Contextual Theology: The Drama of Our Times

by Paul Duane Matheny

Publisher:

Pickwick Publications

, 2011

It has been almost fifty years since theological educators first began talking about contextual theology. Today, in every country of the global South, their home schools require them to contextualize theological education and construct contextual theologies that would be helpful for their local churches. In spite of this expectation there are few helps available. The expectation is clear, but an understanding of the process by which this may occur is lacking. Educators often complain that they are led to adapt Western theology to their context rather than developing theology for their churches. Arguments for contextual theology are proposed often, but there has been little debate explaining and defending the methods involved. This book is intended to enter that debate and invite others who should help appreciate the gravity of our situation and join the conversation.  The epicenter of Christianity has shifted to the global South. Yet, contextual theology, which seeks to preserve the integrity of the faith, has not been met with generosity among scholars in the US and Europe. This book intends to forge helpful bridges that encourage mutual regard to develop among scholars across the globe. The bubble of the Western academy needs to be breached.

Praise for Contextual Theology

"This is a superbly written book which clearly outlines the vital importance of engaging in contextual theology for our time.  Matheny reviews the historical background to contextual theology as well as various approaches. He explains how it works in practice, why contextual theology is good theology, and why a healthy contextual theology will shape the future of theology by reviving biblical images and perspectives found in world Christianity. It is an accessible read and will be a very helpful resource for students, practitioners, and parishioners."
 
--Cathy Ross
Lecturer in Pastoral Studies (Mission)
Regent's Park College, University of Oxford


"This book is the best treatment of contextual theology I have read. Professor Matheny has written a succinct, informed, critical, balanced, and passionate defense of theology as a response to God's revelation in the concrete contexts of life.  He shows that to take context seriously in conversation with the Christian 'text' is not a fad--to be either rejected or uncritically adopted--but a mark of all authentic and self-aware theologizing, whether in a seminary or favela."

--Ross Langmead
Dean and Professor of Missiology
Whitley College in the Melbourne College of Divinity, Australia

"For centuries, the doing of theology has been shaped by Western theological imperatives. Today the decline of institutional religion in the West, and the extraordinary growth of the church of the South mean a radical movement beyond such theologies is required. In Contextual Theology Matheny sensitively examines how a reassessment of the relationship of gospel to cultural context can advance such a critical and necessary development."
--Susan Smith
Lecturer Emeriti in Theology and Adjunct Faculty Member
University of Auckland, New Zealand

"The challenge before the 'New Christianity' emerging in the Global South is planting the gospel deeply within the rich indigenous soils of various cultures while engaging in conversations with older expressions of Christianity around the world. There are many books crying for the church to become more contextualized and less Western, but very few books that demonstrate how to use contextual methods to accomplish that task, to think theologically and act missiologically in different cultural contexts. Far from advocating catchy slogans and trendy techniques to create contextualized expressions of Christianity, Paul Matheny underscores the importance of relying on Scripture and engaging ecumenically in demonstrating the universal nature of Christianity that connects Followers of Jesus with each other across space and time while living out their faith in particular local settings. We've been waiting a long time for a book like this and Matheny brilliantly delivers."

--Darrell Whiteman
The Mission Society

Product Details

• Title : Contextual Theology: The Drama of Our Times
• Author: Matheny, Paul Duane
• Publisher: Pickwick Publications
• Publication Date: 2011
• ISBN: 9781630877828

About the Author

Paul Matheny is Professor of Christian Theology and Ethics at Philippine Christian University and Union Theological Seminary, Philippines.