Doing Theology with Huck and Jim: Parables for Understanding Doctrine by Mark Shaw

by Mark Shaw

Does theology have to be boring? Not for Mark! Following Christ's example of storytelling, he begins each discussion of a key biblical truth with a parable. Using familiar characters and settings from tales ranging from 'Huckleberry Finn' to 'A Christmas Carol' to 'King Arthur', Shaw covers the Trinity, the attributes of God, creation, providence, sin, redemption and more. Following each story is a set of questions that brings out the key theological themes. The author then provides helpful commentary on these questions, as well as an in-depth discussion of each topic. Whether you are a beginning student or well versed in theology, you will enjoy this innovative approach to age-old truths.

Genres: Theology

Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 1993

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. ^6

Mark Shaw is professor of historical studies and director of the Centre for World Christianity at Africa International University. He studied World Christianity at the University of Edinburgh, UK, (MTh), and church history at Westminster Theological Seminary, Pennsylvania, USA, (ThD).

Also publishes as Mark R. Shaw.

Reviews

[Jim Dressner · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you expect this book to provide short sips of "theology lite", you will be disappointed with its depth.

The book's eight chapters each tackle a particular topic. Each chapter starts with a story/parable of 3-5 pages, followed by 15-20 pages of exposition, and concludes with a page or two of questions for discussion. The author digs deep into areas of theological mystery and ends up with some uncommon insights. For example, in a chapter on the attributes of God and worship, he makes a strong case for including the weakness, defeat and folly of the cross; that these reflect something essential about God's character that we often miss when we emphasize a "theology of glory."

The parables may be a bit uneven in terms of narrative or dramatic success, but they are creative and wide-ranging: King Arthur in medieval England, Simba in Africa, private detective noir, Ebenezer Scrooge, Huck Finn & Jim meet Mark Twain, courtroom trial crossed with an animal fantasy, and people transformed into insects in Soweto.

A bit more substantial than I anticipated, this book demands that you slow down and think about the content. I could see this book sparking some rich discussion in a group study.