Protestant Theology at the Crossroads: How to Face the Crucial Tasks for Theology in the Twenty-First CenturyIn an atmosphere of growing skepticism and discouragement, what hope has theology for the future, and what sources might deliver that hope? In this astute analysis of Protestant theology today, Gerhard Sauter sets himself to help theology answer critical questions and accomplish crucial tasks in order to move forward with hope. Protestant Theology at the Crossroads examines contextual theology, in which particular cultural heritages, race and gender, economic conditions, and the structure of social life inform the teachings of the faith rather than vice versa. How, for example, do we approach the crisis in American self-understanding caused by terrorism? Do changes in European politics alter our theological perceptions? Sauter argues that dogmatics -- properly understood as the process of theological reasoning that supports the life of the church -- can and should be used as the tool to save theology. Dogmatics, he says, can break through pious isolationism and converge with genuine public theology, leading to the church's understanding of its own essence. |
Contents
What Dare We Hope at the Beginning | 1 |
A Shared Hope for Jews and Christians | 16 |
The Art of Reading the Bible | 47 |
No Fear of Dogmatics | 55 |
16 | 66 |
God Creates Faith Do We Consent? | 77 |
Contextual Theology as a Challenge to Dogmatics | 101 |
Theological Reflections on the Political Changes | 115 |
The Religious Dimension of American | 131 |
Public Theology Theology outside the Church? | 149 |
Observations on the Current State | 166 |
181 | |
Common terms and phrases
action American art of reading asked Barmen Declaration Barth Bultmann Calvin Catholic challenges chapter Chris Christian hope church claim Confessing Church confession context Contextual Theology contrast critical crucial cultural dialogue Dietrich Bonhoeffer distinction divine doctrine of justification dogmatics East Germany ecumenical Eerdmans Eschatology especially Evangelische example expectation experiences faith fulfillment Gerhard Sauter German God's acting God’s promises gospel grace Grand Rapids human interpretation Israel Jesus Christ Jewish Jews and Christians judging and saving judgment Jürgen Moltmann Karl Karl Barth liberation living Lutheran means ment NRSV Old Testament peace perception perspective political prayer preaching Princeton Theological Seminary proclamation Protestant providence public theology question reader reading the Bible reasoning theologically redemption reflection Reformed theology religious Rowan Williams Rudolf Bultmann salvation Scripture shaped social speak Spirit story task theol theologians Thiemann tians tion traditions trans true understanding United unity University Word