Murray Rae

A Systematic Theology from East Asia: Jung Young Lee's Biblical-Cultural Trinity considers the Trinitarian theology of Jung Young Lee, a twentieth-century Korean American theologian, unique for being based on the Bible but also inspired by the Book of Changes, a classical text from East Asian culture with wide appeal. This monograph examines the Christian scriptural-traditional and cultural roots of Lee's doctrines of God and the Trinity as twin pillars of his systematic theological system bearing out God's nature, purposes, and guidance for humanity and the world. In addition, this book outlines the autobiographical milieu of Lee's theology, its contribution to three distinct fields of Trinitarian doctrine (immanent-economic trinitarianism, social Trinity theory, and Cappadocian trinitarianism), and culminates in an assessment of Lee as a systematic theologian from East Asia, comparing Lee with other Asian American theologians.

What if the majority Christian view concerning the gospel is not only wrong, but responsible for the rejection of Christian faith by so many today? If your idea of the gospel is that God's fundamental disposition toward you is angry judgment, but Jesus came to die on the cross to change God's mind about you, then Andrew Callander wants you to know the truth. God's fundamental disposition toward you, and all humanity, is eternal lovingkindness, and the reason Jesus came was to change our minds about God. In company with biblical scholars like David Bentley Hart, contemplative activists like Richard Rohr, and progressive thinkers like Brian McLaren, Callander laments how centuries of Christian energy have been wasted determining and policing religious boundary lines. He wants the reader to be assured that in Jesus Christ, God has destroyed all barriers that stand in the way of our relationship with God. Callander's key theme is that humanity is already enfolded within God's eternal love and that our great task is not to find God's love, but awaken to the reality that the God of love has already found us--and then apply this to our relationships with others and with creation.

What are our responsibilities as human beings in the exercise of our undoubted powers over all other creatures and the earth itself? The idea that human beings have dominion over the rest of creation is often regarded as the chief source of the world's current environmental crisis. From the universities to talk-back radio, this is a commonly repeated theme, but how strong is its basis? Is Anyone in Charge Here? is a critical conversation with the seminal Lynn White paper, ""The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis."" Easter Island, New Zealand, and ancient Mesopotamia, biblical exegesis, historical theology, monastic movements, and current environmental challenges are all explored. It examines the roots of the idea of human dominion, how the idea has been understood through the centuries, how people have worked it into their living, and how it might be constructively applied in our current crisis. All this is theologically evaluated in the light of Jesus Christ being both the true human, and God's way of involvement in the world as creative Word, representative image, and serving Lord.

What are our responsibilities as human beings in the exercise of our undoubted powers over all other creatures and the earth itself? The idea that human beings have dominion over the rest of creation is often regarded as the chief source of the world's current environmental crisis. From the universities to talk-back radio, this is a commonly repeated theme, but how strong is its basis? Is Anyone in Charge Here? is a critical conversation with the seminal Lynn White paper, ""The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis."" Easter Island, New Zealand, and ancient Mesopotamia, biblical exegesis, historical theology, monastic movements, and current environmental challenges are all explored. It examines the roots of the idea of human dominion, how the idea has been understood through the centuries, how people have worked it into their living, and how it might be constructively applied in our current crisis. All this is theologically evaluated in the light of Jesus Christ being both the true human, and God's way of involvement in the world as creative Word, representative image, and serving Lord.

Obedience from First to Last explores the theological significance of the obedience of Jesus Christ in Karl Barth's theology. It does this via a threefold consideration of, first, the nature of Jesus' incarnate obedience; second, the relation of that obedience to the obedience of the second triune person of the eternal Son; and third, the effects Jesus' obedience has on our own obedience. Barth not only affirms the pivotal role Jesus' obedience has within the economy of salvation, but by equating that obedience with that of the eternal Son's, Barth gives Jesus' obedience a pre-eminent place within the immanent being of Godself. The obedience of Jesus Christ is seen to have a co-participatory role in God's determination of his own divine being that arises from the primordial act of divine election. This notion bears on our understanding of freedom and obedience: as divine freedom is expressed in divine obedience, so it is with human freedom and human obedience.

Obedience from First to Last explores the theological significance of the obedience of Jesus Christ in Karl Barth's theology. It does this via a threefold consideration of, first, the nature of Jesus' incarnate obedience; second, the relation of that obedience to the obedience of the second triune person of the eternal Son; and third, the effects Jesus' obedience has on our own obedience. Barth not only affirms the pivotal role Jesus' obedience has within the economy of salvation, but by equating that obedience with that of the eternal Son's, Barth gives Jesus' obedience a pre-eminent place within the immanent being of Godself. The obedience of Jesus Christ is seen to have a co-participatory role in God's determination of his own divine being that arises from the primordial act of divine election. This notion bears on our understanding of freedom and obedience: as divine freedom is expressed in divine obedience, so it is with human freedom and human obedience.

Christian Theology: The Basics is a concise introduction to the nature, tasks and central concerns of theology – the study of God within the Christian tradition. Providing a broad overview of the story that Christianity tells us about our human situation before God, this book will also seek to provide encouragement and a solid foundation for the reader’s further explorations within the subject. With debates surrounding the relation between faith and reason in theology, the book opens with a consideration of the basis of theology and goes on to explore key topics including:The identity of Jesus and debates in ChristologyThe role of the Bible in shaping theological inquiryThe centrality of the Trinity for all forms of Christian thinkingThe promise of salvation and how it is achieved.With suggestions for further reading at the end of each chapter along with a glossary Christian Theology: The Basics, is the ideal starting point for those new to study of theology.

Christian Theology: The Basics is a concise introduction to the nature, tasks and central concerns of theology – the study of God within the Christian tradition. Providing a broad overview of the story that Christianity tells us about our human situation before God, this book will also seek to provide encouragement and a solid foundation for the reader’s further explorations within the subject. With debates surrounding the relation between faith and reason in theology, the book opens with a consideration of the basis of theology and goes on to explore key topics including:The identity of Jesus and debates in ChristologyThe role of the Bible in shaping theological inquiryThe centrality of the Trinity for all forms of Christian thinkingThe promise of salvation and how it is achieved.With suggestions for further reading at the end of each chapter along with a glossary Christian Theology: The Basics, is the ideal starting point for those new to study of theology.

The SCM Reader Christian Doctrine is a volume of selected readings from the whole period of Christian history. The book's nine chapters cover each of the main Christian doctrines. Each chapter begins with a short introduction written by one of the editors. The aim of the book is to give an overview of the discussions which have taken place in Christian theology in relation to particular doctrines. Each chapter will cover the formulation of doctrine, challenges and developments. This book is primarily aimed at undergraduate students although it will also be of interest to anyone who is interested in learning more about Christian doctrine and theology. It is ideal for introductory courses in Christian doctrine at university level or as wider reading for courses focusing on particular Christian doctrines.

This is an introduction to the influence of Kierkegaard's thought on the development of modern theology. Kierkegaard is in many respects an enigmatic figure. About half of his published work appears under an array of pseudonyms and Kierkegaard himself advises that readers should not presume his agreement with any of the views appearing under pseudonymous authorship. Alongside the pseudonymous works are a long series of discourses published under Kierkegaard's own name, and accompanying the whole corpus are six volumes of Journals in which Kierkegaard experiments with ideas and makes note of his own questions and discoveries. Kierkegaard's concern throughout the authorship was to make clear, in opposition to the corrosive forces of Christendom and the posturing of contemporary philosophy, what authentic Christian faith consists in. "The Philosophy and Theology" series looks at major philosophers and explores their relevance to theological thought as well as the response of theology.

This is an introduction to the influence of Kierkegaard's thought on the development of modern theology. Kierkegaard is in many respects an enigmatic figure. About half of his published work appears under an array of pseudonyms and Kierkegaard himself advises that readers should not presume his agreement with any of the views appearing under pseudonymous authorship. Alongside the pseudonymous works are a long series of discourses published under Kierkegaard's own name, and accompanying the whole corpus are six volumes of Journals in which Kierkegaard experiments with ideas and makes note of his own questions and discoveries. Kierkegaard's concern throughout the authorship was to make clear, in opposition to the corrosive forces of Christendom and the posturing of contemporary philosophy, what authentic Christian faith consists in. "The Philosophy and Theology Series" looks at major philosophers and explores their relevance to theological thought as well as the response of theology.