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John Macquarrie's classic study of existentialism and the work of
two of its most important representatives: Martin Heidegger and
Rudolf Bultmann.
. . The new emphasis on situations and flexibility does not abolish
rules or the task of moral theology, but it does call for a radical
rethinking. It is a platitude to say that man is in the midst of
rapid change, both in himself and in his world. The traditional
moral theology was too strongly tied to the notion of a fixed,
essential human nature, set in the midst of a static hierarchically
ordered universe. Yet its basic method of approaching the problem
of ethics was correct-not through some special Christian concept of
love or whatever it might be, but through the study of man. A
renewed moral theology would not abandon this well-tried path,
which is moreover especially appropriate at a time when the
Christian must co-ordinate his moral strivings with those of
non-Christians. But everything that was hitherto static would beset
in motion, so that the landscape would soon begin to look very
different. The new ethic would begin at precisely the same place as
did the first chapter in any traditional textbook of moral
theology, that is to say, with the question about man and the goal
of his existence. But we would have regard to man as he understands
himself today, not as an entity with a fix.ed essence, but as a
dynamic existent living in a changing world... .
In this long-awaited book, John Macquarrie turns to one of the few
areas of Christian theology to which he has not yet devoted
systematic attention that of christology. After an introductory
chapter, the first part considers the main New Testament sources
and also the period up to and including classical theology. A
second part examines the Enlightenment and post-Enlightenment
critique of classical christology, together with attempts at
reconstruction. In the third and final part, then, John Macquarrie
makes his own systematic and constructive christological statement.
The entire work represents a vital and welcome contribution to an
area of Christian teaching which has been particularly under debate
in recent years and in which problems and confusions often abound.
John Macquarrie, formerly of Union Theological Seminary, New York,
is Emeritus Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity in the University
of Oxford.
"The Westminster Dictionary of Christian Ethics" is an
invaluable reference work. Included are articles on basic ethical
concepts; biblical and theological ethics; philosophical
traditions; major non-Christian religious traditions;
psychological, sociological, political, and other concepts
important to Christian ethics; and, finally, substantial problems,
such as war, usually including both information and options. With
620 entries cover a spectrum of topics that concern thinking people
everywhere, providing clear, concise and accurate information about
ethical concerns.
A profile of nine religious geniuses--Zoroaster, Lao-Tzu, Buddha,
Confucius, Socrates, Krishna, Jesus, and Muhammad--whose visions of
God have been and continue to be a crucial factor in human history.
he book has a genuine unity, and I can think of no better
introduction for theological students to the variety of problems
about language which confront the contemporary theologian.
Analytical philosophy, existentialism, the problems of biblical
criticism and those of continental neo-Protestant theology are
allowed to contribute to a single argument in which Macquarrie is
able to pose the problems of man's likeness to God and of
anthropomorphism with a welcome degree of precision. Macquanle's
strength is that he is straightforwardly writing from within
theology. His exposition of Saint Athanasius on the Incarnation
propounds squarely the claim that Christianity entails empirical
judgments, that in principle at least it is refutable by the facts,
if they are of one kind rather than another' (Alasdair MacIntyre in
The Guardian). 'He lucidly explains the issues raised for Christian
belief both by empiricist analytical philosophy and by
existentialist hermeneutics. The hermerteutical question is
brilliantly illuminated by an exposition of Athanasius's De
Incamatione, and all the problems of mythology, symbolic language,
analogy and paradox are carefully sorted out' (Alan Richardson in
Theology). 'Following the lead of the later Wittgenstein,
Macquarrie holds that we must allow each linguistic form to
disclose its own logic. The dominant characteristic of all
religious and theological language is its obliqueness. It speaks in
terms of myth, symbol and analogy. Macquarrie . makes it plain that
existentialist interpretation cannot exhaust the meaning of
theological language. He clearly sees that if theology can be
totally interpreted in this way, then it is reduced to
anthropology. We must progress through existential interpretation
to ontology-to talk about the transcendent Being of God.... The
book does not finally solve the problems which it raises and does
not claim to. But it develops a very promising manner of tackling
them. Above all it is a very timely counter-poise to those
over-facile analyses of the logic of theology which result in a
kind of Christian atheism. John Macquarrie seems to me to grow in
both spiritual and intellectual stature with every book he writes'
(The Expository Times).
'A helpful book, marked by wide reading and rich thought. I commend
it not only for the lonely reader but for groups who would like to
explore the calling and mission of the people of God' (Baptist
Times). 'This is a splendid book for anyone who wants to "break
into" theology and is not quite sure how to go about it. One would
hope it is also a spur to those who are tempted to give up the
theological effort' (Church of Ireland Gazette). 'A model of how
really good and attractive theology can only come from scholars who
know their faith and have given themselves over to the study of it
with openness and devotion ... An excellent text for study groups
which were really prepared to enter deeply into the much-needed
reinterpretation and modernization of our traditional faith'
(Heythrop Journal). 'A fine example of a systematic theologian
writing for a non-specialist readership' (Journal of Theological
Studies). 'A very sensible way of approaching those fundamental
doctrines of the faith, concerning the nature of God, of the person
of Christ, and of salvation, which when they confront us may
nowadays seem, and not only to laymen, singularly formidable ...
Such a book as this demands attentive reading. Nevertheless it is
easily digestible and-in its lucidity and comprehensiveness-most
rewarding' (Expository Times).
This summer John Macquarrie retires from his professional chair at
Oxford after a long and distinguished career. As well as writing
many books which have become classics, and pushing the boundaries
of theological exploration further, he has always been devotedly a
churchman, and this new collection of papers deals with many topics
of particular interest at present. Those essays dealing with
theology include 'Pilgrimage in Theology', 'Why Theology?',
'Theology and Ideology' and 'Continuing Influences from the Last
Century'. Those on the church survey the Anglican theological
tradition, the theological implications of the Oxford Movement,
pride in the church and ministry in the church, the last a topic
which leads into the third group. Essays on ministry include
'Politics as Lay Ministry'.
This classic study of peace, first published in the 1970s, has lost
none of its power over the years and is reissued for the first time
as a paperback after being long unavailable. The author has written
a new preface, reflecting on developments since the book was
written. Beginning with a survey of the many areas in which human
life is fractured - international relations, race relations, the
relationship between human beings and nature, and the family - John
Macquarrie shows that peace requires a two-fold knowledge,
technical and eschatological, i.e. with a particular goal in mind.
He goes on to relate the biblical idea of shalom to the problems of
contemporary society, asking whether peace or conflict is the basic
human state. This leads on into discussions of conflict and
violence, and how they can be dealt with in our dangerous modern
world.
This collection of previously unpublished essays and lectures
provides a fascinating insight into over fifty years of incisive
theological reflection by John Macquarrire. Having written and
taught extensively in the fields of theology and philosophy,
Macquarrie was struck by the fact that certain difficult
theological questions have continued to recur in the history of the
subject. These are the so-called 'stubborn questions' referred to
in the title. The context in which Macquarrie situates his thinking
is that of a largely secularized world, in which religious
knowledge has been discredited and marginalized. The book falls
into three broad parts, which revolve around three 'stubborn
questions'. The first part discusses questions relating to God; the
second poses questions relating to incarnation and the person of
Jesus Christ; and the third raises questions about the sources of
religious knowledge. These three questions run through the book, as
Macquarrie discusses some of the most profound issues in the
history of theology, and those theologians who have been at the
forefront of theological enquiry. Several prominent thinkers are
given wide coverage here, including John Wycliffe, William Temple,
Jurgen Moltmann, Nicolai Berdyaev, Rudolf Bultmann, Meister
Eckhart, Martin Heidegger and Immanuel Kant. Stubborn Theological
Questions is a fascinating survey of some of the most fundamental
theological controversies of recent years by one of the world's
leading scholars of theology and philosophy. It will prove
essential reading for all students of contemporary theology.
This volume has been produced to celebrate the eightieth birthday
in June 1999 of Professor John Macquarrie. It is indeed a
Festschrift with a difference, in that most of the material has
been supplied by Professor Macquarrie himself. The project was
initiated by Dr John Morgan, President of the Theological Graduate
Foundation in the United States, whose idea it was to produce a
book which would give a picture of what it is like to live and work
as a theologian. He and his associates engaged in conversation with
Professor Macquarrie in a relaxed atmosphere over a period of five
days, and organized the resulting material into this unusual
tribute. The reflections recorded here are personal, specific and
demonstrative of both Professor Macquarrie's genuine humility and
his passion for his life's work. A selection of lectures marking
important milestones in his life has also been included, among them
his inaugural lectures at Union Theological Seminary, NewYork and
Christ Church, Oxford, and lectures given before the Russian
Academy of Sciences in Moscow and the Chinese Academy of Social
Sciences in Beijing. Georgina Morley has provided a substantial
outline for each of his major books, and there is a comprehensive
bibliography of all his published writings and translations.
Professor Macquarrie's many admirers will welcome this tribute to
one of the most popular and well-loved of twentieth-century
theologians.
This is an XPRESS reprint, print-on-demand title from SCM Press.
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