological perspectives have become a pre-occupation in the minds of many contemporary christians, as current cultural trends continue to challenge…
By: Richard Volzke on October 11, 2013
After reading and reflection of this week’s book by Roger Olson and Stanley Grenz, Who needs theology? I was impressed by their definition of theology and their outline of the different levels of theology that a person can have. The author’s definition of theology, “seeking to understand with intellect what the heart-a person central core…
By: Bill Dobrenen on October 11, 2013
In my twenties, theology was the primary focus of my life. In my fifties it is still a focus in my life, but it is no longer primary – or is it? In Who Needs Theology: An Invitation to the Study of God by Stanley J. Grenz and Roger E. Olson (1996), the field of…
By: John Woodward on October 10, 2013
Several years ago I attended a theology conference at Wheaton College. I remember vividly one speaker who gave a presentation during which I understood nothing. His vocabulary could have been a foreign language for all the sense it made to me. I remember feeling especially stupid and wonder about the value of my thirty years…
By: Liz Linssen on October 10, 2013
In their book, Who Needs Theology? Grenz and Olsen attempt to romance us back into the love and attraction of Christian theology. They seek to heal the wounds that theology seems to be carrying around today, and remove the blemishes from this field of study. They know that the beauty of theology, much like marriage…
