The lives of Christian churches are shaped by doctrinal theology. That is, they are shaped by practices in which ideas about God and God's ways with the world are developed, discussed and deployed. This book explores those practices, and asks why they matter for communities seeking to follow Jesus. Taking the example of the Church of England, this book highlights the embodied, affective and located reality of all doctrinal practices - and the biases and exclusions that mar them. It argues that doctrinal theology can in principle help the church know God better, even though doctrinal theologians do not know God better than their fellow believers. It claims that it can help the church to hear in Scripture challenges to its life, including to its doctrinal theology. It suggests that doctrinal disagreement is inevitable, but that a better quality of doctrinal disagreement is possible. And, finally, it argues that, by encouraging attention to voices that have previously been ignored, doctrinal theology can foster the ongoing discovery of God's surprising work.

This book offers a fresh and up-to-date introduction to modern Christian theology. The 'long nineteenth century' saw enormous transformations of theology, and of thought about religion, that shaped the way both Christianity and 'religion' are understood today. Muers and Higton provide a lucid guide to the development of theology since 1789, giving students a critical understanding of their own 'modern' assumptions, of the origins of the debates and the fields of study in which they are involved, and of major modern thinkers. Modern Theology: introduces the context and work of a selection of major nineteenth-century thinkers who decisively affected the shape of modern theology presents key debates and issues that have their roots in the nineteenth century but are also central to the study of twentieth- and twenty-first-century theology includes exercises and study materials that explicitly focus on the development of core academic skills. This valuable resource also contains a glossary, timeline, annotated bibliographies and illustrations.

This Companion introduces readers to the practice of Christian theology, covering what theologians do, why they do it, and what steps readers can take in order to become theological practitioners themselves. The volume aims to capture the variety of practices involved in doing theology, highlighting the virtues that guide them and the responsibilities that shape them. It also shows that the description of these practices, virtues and responsibilities is itself theological: what Christian theologians do is shaped by the wider practices and beliefs of Christianity. Written by a team of leading theologians, the Companion provides a unique resource for students and scholars of theology alike.

This book offers a fresh and up-to-date introduction to modern Christian theology. The 'long nineteenth century' saw enormous transformations of theology, and of thought about religion, that shaped the way both Christianity and 'religion' are understood today. Muers and Higton provide a lucid guide to the development of theology since 1789, giving students a critical understanding of their own 'modern' assumptions, of the origins of the debates and the fields of study in which they are involved, and of major modern thinkers. Modern Theology: introduces the context and work of a selection of major nineteenth-century thinkers who decisively affected the shape of modern theology presents key debates and issues that have their roots in the nineteenth century but are also central to the study of twentieth- and twenty-first-century theology includes exercises and study materials that explicitly focus on the development of core academic skills. This valuable resource also contains a glossary, timeline, annotated bibliographies and illustrations.

Karl Barth addressed all the major themes of dogmatic theology, and in so doing made his own distinctive contribution to each of the ongoing conversations that constitute that theology. This book presents important new 'conversations with Barth' by leading contemporary theologians and Barth scholars. Each contributor offers their own distinctive emphasis to bring to light the ways in which the depths of Barth's work may illuminate or be illuminated by the work of other prominent thinkers who preceded or followed him. The conversations they host between Barth and other philosophers and theologians raise critical questions in the reading and appreciation of Barth's thought, and explore a wide range of themes in dogmatic theology. This book not only adds to the comprehension of the riches of Barth's theology but also presents an important contribution to the ongoing conversations and debates alive in theology today. Contributors: Nicholas Lash, John Webster, Timothy Gorringe, Graham Ward, George Hunsinger, Ben Quash, Mike Higton, John McDowell, Eugene Rogers, Katherine Sonderegger, David Clough, David Ford.

This Companion introduces readers to the practice of Christian theology, covering what theologians do, why they do it, and what steps readers can take in order to become theological practitioners themselves. The volume aims to capture the variety of practices involved in doing theology, highlighting the virtues that guide them and the responsibilities that shape them. It also shows that the description of these practices, virtues and responsibilities is itself theological: what Christian theologians do is shaped by the wider practices and beliefs of Christianity. Written by a team of leading theologians, the Companion provides a unique resource for students and scholars of theology alike.

Hans Frei (1922-1988) was perhaps the leading Anselmian theologian of his generation. His influence is extensive in contemporary theology, and his work marks the beginning of a decisive shift in biblical interpretation. Reading Faithfully, which is the first of two volumes, is a special collection that includes a wide range of his letters, lectures, book reviews and other items, many of them not previously available in print. Analytical and perceptive, Frei's writings expands his arguments about the meaning and truth of scriptural narrative, distinguishing his ideas from other forms of narrative or story theology as well as exploring the kinds of political theology consistent with his typological imagination. Alongside Volume II, this is an invaluable resource that provides new insights into the nature and implications of Frei's work. It is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the development of religious thought and understanding.

In this special collection, the second of two volumes, Hans Frei (1922-1988) reflects on such thinkers as Emmanuel Kant, Karl Barth and Richard Niebuhr. An anthology that portrays a wide range of theological subjects, Reading Faithfully demonstrates the full capacity of Frei's analytical gifts. Through letters, lectures, book reviews, and other writings (many of them previously unavailable in print), the richness of his thinking and his unique perspective on the history of biblical hermeneutics is revealed. Alongside Volume I, this is an invaluable resource that provides new insights into the nature and implications of Frei's work. It is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the development of religious thought and understanding.

In this book, Mike Higton provides a constructive critique of Higher Education policy and practice in the UK, the US and beyond, from the standpoint of Christian theology. He focuses on the role universities can and should play in forming students and staff in intellectual virtue, in sustaining vibrant communities of inquiry, and in serving the public good. He argues both that modern secular universities can be a proper context for Christians to pursue their calling as disciples to learn and to teach, and that Christians can contribute to the flourishing of such universities as institutions devoted to learning for the common good. In the process he sets out a vision of the good university as secular and religiously plural, as socially inclusive, and as deeply and productively entangled with the surrounding society. Along the way, he engages with a range of historical examples (the medieval University of Paris, the University of Berlin in the nineteenth century, and John Henry Newman's work in Oxford and Dublin) and with a range of contemporary writers on Higher Education from George Marsden to Stanley Hauerwas and from David Ford to Rowan Williams.

In this book, Mike Higton provides a constructive critique of Higher Education policy and practice in the UK, the US and beyond, from the standpoint of Christian theology. He focuses on the role universities can and should play in forming students and staff in intellectual virtue, in sustaining vibrant communities of inquiry, and in serving the public good. He argues both that modern secular universities can be a proper context for Christians to pursue their calling as disciples to learn and to teach, and that Christians can contribute to the flourishing of such universities as institutions devoted to learning for the common good. In the process he sets out a vision of the good university as secular and religiously plural, as socially inclusive, and as deeply and productively entangled with the surrounding society. Along the way, he engages with a range of historical examples (the medieval University of Paris, the University of Berlin in the nineteenth century, and John Henry Newman's work in Oxford and Dublin) and with a range of contemporary writers on Higher Education from George Marsden to Stanley Hauerwas and from David Ford to Rowan Williams.

Wrestling with Angels gathers writings by Rowan Williams ? many now out of print or otherwise difficult to obtain ? spanning the years 1980?2000. It focuses on his insightful engagement with a range of modern theologians and philosophers ? Hegel, Wittgenstein, Barth, Bonhoeffer, Balthasar, Simone Weil, Marilyn McCord Adams, and more.

Key themes explored in this volume include negative theology, postmodernity, violence, innocence, divine action, and the nature of historical development in theology. Williams??'s powerfully coherent theological vision shines throughout. Nowhere else will readers find Williams dialoguing with such a breathtaking range of writers.

This Oxford Reader encompasses the two-thousand year history of responses to Jesus of Nazareth, bringing together over 340 extracts from a wide range of sources from ancient through to modern times.

The lives of Christian churches are shaped by doctrinal theology. That is, they are shaped by practices in which ideas about God and God's ways with the world are developed, discussed and deployed. This book explores those practices, and asks why they matter for communities seeking to follow Jesus. Taking the example of the Church of England, this book highlights the embodied, affective and located reality of all doctrinal practices - and the biases and exclusions that mar them. It argues that doctrinal theology can in principle help the church know God better, even though doctrinal theologians do not know God better than their fellow believers. It claims that it can help the church to hear in Scripture challenges to its life, including to its doctrinal theology. It suggests that doctrinal disagreement is inevitable, but that a better quality of doctrinal disagreement is possible. And, finally, it argues that, by encouraging attention to voices that have previously been ignored, doctrinal theology can foster the ongoing discovery of God's surprising work.

Faithful and effective church leadership requires preparation in prayer, theological reflection and a wide range of pastoral, prophetic and practical skills in order to ensure that what the Church discerns as necessary the Church does. Faithful Improvisation? is both a contribution to a current and sometimes vigorous debate on how the Church trains its leaders and also a practical and theological resource for discerning what the Spirit is saying and then acting upon it in local church contexts. Part One includes the full text of the Senior Church Leadership report from the Faith and Order Commission. Part Two offers reflections by Cally Hammond, Thomas Seville, Charlotte Methuen, Jeremy Morris and David Hilborn, on practices, models and theologies of leadership in different periods of church history which informed the FAOC report. Part Three opens up a broader discussion about present and future leadership within the Church of England. Mike Higton sketches out a dialogue between Senior Church Leadership and Lord Green's report, Talent Management for Future Leaders; Tim Harle offers a personal reflection from the perspective of the community of leadership practitioners; and Rachel Treweek concludes with an exploration of the essentially relational character of leadership.

About the Contributor(s): Hans W. Frei (1922-1988) was one of the most important American theologians of his generation. He spent the majority of his career teaching at Yale Divinity School, where he authored The Identity of Jesus Christ and The Eclipse of Biblical Narrative, numerous essays, and a vast collection of unpublished works, which have since been published posthumously: Types of Christian Theology, Theology and Narrative, and the forthcoming Reading Faithfully: Writings from the Archives.

Synopsis: In The Text in Play, Mike Higton and Rachel Muers conduct a series of experiments in the reading of Scripture. They experiment in the first place with a form of Christian theological exegesis of the Bible that they call "serious play"--a form of reading beyond the literal sense that is nevertheless serious about the ethical, historical, and textual responsibilities of the reader. They experiment in the second place with the practice called Scriptural Reasoning--in which Jews, Christians, and Muslims read and argue over their respective Scriptures together--and argue that the practice makes deep sense for "seriously playful" Christian readers. This constitutes the most detailed and developed account of Scriptural Reasoning yet published. Endorsements: "The Text in Play offers a broad curriculum on how to read Scripture as Scripture--that is, as witness to the living God whose Word lives in a dynamic interchange with its reader. . . . It is a serious, playful read, a book you can read in one entranced sitting or again and again, a book that refreshes itself as you read it because such is the way of the Word." --Peter Ochs, Professor of Modern Judaic Studies, University of Virginia "Higton and Muers offer imaginative, scholarly, wise, and often exhilarating explorations of Scripture, and they have succeeded brilliantly in sharing, through their delightful, accessible style, a profound understanding of the Bible's practical implications for the twenty-first century. . . . There is an abundance of new insights and daring ideas, with extensive learning lightly worn, and through it all the attractive, serious play of fine minds and hearts in intensive engagement with deep questions." --David F. Ford, Professor of Divinity and Director, Cambridge Inter-faith Programme, University of Cambridge Author Biography: Mike Higton is Academic Co-Director of the Cambridge Inter-Faith Programme at the University of Cambridge and Senior Lecturer in Theology at the University of Exeter. He is the author of several books, including A Theology of Higher Education (2012), Christian Doctrine (2008), and Difficult Gospel (2004). Rachel Muers is Senior Lecturer in Christian Studies at the University of Leeds. Her publications include Keeping God's Silence (2004), Living for the Future (2008), and, with David Grumett, Theology on the Menu: Asceticism, Meat and Christian Diet (2010).

Synopsis: This collection of essays is a celebration of the work of Timothy Gorringe. Like his theology, it is animated by a delighted and critical engagement with the diverse facets of human social life, and by a passionate concern to wrestle with the Bible and the Christian tradition in pursuit of human flourishing. The built environment, politics, education, art: these essays by leading Christian theologians ask what it means for Christian theology to concern itself with, to immerse itself in, and to risk critical commentary on, each of these and more. The collection follows the same rhythm that animates Gorringe's work: insistent attention to the Christian tradition in the light of the particular contexts where human flourishing is imagined, fought for, embodied and betrayed; and a critical, constructive and celebratory examination of those contexts in the light of the Christian tradition. The contributions are very diverse, touching on everything from city life to human curiosity, poverty to genocide--but they are united by a passion to make theological sense of human flourishing. Endorsements: "How do you respond to one of the liveliest, most daring, and most practically engaged of contemporary British theologians? Inspired by Tim Gorringe's work, the distinguished international group of senior and younger contributors to this volume rise superbly to the challenge. They cover an impressive range of major topics and show that theology can be more powerful when, as here, it is taken in distilled form. Time and again these concentrated essays grip the reader not only intellectually and imaginatively but also through challenges to act ethically and politically." -David F. Ford Regius Professor of Divinity and Director, Cambridge Inter-faith Programme University of Cambridge Editor Biography: Mike Higton is Academic Co-Director of the Cambridge Inter-faith Programme and Senior Lecturer in Theology at the University of Exeter. Christopher Rowland is Dean Ireland's Professor of the Exegesis of Holy Scripture at the University of Oxford. Jeremy Law is Dean of Chapel and Reader in Christian Theology at Canterbury Christ Church University.