Why Study Theology? Insights from author Alister E. McGrath
Author Alister E. McGrath
There are a number of reasons why it’s both important and enriching to study theology and here I have listed what I think are three of the most important.
Firstly, studying theology is about making sense of some of the great debates and themes of history. It is impossible to study the religious art of the Middle Ages, the great literature of the Renaissance, the history of the sixteenth century, or the novels of J. R. R. Tolkien without knowing something about theology. To study theology is to pass through a gateway which offers an enhanced vision of human thought and history. It’s like a lens that helps bring things into focus.
Secondly, theology enables us to see things through the eyes of others, so that we can gain fresh perspectives on some of the great questions of faith. One of the leading themes of C. S. Lewis’s late work An Experiment in Criticism (1961) is that reading literature enables us to see with the eyes of others, deepening and sometimes challenging our own ideas. To read Augustine, Athanasius, Thomas Aquinas or Karl Barth is to have our eyes opened to other ways of seeing things. We may not agree with them, but their insights help us forge and enrich our own approaches.
Thirdly, studying theology brings new depth and vitality to faith. When the novelist Evelyn Waugh discovered Christianity in 1930, he spoke of beginning the “delicious process of exploring it limitlessly.” Theology is about mapping the landscape of faith, discovering its landmarks, appreciating its inner logic, and experiencing its beauty and richness.
The Triumph of Saint Thomas Aquinas, painting by Benozzo de Gozzoli, ca. 1420-97, tempera. Musee de Louvre, paris. The Art Archive / Musee de Louvre, Paris/Gianni Dagli Otti William Blake’s Ancient of Days, 1794, relief etching with watercolor, 23.3 x 16.8 cm. British Museum, London. AKG Images/Erich Lessing C.S. Lewis. Getty Images
Review
“With trademark lucidity, McGrath explores the fundamentals of Christian belief through the voices of its most revered theologians. From the groundwork of the Apostles’ Creed, the text builds in measured steps upon its own foundations. This new edition will surely be welcomed by educators and seekers across a broad theological landscape.”
–Deborah Halter, Loyola University New Orleans
“With new and expanded chapters, this second edition of Theology: The Basics 2nd Edition manages to improve on the remarkable achievement of the first. Concise, accurate, and insightful, it’s a wonderful introduction to the heart of Christianity.”
–Bradley Nystrom, California State University
“Alister McGrath does not disappoint. This text provides for students, scholars and laity an unparalleled jewel that will define Christian theology for decades to come. An engaging read.”
–Noel Leo Erskine, Emory University
“This attractive introduction is concise without engaging in caricature, accessible without being pedantic and historically informed without losing sight of contemporary discussions. Perhaps what is most striking is that it provides very clear instruction while inviting students to make their own discoveries and draw their own conclusions. The text is generously supported with excerpts from classic theological works, and offers thought-provoking questions for student discussion. In this way, McGrath engages his readers in the very sort of ongoing theological dialogue the work surveys.”
–Steven Guthrie, Belmont University
“The wisdom of a fine theologian and the savvy of an excellent teacher are distilled in this valuable book. It will be esteemed by teachers and students alike, for it is hard to imagine a better companion for beginning the journey of theology.”
–M. Douglas Meeks, Vanderbilt University
From the Back Cover
Written by one of the world’s leading theologians, Theology: The Basics 2nd Edition is designed for students taking a first short course in Christian theology or for lay Christians who wish to find out more about their faith. Completely revised and updated in response to feedback from readers, this second edition:
- Introduces readers to key theological issues, such as God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, faith, creation, salvation, atonement, religious history, and heaven
- Contains within each chapter an overview of one of these themes, presents relevant biblical passages, and summarizes the contribution of one major theologian
- Includes a major new chapter on sacraments and expanded discussion of key concepts throughout
- Features new sections on core topics, including the problem of suffering, the theology of sin, concepts of heaven, and views of the millennium
- Uses the Apostle’s Creed as a framework in order to provide a user-friendly structure
- Concludes with a section on how readers can take their study further, giving examples of the kind of detailed discussion that is possible.
The revisions to the second edition enhance the book’s accessibility and coverage, while retaining the clarity and style that made the first edition an international bestseller and student favorite.
About the Author
Alister E. McGrath is Professor of Historical Theology at Oxford University, and Senior Research Fellow at Harris Manchester College, Oxford. He is the author of numerous popular theology textbooks, including Christian Theology, fourth edition and The Christian Theology Reader, third edition. Readers may wish to use this book in order to make the transition to these more challenging texts.
