An Introduction to the Theology of Religions: Biblical, Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
Early in the nineteenth century Ernst Troeltsch, the great German liberal thinker, published the influential essay “The Place of Christianity Among the World Religions.” The question of the relation of Christianity to other religions is every bit as relevant as and perhaps even more urgent today than it was then.
Beginning with a consideration of the biblical perspective, Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen surveys the variety of diverse answers proposed by teachers of the church down through the ages. His reviews include the writings of Justin Martyr, Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria, as well as those of Augustine, Luther, Calvin, and a broad selection of later Protestant and Catholic thinkers. He completes the historical section with an astute look at the radical challenges of Enlightenment and classical liberalism and the emergence of the fulfillment theory of religions.
The bulk of Kärkkäinen’s work provides a detailed and comprehensive survey of major confessional movements and theologians’ opinions on the contemporary scene. Kärkkäinen provides succinct and trenchant descriptions of a wide diversity of theologians, including Karl Barth, Hendrik Kraemer, Paul Althaus, Karl Rahner, Hans Küng, Jacques Dupuis, Gavin D’Costa, Paul Tillich, Wolfhart Pannenberg, Lesslie Newbigin and M. M. Thomas, as well as Sir Norman Anderson, Clark Pinnock, Amos Yong, John Hick, Stanley Samartha, Raimundo Panikkar, Paul Knitter, Millard Erickson, Harold Netland and Vinoth Ramachandra.
An Introduction to the Theology of Religions is an indispensable guide for anyone seeking to grasp and work their way through the full range of alternatives offered in answer to the question, What is the relation of Christianity to other religions?
This is a Logos Reader Edition. Learn more.
- Provides a detailed and comprehensive survey of major confessional movements.
- Contributes to the theology of religions in the past century.
- Seeks to grasp and work their way through the full range of alternatives.
This introduction is a major contribution to the growing body of literature in theology. It is a well-researched and balanced approach to the theology of religions that is acutely relevant for the religious pluralistic world in which we are living. This book sets a standard for all future work in this area. It is an absolute must for serious students in theology, missions and church history.
--Japie J. La Poorta, Deputy President of the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa, and former principal of Sarepta Theological College in Cape Town
Professor Karkkainen continues his excellent theological cartography in this intelligent and illuminating survey of theologies of religions. Anyone who wants to explore this territory will find this map to be clear, compact and discerning--in short, invaluable.
--John G. Stackhouse Jr., Sangwoo Youtong Chee Professor of Theology and Culture, Regent College, Vancouver, Canada
This is a most useful book. It provides an up-to-date and comprehensive survey of the theology of religions. Dr. Kärkkäinen covers the major themes and introduces the main thinkers who have contributed to the theology of religions in the past century. He writes lucidly and presents the views of each scholar in a fair and balanced way. Anyone--and that should include all of us--who is concerned to follow developments in the theology of religions will find this to be a reliable and informative guide.
--Wilbert R. Shenk, Paul E. Pierson Professor of Mission History and Contemporary Culture
- Title: An Introduction to the Theology of Religions: Biblical, Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
- Author: Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen
- Publisher: IVP Academic
- Print Publication Date: 2003
- Logos Release Date: 2023
- Pages: 372
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
- Subject: Theology of religions (Christian theology)
- ISBNs: 9780830825721, 083082572X
- Resource ID: LLS:INTROTRBHCP
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2023-04-11T18:24:39Z
Dr. Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen is Professor of Systematic Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary and Docent of Ecumenics at University of Helsinki, Finland. A native of Finland, he has taught and lived with his family in three continents: Europe, Asia (Thailand), and North America (the U.S.) . He participates widely in international ecumenical, theological, and interreligious projects. Prior to coming to Fuller, Kärkkäinen served as president and professor at IsoKirja College in Keuruu, Finland. He has also lectured and served as visiting professor in various schools around the world. He travels widely and has a command of several languages. He is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and serves as an associate pastor in the Finnish Lutheran Church in California and Texas. He is also a world-renowned expert on Pentecostal-Charismatic theology and movements.
A prolific writer, Kärkkäinen has published thirty books and monographs - 11 books in English (and seven in his native language, Finnish), most recently The Trinity: Global Perspectives (2007), One With God: Salvation as Deification and Justification (2004), and Trinity and Religious Pluralism: The Doctrine of the Trinity in Christian Theology of Religions (2004). He is also the author of more than 100 articles, which have appeared in international scholarly journals. He is the editor (with William Dyrness) of Global Dictionary of Theology (2008). His major project is the five-volume series titled Constructive Christian Theology for the Pluralistic World (Eerdmans 2013–17) which develops Christian doctrine in dialogue with four faith traditions and sciences. . Kärkkäinen was appointed to three editorial boards in 2008, which include the “Strategic Initiatives in Systematic Theology” series by InterVarsity Press, the “Studies in Systematic Theology” series by Brill Press (Leiden, Netherlands), and the “International Journal of Systematic Theology”. He is a member of three working groups of the World Council of Churches and has participated in numerous international consultations. He is also an external examiner for Wales University.
Reviews
0 ratings
