THE MODERN THEOLOGIANS An Introduction to Christian Theology in the Twentieth Century DAVID F. FORD (ed.) (Blackwell Publishing, 2003) pp.772 + xviii ISBN 0-631-19592-0 Book Review by YURI KOSZARYCZ

David F. Ford, the Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Cambridge, first published The Modern Theologians – An Introduction to Christian Theology in the Twentieth Century in 1996 as a single volume.  Its outstanding initial reception saw the edition reprinted twice in 1997, twice again in the following year, reprinted again in 2000, twice in 2001, and yet again in 2002.  

 2003 saw this edition again updated, expanded and thoroughly revised and republished by Blackwell Publishing – and is now ready for purchase for the coming new academic year.  I have no doubt that, as an informative, comprehensive and well-written textbook, this second edition of The Modern Theologians will be received in an enthusiastic manner by students, lecturers of theology, and religious educators in colleges, senior high-schools, universities and seminaries.  The Modern Theologians is more than a wonderful synthesis and valuable resource for all those seeking to understand the diversity and richness of Christian theological thought in the past century. There are many clergy and lay persons in the community that seek to understand the role that theology has had in responding to contemporary issues of racism, social justice, the call for gender equity, as well as the development of new theological insights and perspectives emerging from Asian, African and Latin American contexts.  Again, this text presents powerful critique, synthesis and analysis of divergent views and is recommended to such a readership.

The text within its 722 pages becomes a clearly written introduction and guide to the bewildering world of contemporary theology; a past reviewer captured the mood of twentieth century theology in this expressive way “… it often feels like an orchestra that's warming up before a symphony. Complete and utter chaos! Not everyone is playing the same tune, nor are they coming from the same perspective. Pluralism is the order of the day. I consider this my hitchhiker's guide.”

To see how comprehensively this new edition emerges as an appropriate and true guide to this multifaceted discipline, it is useful to see the additions that have been made to this new edition where eminent theologians have added additional chapters on the development of African theology, black and Hispanic theology, postmodern theology, as well as developing new themes in hermeneutical theology and the scriptures, theologies of mission, the arts and theology, and the social sciences and theology. In addition, chapters have been included on the impact of contemporary feminist theology, French theology, as well as recent ecumenical developments within Judaism and Christian theology.

It is not only the depth of the coverage of contemporary theology that makes The Modern Theologians such a valuable resource; it also is outstanding in the choice of its expert contributors who are all leading current theologians, specialists in their fields of theological study and endeavour. Ford, as editor, adds to the depth of the volume  by introducing the text, and in his fine epilogue concluding with a considered judgment of Christian theology at the beginning of a new millennium. In listing the contents of the volume, one sees the monumental task set for the editor in attempting to cover the unique contributions of specific, major  theologians such as Barth, Bultmann, Tillich, Moltmann, Pannenberg, Jungel, Kung, Balthasar, and Rahner,  as well as themes and movements as diverse as evangelicalism, theology & science, postliberalism, and liberation theology in African, Asian and Latin American context.

For many who would like to have an overview of what great theologians have written in the past century, there is the dilemma of where to begin. Does one begin with a specific work to understand the underlying methodology used by that theologian? Does a reader attempt to situate a significant theological insight within the context of a specific secular philosophy or worldview? Are there common criteria that need to be applied to understanding the variant shifts of perception in understanding Christian faith and practice in reading and evaluating the various theologians? How do these theologians, to quote James Buckley, remain "devoted to shaping Christian practices and teachings in dalogue with ... modern philosophies, cultures and social practices." (Chapter 17, p. 327). As there are few that could read all the texts of all the theologians represented within this volume, The Modern Theologians resolves this dilemma by providing a synthesis of each theologian's creative responses to the problems of modernity by introducing the reader to a clear exposition of each theologian's (or theological movements) influence and teaching. Yet the stated aim of this volume is to enthuse readers to "go on" and ultimately to engage in deeper reading, reflection, dialogue and argument.

An assessment of each movement or theologian's contribution is made not as a final judgment, but rather to set an agenda for future deliberation and study, and consequently the bibliography set at the end of each chapter becomes an invitation for deeper questioning, analysis, probing and study.

The authors themselves are a various and wondrous mix: fourteen of the thirty-seven contributors to the volume reside and teach in the United States, seventeen live and teach in Great Britain, and the rest are from far-flung areas as diverse as Ghana, South Africa, India, France, and Germany. This text will have the effect of allowing the readership (especially of the United States and Europe) to become more aware of the pluralistic environment in which imaginative and practical developments within theology in both continents have occurred.

The reader will appreciate the intellectual rigour within the various chapters which see even confessional approaches of specific theologians open to depth engagement with their own religious tradition, as well as crossing those boundaries to ask fresh theological and practical questions about the way mainstream Christianity can be reenergised with a new intellectual energy and enthusiasm.

The only negative note that can be offered is that difficult choice had to be exercised by the editor in limiting the number of theologians represented within the volume. It would have been "nice" to have had a chapter devoted to the contribution of the outstanding moral theologian Bernard Haring (not mentioned within the volume) or to the work of Jacques Dupuis in the context of inter-religious dialogue. Equally, the list of contributors sadly lack an Australian or Oceania theological presence, and this would be on the wish-list for the next revised edition. I have been informed by Blackwell Publishing that they do have a third edition in the pipeline and hopefully these issues may receive deserved attention. But this is only minor nit-picking. The Modern Theologians should be on the reading list, and preferably in the personal library, of every serious student of theology. As an overview of contemporary developments in theology, it currently has no equal.

 

 Key Contents within The Modern Theologians:

Introduction to Twentieth Century Christian Theology: David F. Ford

Part I: Continental European Theologies:

SECTION A: Corresponding to Revelation:

1. Karl Barth: Robert W. Jenson
2. Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Charles Marsh
3. Eberhard Jungel: John B. Webster

SECTION B: Existentialism and Correlation:

4. Rudolf Bultmann: Robert Morgan
5. Paul Tillich: David H. Kelsey

SECTION C: Reconceiving Roman Catholic Theology:

6. French Jesuit and Dominican Theology: Fergus Kerr, OP
7. Karl Rahner: J. A. Di Noia, OP
8. Hans Urs von Balthasar: John Riches
9. Edward Schillebeeckx: Robert J. Schreiter, CPPS
10. Hans Kung: Werner G. Jeanrond

SECTION D: History and Eschatology:

11. Wolfhart Pannenberg: Christoph Schwoebel
12. Jurgen Moltmann: Richard Bauckham

Part II: British Theologies:

13. Theology through History: S. W. Sykes
14. Theology through Philosophy: Daniel W. Hardy
15. Theology and Society: Peter Sedgwick

Part III: Theologies in North America:

16. Theological Ethics: William Werpehowski
17. Revisionists and Liberals: James J. Buckley
18. Postliberal Theology: William C. Placher
19. Black and Hispanic Theologies: Shawn Copeland
20. Feminist and Womanist Theologies: Rebecca S. Chopp

Part IV: Latin American, African and Asian Theologies:

21. Latin American Liberation Theology: Rebecca S. Chopp
22. African Theology: Kwame Bediako
23. Asian Theology: George Gispert-Sauch, SJ

Part V: Evangelical and Orthodox Theologies:

24. Evangelical Theology: Ray S. Anderson
25. Eastern Orthodox Theology: Rowan Williams

Part VI: Transregional Movements:

26. Biblical and Hermeneutical Theology: Anthony C. Thiselton
27. Ecumenical Theology: Michael Root
28. Theologies of Mission: Lamin Sanneh
29. Feminist Theology: Ann Loades
30. Postmodern Theology: Graham Ward

Part VII: Theology and Religious Diversity:

31. Judaism and Christian Theology: Peter Ochs
32. Theology of Religions: Gavin D'Costa

Part VIII: Theology and The Arts and Sciences:

33. Theology and the Natural Sciences: Ted Peters
34. Theology and the Arts:

i. Visual Arts: Graham Howes
ii. Music: Jeremy Begbie

35. Theology and the Social Sciences: Richard Roberts

Epilogue: Christian Theology at the Turn of the Millennium: David F. Ford

 

Publisher's WebSite : http://www.blackwellpublishingasia.com/gateway.asp

Blackwell Publishing Contact in Australia : natasha.besliev@blackwellpublishingasia.com

 

Yuri Koszarycz is a senior lecturer with the School of Theology at McAuley Campus, Australian Catholic University. He lectures in Church History and Christian Theological Ethics.