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Relational Theology: A Contemporary Introduction
A growing number of Christians feel drawn to relational theology. The God of the Bible seems thoroughly relational, and we are increasingly aware of our own interrelatedness with others. Contributors to this volume tease out some implications of relational theology in light of a host of issues, doctrines, and agendas. The result is a must-read collection of essays with proposals sure to be the center of conversations for decades to come!
134 pages, Paperback
First published November 6, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 27, 2012
Relational theology, according to Tom Oord's introductory chapter in this book, affirms two ideas:
1. "God affects creatures in various ways."
2. "Creatures affect God in various ways."
For there to be a relational vision of theology then Aristotle's idea of an unmoved mover, which Christians, such as Aquinas, adopted to define the nature of God is untenable. So, what would a relational theology look like? In a series of, by my count, 32 brief (3-page) essays written by theologians, most of whom hail from the Wesleyan tradition, an introductory text for lay persons is provided. The essays are succinct, easily read, and understandable. I think that this will be a useful text to launch conversations about who God is and how that understanding manifests itself in the church.
For a full review check my blog: http://www.bobcornwall.com/2012/12/re...
1. "God affects creatures in various ways."
2. "Creatures affect God in various ways."
For there to be a relational vision of theology then Aristotle's idea of an unmoved mover, which Christians, such as Aquinas, adopted to define the nature of God is untenable. So, what would a relational theology look like? In a series of, by my count, 32 brief (3-page) essays written by theologians, most of whom hail from the Wesleyan tradition, an introductory text for lay persons is provided. The essays are succinct, easily read, and understandable. I think that this will be a useful text to launch conversations about who God is and how that understanding manifests itself in the church.
For a full review check my blog: http://www.bobcornwall.com/2012/12/re...
January 5, 2014
I got this book because I knew just enough about relational theology that I wanted to learn more. After reading it, I still know just enough about relational theology that I want to lean more.
This is book is full of bite-size essays about various aspects of relational theology. Most of the essays landed on me as more of a "drive by" view of a topic, and only a half-dozen of the 31 essays in the book provided me with more understanding than when I started. Many read like writing assignments - I didn't get that the authors deeply cared about what they were writing about.
I would love to see another book on this topic that's longer, more focused, and written by authors that are deeply passionate about the subject.
This is book is full of bite-size essays about various aspects of relational theology. Most of the essays landed on me as more of a "drive by" view of a topic, and only a half-dozen of the 31 essays in the book provided me with more understanding than when I started. Many read like writing assignments - I didn't get that the authors deeply cared about what they were writing about.
I would love to see another book on this topic that's longer, more focused, and written by authors that are deeply passionate about the subject.
October 16, 2013
It's a good introduction to relational theology but it is wider than deep. That is not an insult but a reality. It wets one appetite for a more through an definitive work. I recommend pastors and laity alike to read and discuss this in a Sunday school or a small groups setting.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews