Alright, this question is actually an exercise in my own personal fact-finding. Every year I write this review column on British and American theology. Last year’s was a real winner with J. Kameron Carter’s Race: A Theological Account, Ted Smith’s The New Measures, and Nate Kerr’s Christ, History and Apocalyptic. So, this year I have to, once again choose the books I think most worthy to be included in the column. Sadly, we’re dealing here with constructive (i.e. systematic) theology in this publication, otherwise this would be the year for doing something on the awesome books on Paul that are coming out this year (Campbell and Gorman for starters).
So, if you had to pick 3-4 theology books from 2008-present to review, what would your choices be?
The five best theologians of all time… think about it… David Hart, David Hart, David Hart, David Hart, and David Hart, because he spits hot fire.
I just wonder if his new book is too much of a period-piece, being ensconced in the dawkins-hitchens stuff.
For the purposes of this review column anyway.
I was just kidding… he hasn’t really written any theology since The Doors of the Sea. Have you seen the Chappelle Show sketch to which I was referring?
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1284002/dave_chapelle_making_the_band/
Around 40 sec in. One of the funniest Chappelle Show skits of all time if you’ve seen the original Making of the Band that he’s parodying. Even if you haven’t, it’s pretty funny.
I think it might be ’07 but Kirk MacGregor’s A Molinist-Anabaptist Systematic Theology (University Press) is quite interesting and provocative.
Yeah, the farthest back I can go is ’08.
Rowan Williams’ book on Dostoevsky has got to be one of the best.
I also think Matthew Myer Boulton’s God Against Religion: Rethinking Christian Theology through Worship is a vigorous and creative and challenging work.
For a wonderful, winsome introduction to Christian theology that is imaginative and analytical, historical and contemporary: Mark McIntosh, Divine Teaching: An Introduction to Christian Theology (2008).
And a must-read collection of previously published essays: Bruce McCormack, Orthodox and Modern: Studies in the Theology of Karl Barth (2008) – they are also studies in the developing theology of McCormack himself.
Oh yes, Kim: a definite Yes to both of those! McIntosh’s book is a wonderful guide for students — but it’s also rich enough and beautiful enough for the experts to enjoy.
The McCormack book is definitely worth reviewing. I haven’t read Boulton’s book, but David Horstkoetter and I met him standing in line at the Chicago Hilton at the AAR last year and he looked and talked really cool. And since much of theology is about looking and talking cool, you should pick up his book.
guess I better read it then
I’m a librarian for a faith library and this thread is ridiculously helpful. Please keep the suggestions coming.
I would suggest ‘On Rowan Williams’ and Williams’ ‘Dostoevsky’.
‘Christian Doctrine’ by Mike Higton (SCM Press 2008) came highly recommended by my tutor. I enjoyed Carl Trueman’s ‘John Owen: Reformed Catholic, Renaissance Man’ (Ashgate 2007) and I’ve just bought ‘Kierkegaard: Thinking Christianly in an Existential Mode’ by Sylvia Walsh (OUP 2009) which looks really good.
My vote is for: ‘Blogs’ by Everyone.
I’m surprised that The Mission of God by Christopher Wright hasn’t been mentioned. It is an excellent theological text that keeps the true aim of theology (that is spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ) at the center.
One other text that might be worth noting for consideration is A Theology of the Church edited by Daniel Akin. A fairly robust theology written by some significant theological leaders. Might not be everyone’s cup of tea but it makes my top 10. A final pair that are worth a look might be the dialogue between John Piper and NT Wright over justification. Piper’s The Future of Justification and Wright’s Justification: God’s Plan and Paul’s Vision might be a worth a read.
Hope this contributes. :)
McIntosh all the way! An awesome book
I’m reading J. Kameron Carter’s Race: A Theological Account (Oxford, 2008) and find it fascinating.
And I get the prize for NOT reading the post. LOL.
I would recommend Eric Gregory’s Politics and the Order of Love: An Augustinian Ethic of Democratic Citizenship.