How to Think Theologically: Fourth Edition

by Howard W Stone, James O. Duke

Decades of use and refinement have solidified the place of How to Think Theologically as the indispensable guide to helping students of theology realize their call to be theologians. By focusing not on thinkers or thoughts, but on thinking, Stone and Duke induct readers into those habits of mind that lead to understanding all things--social, cultural, and personal--in relation to God. The new edition Expansions of existing chapters An annotated bibliography of recommended reading An appendix of theological labels An expanded glossary Key points highlighted in call-outs throughout Updated case studies Discussion questions Both experienced teachers and beginning students will benefit from Stone and Duke's latest revision of their classic text.

Genres: Theology

185 pages, Paperback

Published October 10, 2023

Reviews

[Grant Lewandowski]

“One thing is certain: our prior reflection on theology and ministry will inform our practice.”

This book was helpful in giving me a framework for theological reflection. One that stays grounded in a kind of “trenches hermeneutics.” My reflections are never abstract or detached, but always tied to real-world circumstances and practice. This connects with me since a core value I hold is resisting the temptation to over-intellectualize theology. At the end of the day, I try to keep things practical and real.

[Laney Dugan]

While the later parts of this book were nothing to write home about, I deeply appreciated the author’s construct of embedded theology vs deliberative theology very early in the book. This was very insightful, and are phrases that are intuitive enough to utilize going forward. The final chapter’s discussion of spiritual formation (and even the role of spiritual director in accompanying believers as they learn to attend to their relationship with God in a new way) was a good way to close the book.

[Braxten Mecham]

This book is a great book for Theology students (I read it for my Bible School) but is hard to follow at times. Probably wouldn’t recommend it to someone who does not desire to study theology