Twentieth-Century Theologians

A New Introduction to Modern Christian Thought

Philip Kennedy

• Publisher: I.B. Tauris
• Year: 2010
• Print ISBN:
  9781845119553
• eBook ISBN:
  9780857717603
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: History of Religion

One needs to be a lunatic to become a Christian, the 19th century Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard once observed. Had he lived in the 20th century he might have discerned even more of an obstacle to faith. For during the last century the human condition changed more rapidly than during any previous era, taking that condition far away from the historical circumstances in which Christianity was born. In his new book, Philip Kennedy explores the ways Christian theologians of the 20th century tried to live a productive religious life in a world overtaken by massive upheaval and innovation.The book is distinctive in a number of respects. First, it differs from other surveys of theology by adopting a biographical method, examining the lives of its subjects in historical context. Second, it is more progressive than its competitors, covering many theologians other than white male professors - especially women - who have worked outside the academy or on the margins of the churches. Third, it is international, focusing on theologians in all the continents of the world rather than just Europe or North America.
Fourth, it makes no assumptions that its readers are religious or that theology is uniquely credible. There is a need for a sensitive new textbook reassessing the subject in the light of modern concerns and scepticism about religion. This book meets that need.

Table of contents

• Contents
• Preamble
• List of Abbreviations
• List of Boxed Information
• Chapter 1. The Twentieth Century
• Chapter 2. Adolf von Harnack: 1851-1930
• Chapter 3. Alfred Firmin Loisy: 1857-1940
• Chapter 4. Evelyn Underhill: 1875-1941
• Chapter 5. Albert Schweitzer: 1875-1965
• Chapter 6. Karl Barth: 1886-1968
• Chapter 7. Dietrich Bonhoeffer: 1906-45
• Chapter 8. Paul Tillich: 1886-1965
• Chapter 9. Dorothy Day: 1897-1980
• Chapter 10. Karl Rahner: 1904-84
• Chapter 11. Yves Congar: 1904-95
• Chapter 12. Edward Schillebeeckx: b.1914
• Chapter 13. Mary Daly: b.1928
• Chapter 14. Jurgen Moltmann: b.1926
• Chapter 15. Gorden Kaufman: b.1925
• Chapter 16. Gustavo Gutierrez: b.1928
• Chapter 17. Uta Ranke-Heinemann: b.1928
• Chapter 18. John Hick: b.1922
• Chapter 19. Tissa Balasuriya: b. 1924
• Chapter 20. Don Cupitt: b. 1934
• Chapter 21. Mercy Amba Oduyoye: b.1934
• Chapter 22. The Rainbow Spirit Elders
• Chapter 23. Taking Stock
• Glossary
• Notes
• A Guide to Further Reading
• Index