Faith and the Creeds (Christian Belief For Everyone)

by Alister McGrath

Publisher:

SPCK

, 2013

Overview

In Faith and the Creeds, Alister McGrath helps us understand the Christian faith passed down through the centuries. McGrath concentrates on the nature of faith and the history and relevance of the creeds, in a thrilling reflection on what we really mean when we say “I believe.”

Contents

Top Highlights

“Meaning and value are not things that can be ‘read off’ the world. Science is good at taking things to pieces. But analysis is not enough. What really matters is what we do with these pieces. We need synthesis in order to perceive the big picture. Science dismantles so that we can see how things work; faith reassembles so that we can see what they mean.” (Pages 5–6)

“Only shallow truths can be proved. The deepest truths of life lie beyond ultimate confirmation. The simple fact is that none of us, whether religious or secular, can prove any of the great truths we live by. That’s just the way life is.” (Page 5)

“The Christian faith allows us to see patterns in this apparent chaos of our world; to perceive a melody when others only hear a noise. Instead of being overwhelmed with information, we are enabled to discern meaning.” (Page 12)

“So we see—although the point is not generally appreciated—that the two most widely used creeds within Christianity today developed in quite different ways. The Apostles’ Creed arose within grass-root Christian communities over many generations, and commanded wide assent and support. The Nicene Creed was developed by a committee of bishops, in response to the Roman emperor’s demand for religious consensus within his empire. There has always been a sense in which the Apostles’ Creed is a ‘people’s creed’, whereas the Nicene Creed is a ‘bishops’ creed’.” (Page 70)

“Augustine of Hippo (354–430) expressed this theme well in a prayer written around the year 400: ‘You have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in you.’¹⁴ If nothing in this world really satisfies us, it is because deep down we know that our heart’s desire is anchored elsewhere.” (Page 14)

Product Details

• Title: Faith and the Creeds
• Author: Alister McGrath
• Series: Christian Belief for Everyone
• Volume: 1
• Publisher: SPCK
• Print Publication Date: 2013
• Logos Release Date: 2014
• Pages: 128
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Creeds; Theology, doctrinal › Popular works; Faith
• ISBNs: 9780281068333, 9780281068340, 028106833X, 0281068348
• Resource ID: LLS:FAITHCREEDS
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-29T23:54:13Z

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