Reconstructing Christian Theology

Rating:
Summary: Building upon a solid foundation
Review: In 'Reconstructing Christian Theology', Rebecca Chopp and Mark Lewis Taylor have brought together a collection of essays from a formidible cast of theologians. As part of a Workgroup that met together regularly to reshape and construct a new theology for the new millennium, Chopp and Taylor served to focus the group together in this text that, while it embraces a diversity of voices, theological traditions and methodologies, nonetheless serves as a solid foundation for students and other interested readers to reconstruct theology along new lines.

This is intended for use in theology classes in seminaries and universities, most particularly in systematic theology classes. Essays address the classic topics of systematic theology (God, Church, Humanity, Creation, etc.), but it does so in ways that address modern concerns as well as traditional theological questions. For instance, in discussion of Humanity before God, essays include a discussion of those who are handicapped and differently-abled, ideas of race and justice, and environmentalism and stewardship of creation. In looking at the tradition topic of Christology, care is also given to examine the unfortunate history of Christian anti-semitism (rather strange in some regards, given the Jewish origins of Christianity), and ideas of pluralism in an inter-religious context.

If there is one overarching idea that runs through the entire text, from start to finish, across all categories, it would be that of Hope. Hope for the future of humanity, humanity before God and humanity in community with each other and all of creation -- this is what theology is ultimately concerned with in all of its facets. The theologians in this text would agree that such Hope is not found in rote recitations of ancient texts rendered into Elizabethan English; such Hope is not found in blind allegiance to bibliolatry or dogmatic codes. Rather, this kind of Hope follows on from the broadest concept of God that encompasses all of creation in all of its diversity, looking for those life-affirming practices that honour all of God's world as reflecting God's will, and all of humanity as reflective of God's image.

Through the essays, one feature that is of central importance is that of teaching the ability to ask questions. There are, in fact, few final answers here. What stands in place of this is the guidance of these theologian-educators toward the proper framing of questions, and the methodology for searching for answers. The task of theology is an important one, but one is in for disappointment if one looks for unmediated absolutes; at the very least, our understanding, our senses, and our capacity for faith itself is imperfectly cast in our limited physical being, and therefore God will always be somewhat (if not moreso) a mystery.

The one drawback that this collection has is that is contains little of theological voices beyond the currently-dominant North American/Western European paradigm. While this theological reconstruction does take account of different voices and issues, it is still very much a product of its culture. The authors present the image of a collage as opposed to a melting pot, recognising that for many people (including many theologians), their differences cannot be 'melted away'. While no theology can escape its origins entirely, this text does a good job at trying to mitigate the negative influences cultural contexts can bring.

A useful text for classes, small groups, and individual study, 'Reconstructing Christian Theology' should prove to be an engaging and enlightening experience.

Rating:
Summary: Building upon a solid foundation
Review: In 'Reconstructing Christian Theology', Rebecca Chopp and Mark Lewis Taylor have brought together a collection of essays from a formidible cast of theologians. As part of a Workgroup that met together regularly to reshape and construct a new theology for the new millennium, Chopp and Taylor served to focus the group together in this text that, while it embraces a diversity of voices, theological traditions and methodologies, nonetheless serves as a solid foundation for students and other interested readers to reconstruct theology along new lines.

This is intended for use in theology classes in seminaries and universities, most particularly in systematic theology classes. Essays address the classic topics of systematic theology (God, Church, Humanity, Creation, etc.), but it does so in ways that address modern concerns as well as traditional theological questions. For instance, in discussion of Humanity before God, essays include a discussion of those who are handicapped and differently-abled, ideas of race and justice, and environmentalism and stewardship of creation. In looking at the tradition topic of Christology, care is also given to examine the unfortunate history of Christian anti-semitism (rather strange in some regards, given the Jewish origins of Christianity), and ideas of pluralism in an inter-religious context.

If there is one overarching idea that runs through the entire text, from start to finish, across all categories, it would be that of Hope. Hope for the future of humanity, humanity before God and humanity in community with each other and all of creation -- this is what theology is ultimately concerned with in all of its facets. The theologians in this text would agree that such Hope is not found in rote recitations of ancient texts rendered into Elizabethan English; such Hope is not found in blind allegiance to bibliolatry or dogmatic codes. Rather, this kind of Hope follows on from the broadest concept of God that encompasses all of creation in all of its diversity, looking for those life-affirming practices that honour all of God's world as reflecting God's will, and all of humanity as reflective of God's image.

Through the essays, one feature that is of central importance is that of teaching the ability to ask questions. There are, in fact, few final answers here. What stands in place of this is the guidance of these theologian-educators toward the proper framing of questions, and the methodology for searching for answers. The task of theology is an important one, but one is in for disappointment if one looks for unmediated absolutes; at the very least, our understanding, our senses, and our capacity for faith itself is imperfectly cast in our limited physical being, and therefore God will always be somewhat (if not moreso) a mystery.

The one drawback that this collection has is that is contains little of theological voices beyond the currently-dominant North American/Western European paradigm. While this theological reconstruction does take account of different voices and issues, it is still very much a product of its culture. The authors present the image of a collage as opposed to a melting pot, recognising that for many people (including many theologians), their differences cannot be 'melted away'. While no theology can escape its origins entirely, this text does a good job at trying to mitigate the negative influences cultural contexts can bring.

A useful text for classes, small groups, and individual study, 'Reconstructing Christian Theology' should prove to be an engaging and enlightening experience.