Mere Theology

by Alister McGrath

Publisher:

SPCK

, 2010

Alister McGrath explores how the great tradition of Christian theological reflection can enrich our faith and deepen our engagement with the concerns and debates of the world around us. Part 1 of this exhilarating volume looks at the purpose, place, and relevance of Christian theology. Part 2 deals with the relation of the natural sciences and faith. Here the core arguments of recent atheist writers are critically examined, including their demand for a ‘New Enlightenment.’ In short, Mere Theology addresses matters of real importance for Christian life and thought. It will prove both encouraging and stimulating to all those concerned with developing a ‘discipleship of the mind.’

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Key Features

• Provides an intellectual defense of the place of theology in Christian life
• Encourages those interested in developing discipleship of the mind
• Assesses matters of significant importance to Christian life and thought

Contents

• Part 1: The Purpose, Place and Relevance of Christian Theology
  • Mere Theology: The Landscape of Faith (1)
  • Mere Theology: The Landscape of Faith (2)
  • The Gospel and the Transformation of Reality: George Herbert’s ‘The Elixir’
  • The Cross, Suffering, and Theological Bewilderment: Reflections on Martin Luther and C. S. Lewis
  • The Theater of the Glory of God: A Christian View of Nature
  • The Tapestry of Faith: Theology and Apologetics
• Part 2: Engaging with Our Culture
  • The Natural Sciences : Friends or Foes of Faith?
  • Religious and Scientific Faith: The Case of Charles Darwin’s The Origin of the Species
  • Augustine of Hippo on Creation and Evolution
  • Does Religion Poison Everything? The New Atheism and Religious Belief
  • Atheism and the Enlightenment: Reflections on the Intellectual Roots of the New Atheism

Top Highlights

“All too often, theology merely generates controversy and factionalism within the Church. My concern here is to focus on the positive role of theology in shaping, nourishing and safeguarding the Christian vision of reality, and applying it to the challenges and opportunities that Christians face today.” (Page vii)

“Yet rightly understood, theology is about enabling informed Christian action. It makes us want to do things, and do them in a Christian way. It helps us make judgements about how best to act; it encourages us to engage with the real world.” (Page 3)

“The New Testament is primarily concerned with the transformation of human existence through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. The gospel is thus not so much about explanation as about salvation—the transformation of the human situation. Yet while the emphasis of the Christian proclamation may not be on explaining the world, it nevertheless also offers a distinctive way of looking at things which, at least in principle, enables us to see those things in different ways, and thus leads us to act in ways consistent with this. Christianity involves believing that certain things are true, that they may be relied upon, and that they illuminate our perceptions, decisions and actions.” (Page ix)

“Although I am an academic theologian, I have always believed that theology is at its best when it generates reflective practices in the life and service of the Church.” (Page viii)

“By ‘mere theology’, I mean the basic themes that have characterized the Christian vision of reality down the ages. This book does not defend or advocate any particular school or style of theology, but rather sets out to explore how the great tradition of Christian theological reflection enriches our faith and deepens our engagement with the concerns and debates of the world around us.” (Page vii)

Product Details

• Title: Mere Theology
• Author: Alister McGrath
• Publisher: SPCK
• Publication Date: 2010
• Pages: 176

About Alister McGrath

Alister McGrath (Ph.D.) is a scholar and writer who is presently Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion at Oxford University. After his initial studies in natural science at Oxford, taking a doctorate in molecular biophysics under the supervision of Prof Sir George Radda, McGrath moved into the field of Christian theology. He was Oxford’s Professor of Historical Theology from 1999 to 2008. He then moved to King’s College London as Professor of Theology, Ministry, and Education, before returning to Oxford as Idreos Professor in 2014. He also served as Gresham Professor of Divinity, a position established in 1597, from 2015-18. He retired in September 2022.

He is best known for his definitive and widely used textbooks on Christian theology and his authoritative biography of C. S. Lewis. As a former atheist, McGrath is fascinated by the interaction of faith, science, and atheism, and writes regularly on these themes. McGrath was born in Belfast in 1953, and holds both Irish and British citizenship. He lives in the Cotswolds near Oxford.

For McGrath’s website, including details of his weekly Youtube postings and videos helping you use his theology textbooks, go to alistermcgrath.net