Hope and Community: A Constructive Christian Theology for the Pluralistic World, vol. 5
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
This fifth and final volume of Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen’s ambitious five-volume systematic theology develops a constructive Christian eschatology and ecclesiology in dialogue with the Christian tradition, with contemporary theology in all its global and contextual diversity, and with other major living faiths—Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism.
In Part One of the book Kärkkäinen discusses eschatology in the contexts of world faiths and natural sciences, including physical, cosmological, and neuroscientific theories. In Part Two, on ecclesiology, he adopts a deeply ecumenical approach. His proposal for greater Christian unity includes the various dimensions of the church’s missional existence and a robust dialogical witness to other faith communities.
Key Features
- Presents the final volume of Kärkkäinen’s systematic theology
- Examines Christian eschatology and ecclesiology, as well as in comparison and context to world religions
Contents
- Part I: Hope
- Introduction: On the Possibility and Conditions of a Constructive Christian Eschatology
- The “End” of the Cosmos and Life in Natural Sciences’ Conjectures
- Eschatological Visions and Symbols among Religions
- A Trinitarian Theology of Hope
- The Transition from Time to Eternity and New Creation
- Resurrection as the Destiny of the Cosmos and Humanity
- The Flourishing of Nature and Humanity in the Perspective of New Creation
- Overcoming Evil and Defeating Violence
- A Christian Theology of Religious Ends in the Pluralistic World
- The Consummation: “New Heavens and New Earth”
- Part II: Community
- Introduction: The Christian Church and Ecclesiology in the Matrix of Secularism(s) and Religious Pluralism(s)
- Visions of Community among Religions
- Community after the Trinity
- The Ecclesiality of the Church: An Ecumenical Proposal and Appeal
- Church as Communion of Communions
- The Church as Mission
- Missional Existence as the Sacramental and Liturgical Celebration
- Missional Existence as the Charismatic-Diaconal Ministry
- Missional Existence as the Pursuit of the Diversified and Plural Unity of the Church
- Missional Existence as Hospitable Dialogue: The Church among Religious Communities and Secularisms
Top Highlights
“On top of the meaningfulness of creation, three essential aspects should be integrated tightly into any constructive eschatology: first, the hope not only for the human future but also for the transformation and renewal of all creatures and the cosmos itself; second, hope for both persons and communities, including the whole of humanity; and third, hope for both the afterlife and the life-before-afterlife.” (Page 16)
“dialogue between theology and science cannot be a one-way street: it must be a give-and-take conversation” (Page 38)
“the incarnation of the second person of the Trinity tells us the eternal God has entered time” (Page 96)
“‘punishment model’—considers hell rather the outcome of one’s own choices. In other” (Pages 184–185)
“All eschatologies are imaginative constructs. They must be imaginative not only because they deal with events that no human has ever beheld, but even more because these events will inaugurate an age which is properly timeless.” (Pages 20–21)
Praise for the Print Edition
Extraordinary. . . . Kärkkäinen’s awareness of contemporary issues and vast learning make this volume a necessity for any scholar or Christian leader.
—Choice
With awe and admiration readers of this comprehensive and lucid book will no doubt link its author’s name with Thomas, Calvin, Barth, Moltmann, and other theological luminaries. After the completion of Kärkkäinen’s five-volume project, theology will not be the same.
—Peter Phan, Georgetown University
- Title: Hope and Community
- Author: Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen
- Series: A Constructive Christian Theology for the Pluralistic World
- Volume: 5
- Publisher: Eerdmans
- Print Publication Date: 2017
- Logos Release Date: 2019
- Pages: 592
- Era: era:modern
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Hope › Religious aspects--Christianity; Eschatology; Communities › Religious aspects--Christianity; Christianity and other religions
- ISBNs: 9780802868572, 0802868576
- Resource ID: LLS:HOPEANDCOMMUNITY
- Resource Type: Systematic Theology
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-10-08T17:22:34Z
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.