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The Mosaic of Christian Belief: Twenty Centuries of Unity & Diversity
An ECPA 2003 Gold Medallion Finalist! The story of Christian theology has often been divisive and disjointed. Providing this companion volume to his earlier work The Story of Christian Theology , Roger E. Olson thematically traces the contours of Christian belief down through the ages, revealing a pattern of both unity and diversity. He finds a consensus of teaching that is both unitive and able to incorporate a faithful diversity when not forced into the molds of false either-or alternatives. The mosaic that emerges from Olson's work displays a mediating evangelical theology that is nonspeculative and irenic in spirit and tone. Specifically written with the nonspecialist in mind, Olson has masterfully sketched out the contours of Christian faith with simplicity while avoiding oversimplification.
367 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2002
136 people are currently reading
483 people want to read
About the author
Roger E. Olson
59 books63 followersRoger E. Olson (PhD, Rice University) is professor of theology at George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University. He is a prolific author whose volumes include The Story of Christian Theology and The Mosaic of Christian Belief. He is also coauthor of 20th-Century Theology. Olsen identifies as an Arminian and a Baptist.
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April 14, 2012
PART ONE : AN OLD SONG BY REM
Adoptionism, adventism, albigensianism, annihilationism, antinomianism, atonement, arianism
Cessationism, creationism, Chalcedinian definition, consubstantiation
It's the end of the world as we know it
It's the end of the world as we know it
It's the end of the world as we know it
And I feel fine
Unconditional election, eutychianism, prevenient grace, nestorianism
Soul sleep, tulip, womanism, rosicrucianism, panentheism, hypostatic union, SEMI-PELAGIANISM!!!
It's the end of the world as we know it
It's the end of the world as we know it
It's the end of the world as we know it
And I feel fine
PART TWO : MASTERMIND
Our next contestant is Mr Paul Bryant, a clinical trial support consultant from Nottingham. You have selected Christianity as your specialist subject. You have two minutes, starting …now
How was the discovery of fossils explained by English theologian Philip Gosse in the 19th century?
He said that God had created the universe relatively recently but with the appearance of antiquity.
Correct. Bishop Anselm replaced the ransom theory of atonement with what in his book Cur Deus Homo?
He said that Christ's death was a feudal satisfaction paid by the sinless Jesus to the honour of God.
Correct. Many people have a bumper sticker "God helps those who help themselves". What's wrong with that?
It's heretical.
Explain?
It's semi-pelagian.
I'll accept that. It gives insufficient weight to the saving grace of God. What were early Christians accused of by people mistaking the nature of Holy communion?
Cannibalism.
Correct. Complete the statement : Jesus saves…"
But Buddha nets the rebound.
Correct. Who won the FA Cup Final in 1967?
Er…. Er…
I'm going to have to hurry you
Chelsea.
No, sorry, they were the losing finalists. It was Spurs.
Ah, crap.
(apologies to Michael Palin for stealing his idea)
PART THREE : HOW RELIGION WORKS
I heard a comedian once who summed it up (forgot his name though). When he was a little lad he wanted a bicycle. And he was a devout little lad so he prayed to God for one. No bicycle. Really prayed night after night. Nothing. Then he came to a deeper understanding of how religion works, and stole a bicycle, and prayed earnestly for forgiveness.
PART FOUR : WHAT CHRISTIANS BELIEVE
One older member of our family, she's in her 70s, was shocked by something I said not so long back. Before you jump to conclusions, I was mentioning something about Christianity and referred to Jesus as God. She thinks of herself as a Christian and she had never heard Jesus described as God before – it actually shocked her. But this has been the fundamental belief of all Christian churches since the third century. Christ is fully human and fully divine. God and man. But it was the first time she'd ever heard of such a thing.
With respect, I think most Christians take their Christianity like that. They don't pay it too much attention.
PART FIVE : AN ACTUAL REVIEW OF THIS BOOK, HOW ABOUT THAT
I loved it. It was just what I was after – a plain and lucid description of the core beliefs of Christianity. Look no further, this is the one stop shop. Roger Olson has my deepest admiration. The heavy lifting this guy has done to synthesise and organise all this material is nothing short of inspired. His method is to take what he refers to as the great tradition of Christianity and explain its beliefs, subject by subject, and then explain how people have disagreed with these, and whether these disagreements are so serious that they became heresies.
Because what is Christianity? Is it anything you happen to feel like believing which has something to do with Jesus? Is Jesus an aerosol? One or two puffs and your house is now Christian? No, Roger says, sorry, you can't be a Christian and believe in, for instance, reincarnation - and throw that book on astrology in the bin, and Christ wasn't just the greatest of moral teachers, and you can't believe that there are many ways to God and Christianity is only one of them, all of that is OUT. It's heresy. No. Sorry. It has to go. Words do mean things, one belief is not another belief, and Roger is really sorry if he sounds like the Spanish inquisition but these are the facts.
What's a heresy? Well, for instance, one of the very first was that Jesus was God and only appeared to be a human. People with that view couldn't stomach the concept of God Himself living a human life - that to them was blasphemous so they solved it by saying Jesus was a spiritual being in the form of a man. But the main lot of Christians insisted that no, he was completely human, and that was the point of the whole thing. It doesn't mean anything if Jesus only appeared to suffer. He was a real man and he suffered all that we suffer (and more). Heresies usually try to simplify the paradoxes of Christian thought. Olson is often in the position of sadly saying that many modern Christians are heretics without realising it. He's not mad at them, he's sorry they haven't been given better instruction and have been allowed to lapse into semi-pelagianism (for instance).
If Olson has a message of his own, it's that the Church is in danger of lapsing into a "folk religion":
Folk religions often flourish in a compartmentalised, largely privatised sphere of life such as small cell groups of people with similar experiences who network with each other… Feelings tend to take precedence over intellect, and cliches and slogans (often put to music) take the place of coherent and developed doctrinal affirmations. … Impulses within Christian movements contribute to the process of reducing Christianity to a set of subjective experiences and feel-good cliches.
Roger wants you all to buck up and get real.
He is also very unhappy about modern Christians' obsessions with evolution and the age of the Earth. He thinks these are total red herrings which have been allowed to hijack debates to the detriment of all involved. Many of the creationists, he says, "fall unthinkingly into heresies… they strain at gnats and swallow camels". (However Young earth creationism per se is not heretical, it's just wrong. Being wrong isn't necessarily heretical.)
I didn't like the title of this book because it undersells it badly. It should be called something like CHRISTIANITY - THE WHOLE KIT AND CABOODLE. Something like that.
I made a lot of notes as I read through this very dense but always fascinating book, but I've been banging on about Christianity all year, so now is the time to spare you all…hooray, no homework!
In conclusion – if Roger Olson ever turns up at the Gladstone (just round the corner from here) I'll be very happy to buy him a pint of Landlords while we discuss how easy it is to become a semi-pelagian without realising it.
Adoptionism, adventism, albigensianism, annihilationism, antinomianism, atonement, arianism
Cessationism, creationism, Chalcedinian definition, consubstantiation
It's the end of the world as we know it
It's the end of the world as we know it
It's the end of the world as we know it
And I feel fine
Unconditional election, eutychianism, prevenient grace, nestorianism
Soul sleep, tulip, womanism, rosicrucianism, panentheism, hypostatic union, SEMI-PELAGIANISM!!!
It's the end of the world as we know it
It's the end of the world as we know it
It's the end of the world as we know it
And I feel fine
PART TWO : MASTERMIND
Our next contestant is Mr Paul Bryant, a clinical trial support consultant from Nottingham. You have selected Christianity as your specialist subject. You have two minutes, starting …now
How was the discovery of fossils explained by English theologian Philip Gosse in the 19th century?
He said that God had created the universe relatively recently but with the appearance of antiquity.
Correct. Bishop Anselm replaced the ransom theory of atonement with what in his book Cur Deus Homo?
He said that Christ's death was a feudal satisfaction paid by the sinless Jesus to the honour of God.
Correct. Many people have a bumper sticker "God helps those who help themselves". What's wrong with that?
It's heretical.
Explain?
It's semi-pelagian.
I'll accept that. It gives insufficient weight to the saving grace of God. What were early Christians accused of by people mistaking the nature of Holy communion?
Cannibalism.
Correct. Complete the statement : Jesus saves…"
But Buddha nets the rebound.
Correct. Who won the FA Cup Final in 1967?
Er…. Er…
I'm going to have to hurry you
Chelsea.
No, sorry, they were the losing finalists. It was Spurs.
Ah, crap.
(apologies to Michael Palin for stealing his idea)
PART THREE : HOW RELIGION WORKS
I heard a comedian once who summed it up (forgot his name though). When he was a little lad he wanted a bicycle. And he was a devout little lad so he prayed to God for one. No bicycle. Really prayed night after night. Nothing. Then he came to a deeper understanding of how religion works, and stole a bicycle, and prayed earnestly for forgiveness.
PART FOUR : WHAT CHRISTIANS BELIEVE
One older member of our family, she's in her 70s, was shocked by something I said not so long back. Before you jump to conclusions, I was mentioning something about Christianity and referred to Jesus as God. She thinks of herself as a Christian and she had never heard Jesus described as God before – it actually shocked her. But this has been the fundamental belief of all Christian churches since the third century. Christ is fully human and fully divine. God and man. But it was the first time she'd ever heard of such a thing.
With respect, I think most Christians take their Christianity like that. They don't pay it too much attention.
PART FIVE : AN ACTUAL REVIEW OF THIS BOOK, HOW ABOUT THAT
I loved it. It was just what I was after – a plain and lucid description of the core beliefs of Christianity. Look no further, this is the one stop shop. Roger Olson has my deepest admiration. The heavy lifting this guy has done to synthesise and organise all this material is nothing short of inspired. His method is to take what he refers to as the great tradition of Christianity and explain its beliefs, subject by subject, and then explain how people have disagreed with these, and whether these disagreements are so serious that they became heresies.
Because what is Christianity? Is it anything you happen to feel like believing which has something to do with Jesus? Is Jesus an aerosol? One or two puffs and your house is now Christian? No, Roger says, sorry, you can't be a Christian and believe in, for instance, reincarnation - and throw that book on astrology in the bin, and Christ wasn't just the greatest of moral teachers, and you can't believe that there are many ways to God and Christianity is only one of them, all of that is OUT. It's heresy. No. Sorry. It has to go. Words do mean things, one belief is not another belief, and Roger is really sorry if he sounds like the Spanish inquisition but these are the facts.
What's a heresy? Well, for instance, one of the very first was that Jesus was God and only appeared to be a human. People with that view couldn't stomach the concept of God Himself living a human life - that to them was blasphemous so they solved it by saying Jesus was a spiritual being in the form of a man. But the main lot of Christians insisted that no, he was completely human, and that was the point of the whole thing. It doesn't mean anything if Jesus only appeared to suffer. He was a real man and he suffered all that we suffer (and more). Heresies usually try to simplify the paradoxes of Christian thought. Olson is often in the position of sadly saying that many modern Christians are heretics without realising it. He's not mad at them, he's sorry they haven't been given better instruction and have been allowed to lapse into semi-pelagianism (for instance).
If Olson has a message of his own, it's that the Church is in danger of lapsing into a "folk religion":
Folk religions often flourish in a compartmentalised, largely privatised sphere of life such as small cell groups of people with similar experiences who network with each other… Feelings tend to take precedence over intellect, and cliches and slogans (often put to music) take the place of coherent and developed doctrinal affirmations. … Impulses within Christian movements contribute to the process of reducing Christianity to a set of subjective experiences and feel-good cliches.
Roger wants you all to buck up and get real.
He is also very unhappy about modern Christians' obsessions with evolution and the age of the Earth. He thinks these are total red herrings which have been allowed to hijack debates to the detriment of all involved. Many of the creationists, he says, "fall unthinkingly into heresies… they strain at gnats and swallow camels". (However Young earth creationism per se is not heretical, it's just wrong. Being wrong isn't necessarily heretical.)
I didn't like the title of this book because it undersells it badly. It should be called something like CHRISTIANITY - THE WHOLE KIT AND CABOODLE. Something like that.
I made a lot of notes as I read through this very dense but always fascinating book, but I've been banging on about Christianity all year, so now is the time to spare you all…hooray, no homework!
In conclusion – if Roger Olson ever turns up at the Gladstone (just round the corner from here) I'll be very happy to buy him a pint of Landlords while we discuss how easy it is to become a semi-pelagian without realising it.
August 28, 2023
REVIEW OF THE NEXT TO LAST CHAPTER : LIFE BEYOND DEATH
Roger Olsen very helpfully lays out the orthodox* then the heretical beliefs about life after death in his penultimate chapter, and many interesting ideas are revealed.
Roger is greatly distressed by the state of modern Christian belief. He thinks modern Christians get all sorts of wrongheaded “folk religious” notions from books, movies, youtube preachers, televangelists, pop songs – everywhere, in fact, other than the sober writings of the Church Fathers.
His main beef is that there is a very widely held belief that when you die your eternal soul immediately zaps off to heaven or hell.
This kind of thing :
Some glad morning when this life is over
I'll fly away
To a home on God's celestial shore
I'll fly away
Just a few more weary days and then
I'll fly away
To a land where joy shall never end
I'll fly away
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by
I'll fly away
No no, utter nonsense, says Roger. The New Testament is festooned with explicit teaching about BODILY RESURRECTION. He says “the life to come in Heaven with God is bodily and not ghostly or ethereal”.
In fact he says that the belief that your physical body (that one you wince at in the mirror and poke and squeeze mournfully) will be raised from your grave and reconstituted** is the single point of greatest agreement in the history of Christian thought.
And yet it seems that the vast majority of Christians do not know this and neglect belief in bodily resurrection in favour of belief in immediate postmortem heavenly spiritual existence as ghost-like beings (or even angels!)
He says that actually the dead will just have to wait their turn, until Jesus returns and the Day of Judgement happens. Then, and only then, will they get their heaven (or hell). Therefore, logically, there is an “intermediate” place that souls go to wait for their bodily resurrection & judgement. He says that for saved Christians this place is “paradise”(not to be confused with heaven, although I see that on a dark night without any GPS you could make that mistake and take the wrong exit ramp). Where the unsaved go is not known. But Roger does not admit that if this is so, it appears that a judgement has already been performed on the dead, sorting them into different waiting zones. Otherwise you would have a situation where my Aunty Gladys and my Aunty Connie could bump into Heinrich Himmler at any moment, and that would never do.
Note : absolutely everybody who has ever died in the last 2000 years is crammed into this waiting zone since they can’t move on until the Second Coming and the Day of judgement. And yet.... if there is this waiting zone and if nobody has yet been bodily resurrected, then our eternal souls do fly off to some kind of quasi-heaven or quasi-hell after death. Hmmm... I think I'm confused.
Roger’s version of orthodox Christian belief seemed topsy-turvy to me. I would have thought that the belief in literal physical bodily resurrection was rather crude and unsophisticated, and the belief in the soul as the eternal part of a human being was the more evolved truth, but it turns out to be just the other way around. Belief in the eternal bodiless soul
is the common, default belief of folk Christianity – the informal, unreflective beliefs and practices of many Christians that are drawn more from comfortable slogans, legends and stories than from biblical materials
So it’s completely wrong.
WHY DIDN’T GOD MAKE ALL THIS A BIT LESS VAGUE?
Christians have been sifting through the Bible for clues about life after death for 2000 years – Roger says “Christians believe that God has answered these questions in admittedly somewhat opaque language”. Likewise, when Roger is discussing the End of the World he says Christian belief derives from certain passages of scripture that are “notoriously difficult to understand”. And you have to wonder – why didn’t God just make the whole thing clear? He had had all of human history to do this, either via one of the prophets or through Jesus himself, who at any point could have laid out the whole thing for his disciples or as a sub-clause of the Sermon on the Mount.
ANNIHILATIONISM – SOUNDS OKAY TO ME
The vast majority of Christians have believed that those not saved will be sent to hell where “they will be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelations 20). Actually, I think a great number of Christians no longer care for that doctrine too much, but that’s not what Roger says. Some Christians, however, believe that bad people will simply be obliterated – no eternal life of any sort for them. Roger calls it “God’s form of mercy killing or capital punishment”. But I couldn’t see that this annihilationism as it’s called would satisfy our human desire for justice.
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
(Book of Job, chapter 7)
Simple obliteration (exactly the thing I think does indeed happen to each and every one of us) doesn’t seem like enough of a punishment for some people I could think of.
But the really tough question which the Bible never seems to get to grips with though is what happens to average mediocre types after death – they just dithered their life away on earth, never achieved much, didn’t murder anyone but didn’t give hardly anything to charity either. They married average people and had ordinary kids. They don’t seem to deserve an eternity of bliss swooshing about with the angels and the saints, nor yet do they deserve being boiled or getting their toes gnawed off. What happens to them?
*meaning – what most Christians have believed during the last 2000 years
**I imagine something like packet soup but more complicated
Roger Olsen very helpfully lays out the orthodox* then the heretical beliefs about life after death in his penultimate chapter, and many interesting ideas are revealed.
Roger is greatly distressed by the state of modern Christian belief. He thinks modern Christians get all sorts of wrongheaded “folk religious” notions from books, movies, youtube preachers, televangelists, pop songs – everywhere, in fact, other than the sober writings of the Church Fathers.
His main beef is that there is a very widely held belief that when you die your eternal soul immediately zaps off to heaven or hell.
This kind of thing :
Some glad morning when this life is over
I'll fly away
To a home on God's celestial shore
I'll fly away
Just a few more weary days and then
I'll fly away
To a land where joy shall never end
I'll fly away
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by
I'll fly away
No no, utter nonsense, says Roger. The New Testament is festooned with explicit teaching about BODILY RESURRECTION. He says “the life to come in Heaven with God is bodily and not ghostly or ethereal”.
In fact he says that the belief that your physical body (that one you wince at in the mirror and poke and squeeze mournfully) will be raised from your grave and reconstituted** is the single point of greatest agreement in the history of Christian thought.
And yet it seems that the vast majority of Christians do not know this and neglect belief in bodily resurrection in favour of belief in immediate postmortem heavenly spiritual existence as ghost-like beings (or even angels!)
He says that actually the dead will just have to wait their turn, until Jesus returns and the Day of Judgement happens. Then, and only then, will they get their heaven (or hell). Therefore, logically, there is an “intermediate” place that souls go to wait for their bodily resurrection & judgement. He says that for saved Christians this place is “paradise”(not to be confused with heaven, although I see that on a dark night without any GPS you could make that mistake and take the wrong exit ramp). Where the unsaved go is not known. But Roger does not admit that if this is so, it appears that a judgement has already been performed on the dead, sorting them into different waiting zones. Otherwise you would have a situation where my Aunty Gladys and my Aunty Connie could bump into Heinrich Himmler at any moment, and that would never do.
Note : absolutely everybody who has ever died in the last 2000 years is crammed into this waiting zone since they can’t move on until the Second Coming and the Day of judgement. And yet.... if there is this waiting zone and if nobody has yet been bodily resurrected, then our eternal souls do fly off to some kind of quasi-heaven or quasi-hell after death. Hmmm... I think I'm confused.
Roger’s version of orthodox Christian belief seemed topsy-turvy to me. I would have thought that the belief in literal physical bodily resurrection was rather crude and unsophisticated, and the belief in the soul as the eternal part of a human being was the more evolved truth, but it turns out to be just the other way around. Belief in the eternal bodiless soul
is the common, default belief of folk Christianity – the informal, unreflective beliefs and practices of many Christians that are drawn more from comfortable slogans, legends and stories than from biblical materials
So it’s completely wrong.
WHY DIDN’T GOD MAKE ALL THIS A BIT LESS VAGUE?
Christians have been sifting through the Bible for clues about life after death for 2000 years – Roger says “Christians believe that God has answered these questions in admittedly somewhat opaque language”. Likewise, when Roger is discussing the End of the World he says Christian belief derives from certain passages of scripture that are “notoriously difficult to understand”. And you have to wonder – why didn’t God just make the whole thing clear? He had had all of human history to do this, either via one of the prophets or through Jesus himself, who at any point could have laid out the whole thing for his disciples or as a sub-clause of the Sermon on the Mount.
ANNIHILATIONISM – SOUNDS OKAY TO ME
The vast majority of Christians have believed that those not saved will be sent to hell where “they will be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelations 20). Actually, I think a great number of Christians no longer care for that doctrine too much, but that’s not what Roger says. Some Christians, however, believe that bad people will simply be obliterated – no eternal life of any sort for them. Roger calls it “God’s form of mercy killing or capital punishment”. But I couldn’t see that this annihilationism as it’s called would satisfy our human desire for justice.
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
(Book of Job, chapter 7)
Simple obliteration (exactly the thing I think does indeed happen to each and every one of us) doesn’t seem like enough of a punishment for some people I could think of.
But the really tough question which the Bible never seems to get to grips with though is what happens to average mediocre types after death – they just dithered their life away on earth, never achieved much, didn’t murder anyone but didn’t give hardly anything to charity either. They married average people and had ordinary kids. They don’t seem to deserve an eternity of bliss swooshing about with the angels and the saints, nor yet do they deserve being boiled or getting their toes gnawed off. What happens to them?
*meaning – what most Christians have believed during the last 2000 years
**I imagine something like packet soup but more complicated
Read
December 28, 2024It's far from perfect, but just as an overview of the Christian faith this book strikes a great balance of being both thorough and accessible.
March 22, 2024
Read this for my Systematic/Historical Theology course for my graduate degree. Have been working through it since last August. I thoroughly enjoyed Olson's writing. Accessible, descriptive, and digestible; Olson covers 2000 years of Christian theology and belief, and packs it into about 400 pages - quite impressive.
I loved how Olson approached each topic in question - beginning with an assessment of the issues and polarities of the theological concept, moving into outlining the consensus of the Great Tradition (historical belief in the church), then addressing the alternatives to Christian belief that the church needs to stray away from provided a breadth of knowledge I was not exposed to previously about different theological discussions. Olson then ends each chapter discussing the diversity in Christian thought, and encourages a unitive pursuit for the modern church to exist in both "diversity and unity".
Olson also writes in a very redemptive tone, seeking to allow space for conversation to arise between denominational differences (East vs. West, Roman Catholic vs. Protestant, Lutheran vs. Anglican vs. Baptist vs. Church of Christ, etc.), which was my favorite part. In all a good read, and will keep it on my shelf to return to when I find myself engaging in discussions about the core parts of Christian belief.
I loved how Olson approached each topic in question - beginning with an assessment of the issues and polarities of the theological concept, moving into outlining the consensus of the Great Tradition (historical belief in the church), then addressing the alternatives to Christian belief that the church needs to stray away from provided a breadth of knowledge I was not exposed to previously about different theological discussions. Olson then ends each chapter discussing the diversity in Christian thought, and encourages a unitive pursuit for the modern church to exist in both "diversity and unity".
Olson also writes in a very redemptive tone, seeking to allow space for conversation to arise between denominational differences (East vs. West, Roman Catholic vs. Protestant, Lutheran vs. Anglican vs. Baptist vs. Church of Christ, etc.), which was my favorite part. In all a good read, and will keep it on my shelf to return to when I find myself engaging in discussions about the core parts of Christian belief.
March 24, 2025
I was assigned this book for a class, but it truly is one of my favorite books I have ever read.
A beautiful, thorough, accessible, and unitive overview of systematic theology. 10/10 recommend for anyone looking to dig into theology!
A beautiful, thorough, accessible, and unitive overview of systematic theology. 10/10 recommend for anyone looking to dig into theology!
April 17, 2016
This book wasn't awful but not the best either. This was a required reading for my Evangelical Theology class and many times I ended up quickly scanning a chapter instead of really paying attention to every detail. My main issue with it was how wordy it was - the author seemed to take a while explaining everything. I think I would have been more engaged (and it would have been a much quicker read) if it was more direct in explaining concepts. I got used to the way each chapter was organized and eventually found that aspect helpful as well.
Read
December 31, 2024Pretty good overview of a lot of key topics for Christianity. I also appreciate the line drawn between diversity and heresy; I think that’s pretty important to recognize in our current day.
*Admittedly I did not read all of this, but I read most of it for a class and I doubt I’ll ever finish the last couple chapters I didn’t get to lol
*Admittedly I did not read all of this, but I read most of it for a class and I doubt I’ll ever finish the last couple chapters I didn’t get to lol
September 17, 2025
I found this book really insightful. I would like to go through it again at some point. I appreciated the author's teaching on what happens after death in the last chapters of this book
June 3, 2025
This is a fair introduction to the basic contours of the great tradition of Christian theology. I felt his category of "heresy" was idiosyncratic at times and was surprised when he listed open theism as one of the acceptable expressions of orthodoxy. It seems dated at times already, as some of his discussions of unacceptable belief were more common 20 years ago.
I very much appreciated his description of "folk religion" in the United States, as I am increasingly convinced this describes many American Protestants. A book like this will at least represent the better side of the Christian tradition and be a corrective to the folk accretions. And his presentation of the material followed a helpfully predictable pattern that would make this useful as a textbook to go along with a class.
I think this is accessible enough to use as an introductory book, but I don't think I would necessarily put it near the top of my list.
I very much appreciated his description of "folk religion" in the United States, as I am increasingly convinced this describes many American Protestants. A book like this will at least represent the better side of the Christian tradition and be a corrective to the folk accretions. And his presentation of the material followed a helpfully predictable pattern that would make this useful as a textbook to go along with a class.
I think this is accessible enough to use as an introductory book, but I don't think I would necessarily put it near the top of my list.
February 24, 2016
Really enjoyed reading and outlining this book for my Systematic Theology class. Olson's style is organized and accessible to even the most inexperienced (me) students of traditional issues in systematic thought. It actually made the reading quite enjoyable.
He openly acknowledges the position that he writes from in the beginning, which was refreshing. For the most part his layout of the different topics felt pretty fair to all sides.
He openly acknowledges the position that he writes from in the beginning, which was refreshing. For the most part his layout of the different topics felt pretty fair to all sides.
February 12, 2014
Pretty basic book. While the "both-and" approach works in some areas of theology, some areas are definitely "either-or". I felt like this book was a cop out because Olsen refused to come down firmly on aspects of theology that Scripture firmly comes down on in an attempt to make everyone feel included.
October 15, 2022
I just finished "The Mosaic of Christian Belief: Twenty Centuries of Unity and Diversity," by Roger E. Olson, 2002.
I greatly appreciate Olson. Many of my thoughts have been influenced by his words on Patheos. He is the most progressive conservative I've read and I love the tension of the one side bumping against the other. Many of his frustrations in the church are mine as well (we've emailed about this). Many of his challenges have pushed me: read "A Theology of the Social Gospel." Finally he hates theological determinism (see his book "Against Calvinism") as do I.
The first four chapters are the prolegomena dealing with Unity and Diversity among believers; Sources and Norms or theological method; Revelation; finally Scripture. My big take away here has to do with Olson's use of "Both-And" over "Either-Or," or how often in Theology we can have both explanations rather than be dogmatic about nonessentials.
"The Bible, then, came to be regarded by all Christians as a form of special Divine revelation--above nature but below Jesus Christ Himself," p 76.
The next four chapters deal with God: In Unity; In Trinity; in Creation; finally His Providence. His deep knowledge of historical theology made his coverage of the Trinity quite good. And his coverage of Providence allowed him a platform to state that Open Theism isn't heresy.
"In other words, the dogma of the Trinity arises as the only protection of the mystery that lies at the very heart of Christian identity: the mystery of monotheism--that God is one being--combined with worship of three distinct entities as equally God," p 139.
Next Olson dealt with Humanity; The Person of Christ; The Work of Christ; and Ordo Salutis or the order of salvation. I will once more say that his being a historical theologian really made the Person of Christ good and I wish this would have been something I read years ago. He also was very "both-and" about the Work of Christ...as long as it has a major objective element.
The last part of this work covers the Church; Life Beyond Death; and The Kingdom of God. I really like how Olson flayed the concept of the immortal soul and all the horrible folk theology, hymns and funeral sermons it has polluted.
"What is this world coming to? The Christian answer is 'to the Kingdom of God,'" p 332.
This was an excellent systematic theology by a somewhat conservative (raised Pentecostal and a practicing Baptist, American i think) historical theologian. Like I thought going in he often called down the Christian Consensus or the tradition when making a point; he was grounding his points in dudes dead some 1500 yrs now.
But if i had to make a point against this work it is he has no proper Pneumatology (theology of the Holy Spirit). The Spirit arises throughout but with no designated chapter.
So yeah, keep your eyes open for this one if you need an intro to theology.
#TheMosaicOfChristianBelief #RogerEOlson #RogerOlson #Olson #SystematicTheology #HistoricalTheology #Theology #Theology101 #BaylorUniversity #Baylor #TruettSeminary
I greatly appreciate Olson. Many of my thoughts have been influenced by his words on Patheos. He is the most progressive conservative I've read and I love the tension of the one side bumping against the other. Many of his frustrations in the church are mine as well (we've emailed about this). Many of his challenges have pushed me: read "A Theology of the Social Gospel." Finally he hates theological determinism (see his book "Against Calvinism") as do I.
The first four chapters are the prolegomena dealing with Unity and Diversity among believers; Sources and Norms or theological method; Revelation; finally Scripture. My big take away here has to do with Olson's use of "Both-And" over "Either-Or," or how often in Theology we can have both explanations rather than be dogmatic about nonessentials.
"The Bible, then, came to be regarded by all Christians as a form of special Divine revelation--above nature but below Jesus Christ Himself," p 76.
The next four chapters deal with God: In Unity; In Trinity; in Creation; finally His Providence. His deep knowledge of historical theology made his coverage of the Trinity quite good. And his coverage of Providence allowed him a platform to state that Open Theism isn't heresy.
"In other words, the dogma of the Trinity arises as the only protection of the mystery that lies at the very heart of Christian identity: the mystery of monotheism--that God is one being--combined with worship of three distinct entities as equally God," p 139.
Next Olson dealt with Humanity; The Person of Christ; The Work of Christ; and Ordo Salutis or the order of salvation. I will once more say that his being a historical theologian really made the Person of Christ good and I wish this would have been something I read years ago. He also was very "both-and" about the Work of Christ...as long as it has a major objective element.
The last part of this work covers the Church; Life Beyond Death; and The Kingdom of God. I really like how Olson flayed the concept of the immortal soul and all the horrible folk theology, hymns and funeral sermons it has polluted.
"What is this world coming to? The Christian answer is 'to the Kingdom of God,'" p 332.
This was an excellent systematic theology by a somewhat conservative (raised Pentecostal and a practicing Baptist, American i think) historical theologian. Like I thought going in he often called down the Christian Consensus or the tradition when making a point; he was grounding his points in dudes dead some 1500 yrs now.
But if i had to make a point against this work it is he has no proper Pneumatology (theology of the Holy Spirit). The Spirit arises throughout but with no designated chapter.
So yeah, keep your eyes open for this one if you need an intro to theology.
#TheMosaicOfChristianBelief #RogerEOlson #RogerOlson #Olson #SystematicTheology #HistoricalTheology #Theology #Theology101 #BaylorUniversity #Baylor #TruettSeminary
December 3, 2017
This is an excellent read on what are the core essential doctrines that, so to speak, make a Christian a Christian. With so many Christian denominations with their varied doctrines and interpretations of the BIble, and with so many Christians making the claim that it is their doctrinal beliefs that are more in line with the Bible while all others are considered false and heretical, it is sometimes hard to figure just exactly what is to be believed in order to correctly describe oneself as a Christian. As Roger E. Olson states in his introduction, "This is a book about doctrine and theology, which are both about beliefs" (p.21).
Here Olson goes step by step to bring clarity to the multitudinous doctrines that are thrown out there and just catching those doctrines that have been agreed upon and held by the Christian Church throughout history since the days of the apostles. He differentiates between those teachings that are truly Christian, those teachings that allow for differences of opinion yet are essentially Christian in it's core elements, and those doctrines that are heretical and outside proper Christian belief.
Each chapter distills particular core Christian doctrines and approaches each of them by first discussing the need for shared common beliefs (ch.1) and what those core beliefs are (ch.2), that is, the "proper Christian beliefs, mot merely beliefs held by most Christians" (p.50).
Afterwards, he devotes each chapter to a particular core Christian doctrine, approaching each by pointing out and discussing
(a) the issues surrounding it.
(b) what beliefs about it wer Christian united on
(c) alternative understandings outside the Christian consensus
(d) legitimate diversity of "interpretation and opinion" respecting the core doctrine
(e) proposals on how to unify these doctrines "for uniting Christians (especially evangelical Protestants)."
Olson does a great job in clarifying much of the issues and the differences held between Christians and does so in a way that is both well organized and without technical jargon.
This is a book I wish all Christians would seriously read in he hope of, at least, challenging all who profess to the Lordship of Christ over their lives to unity.
Here Olson goes step by step to bring clarity to the multitudinous doctrines that are thrown out there and just catching those doctrines that have been agreed upon and held by the Christian Church throughout history since the days of the apostles. He differentiates between those teachings that are truly Christian, those teachings that allow for differences of opinion yet are essentially Christian in it's core elements, and those doctrines that are heretical and outside proper Christian belief.
Each chapter distills particular core Christian doctrines and approaches each of them by first discussing the need for shared common beliefs (ch.1) and what those core beliefs are (ch.2), that is, the "proper Christian beliefs, mot merely beliefs held by most Christians" (p.50).
Afterwards, he devotes each chapter to a particular core Christian doctrine, approaching each by pointing out and discussing
(a) the issues surrounding it.
(b) what beliefs about it wer Christian united on
(c) alternative understandings outside the Christian consensus
(d) legitimate diversity of "interpretation and opinion" respecting the core doctrine
(e) proposals on how to unify these doctrines "for uniting Christians (especially evangelical Protestants)."
Olson does a great job in clarifying much of the issues and the differences held between Christians and does so in a way that is both well organized and without technical jargon.
This is a book I wish all Christians would seriously read in he hope of, at least, challenging all who profess to the Lordship of Christ over their lives to unity.
April 15, 2025
As one volume introductions to Christian theology go, this one is pretty good. At under 400 pages it is certainly succinct (it would be difficult to get any quality in a shorter volume, though I've yet to read Alister McGrath's new Theology: the Basics). The 16 chapters cover all that might be expected and nothing obvious has been omitted. Each chapter is also set out in a helpful way: a summary of the core beliefs; a brief description of interpretations that have been considered by the church to be heretical; a brief delineation of the varied beliefs held by different Christian traditions; and finally a summation of what can be universally agreed.
The frustrations (for a British reader) is that the centre ground in American Protestantism is rather different to the centre ground in European Christianity. So, for instance, when discussing creation Olsen lists seven day creationism and theistic evolution at two ends of the acceptable spectrum, with progressive creationism (whatever that is) in the centre. I know only a few thoughtful Christians who would not accept theistic evolution. Anything else, including Intelligent Design, tends to occupy more of a fringe position. Similarly annihilationism, following John Stott's lead, is possibly a majority position in the UK (at least in Anglicanism). I know few who believe in everlasting fiery damnation. And because N.T. Wright dominates much of the Biblical studies scene in this country, I am unable to say along with Olsen that every Christian believes in Christ's imputed righteousness. Wright, and others, take Paul's language to refer to a courtroom scene in which, because of Christ's death, we are declared in the right through God's judgement, not because we somehow take on Christ's righteousness. It's debatable, of course, but imputed righteousness is not universally held.
These quibbles aside, the book is a useful primer and is used by my local theological college as one of the core doctrine textbooks.
The frustrations (for a British reader) is that the centre ground in American Protestantism is rather different to the centre ground in European Christianity. So, for instance, when discussing creation Olsen lists seven day creationism and theistic evolution at two ends of the acceptable spectrum, with progressive creationism (whatever that is) in the centre. I know only a few thoughtful Christians who would not accept theistic evolution. Anything else, including Intelligent Design, tends to occupy more of a fringe position. Similarly annihilationism, following John Stott's lead, is possibly a majority position in the UK (at least in Anglicanism). I know few who believe in everlasting fiery damnation. And because N.T. Wright dominates much of the Biblical studies scene in this country, I am unable to say along with Olsen that every Christian believes in Christ's imputed righteousness. Wright, and others, take Paul's language to refer to a courtroom scene in which, because of Christ's death, we are declared in the right through God's judgement, not because we somehow take on Christ's righteousness. It's debatable, of course, but imputed righteousness is not universally held.
These quibbles aside, the book is a useful primer and is used by my local theological college as one of the core doctrine textbooks.
November 6, 2023
3.5 rounded up. Olson addresses a lot of the big questions of systematic theology (revelation, Scripture, the Trinity, human nature, the goodness of God, the sovereignty of God, providence, etc.); and for each topic, he lays out what he perceives to be the most significant approaches and theological trajectories throughout the history of the Church (e.g., for "Providence," he discusses and compares determinism, limited providence / arminianism, and open theism). Each chapter follows the same format: he introduces the topic, highlights points of consensus among the church catholic, highlights points of disagreement within the church catholic, and then irenically offers what he finds to be an ecumenical way forward.
This is a great starting point for those interested in studying systematic theology. Olson clearly and concisely covers *a lot* of ground. At some points, this comes at the expense of oversimplification. His discussions of the Christus Victor model of atonement and of the doctrine of apokatastasis seemed particularly simplistic and bereft to me. At some points, I disagreed with his theological conclusions (e.g., regarding questions of divine immutability and impassibility). Nevertheless, I recognize how valuable of a resource this book can be, and I’ve even gifted a copy to a friend who has a budding interest in systematics. I always appreciate reading Olson—even when I disagree with him; and I especially appreciate his heart for unity.
This is a great starting point for those interested in studying systematic theology. Olson clearly and concisely covers *a lot* of ground. At some points, this comes at the expense of oversimplification. His discussions of the Christus Victor model of atonement and of the doctrine of apokatastasis seemed particularly simplistic and bereft to me. At some points, I disagreed with his theological conclusions (e.g., regarding questions of divine immutability and impassibility). Nevertheless, I recognize how valuable of a resource this book can be, and I’ve even gifted a copy to a friend who has a budding interest in systematics. I always appreciate reading Olson—even when I disagree with him; and I especially appreciate his heart for unity.
March 19, 2025
It’s very rare that I am sad to finish a school book, but that is certainly the case with this one. Such an interesting read, overviewing the many differences—but also clear unity—of Christian belief across all traditions and all eras.
Each chapter took a subject and followed an identical outline: a brief description of the topic/theological subfield, what the Christian consensus is regarding this topic across all times and traditions, what major areas of diversity and disagreement there are in the specifics of this topic, and a proposed unitive framework for all Christians to work toward maintaining despite these differences.
Topics ranged from doctrines of Scripture/authority, ecclesiology, Christology, eschatology, creation, providence, humanity, and others. Because the format—down to the wording of the headings—is identical from one chapter to the next, once you’re a few chapters in you start to pick up on the rhythm of the book.
I’d highly recommend this to anyone wanting a succinct but detailed overview of Christian theology, anchored in voices all across church history. I was both challenged and encouraged by this book, and even when I disagreed with the author’s own specific stance on certain issues, I found his case compelling and his tone charitable. I will likely refer back to this as a resource often.
Each chapter took a subject and followed an identical outline: a brief description of the topic/theological subfield, what the Christian consensus is regarding this topic across all times and traditions, what major areas of diversity and disagreement there are in the specifics of this topic, and a proposed unitive framework for all Christians to work toward maintaining despite these differences.
Topics ranged from doctrines of Scripture/authority, ecclesiology, Christology, eschatology, creation, providence, humanity, and others. Because the format—down to the wording of the headings—is identical from one chapter to the next, once you’re a few chapters in you start to pick up on the rhythm of the book.
I’d highly recommend this to anyone wanting a succinct but detailed overview of Christian theology, anchored in voices all across church history. I was both challenged and encouraged by this book, and even when I disagreed with the author’s own specific stance on certain issues, I found his case compelling and his tone charitable. I will likely refer back to this as a resource often.
May 22, 2024
Roger E. Olson's "The Mosaic of Christian Belief: Twenty Centuries of Unity and Diversity" is an invaluable resource for anyone involved in ecumenical settings like a Christian university that values a broad, denominational spectrum. Olson's approach to categorizing some doctrines of varies denominations and traditions as "non-essential" provokes thoughtful debate on what constitutes core Christian beliefs, an aspect that, while occasionally contentious, is crucial for deepening theological discussions. Although I find myself skeptical of some of Olson’s claims, for example about Baptism and Holy Communion, the book has undeniably enriched my understanding and appreciation of Christian diversity. It’s a recommended read for those looking to explore the complexities and commonalities of Christian theology.
August 9, 2025
Generally helpful, with a focus on irenic exposition of core Christian beliefs with room for diversity amongst Christians on secondary issues. My only complaint was that I (even as a Protestant) did feel that there were a few Protestant quirks - such as referring to the Great Tradition as the beliefs held by early church fathers and retrieved by the Protestant reformers (which Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians are unlikely to agree with). However, these issues were more niggles than deal breakers, and I expect that Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians will find more agreement than disagreement with the content presented in this book.
November 23, 2023
Amazing book on the spectrum of Christian doctrines throughout history, from the early patristic period to 20th-century theologians with a unitive purpose in mind.
Only thing to consider is that the confrontations of modern heresies/topics after the publication date (2002) are inevitably not written about.
Even though it misses out on 20 years of topics to address (and I would love to read an updated version) you will come away learning something about theological history or even walk away zealous with a sort of ecumenical fervor.
Only thing to consider is that the confrontations of modern heresies/topics after the publication date (2002) are inevitably not written about.
Even though it misses out on 20 years of topics to address (and I would love to read an updated version) you will come away learning something about theological history or even walk away zealous with a sort of ecumenical fervor.
August 3, 2019
I absolutely love this book. It was a required read for my theology class. I'm not sure if I love this book because throughly enjoy theology or because it was so well written. Olson takes you through some of the founding church father's and their perspective and thoughts of Christianity. This book encouraged me to think outside the box and seek the answers through the help of the Holy Spirit. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to deepen their faith and who are seeking understanding.
March 5, 2023
Loved this book. Erudite summary of "mere Christian" doctrine spanning 2000 years. Olson has provided a wonderful service to all Christians (and non-Christians) with this book. We moderns tend to be ignorant of the early Chruch Fathers. Olson describes the origin of the major Christian doctrines and describes the often fine-line between orthodoxy and heresy in language that everyone can understand.
April 24, 2025
Need a thorough overview of everything from Salvation, the Trinity, and the End Times (and more?) - this is the book for you. While far from perfect, Olson communicates with clarity about almost every key theological issue and the unity, diversity, and heresy's that emerge. If you think that this book will solve all your problems - it won't, but it will bring a generous awareness for Christians about theology from different Christian denominations and groups.
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June 27, 2022this was a phenomenal beginner level book on systematic theology. it was veryyy historical in its content, which I appreciated thoroughly.
also, Olson created a space for diversity in thought, which is refreshing within theological conversations— sometimes two things CAN be true at the same time, which is something our polarized society could be reminded of for sure.
also, Olson created a space for diversity in thought, which is refreshing within theological conversations— sometimes two things CAN be true at the same time, which is something our polarized society could be reminded of for sure.
October 11, 2022
This book was required reading for both my Systematic Theology 1 and 2 classes. I found it very interesting and informative. It is not bogged down with philosophical mumbojumbo, yet it is not dumbed down. Dr. Olson has found a brilliant middle ground to make sure that this book is both informative and easy to understand.
November 4, 2021
I mean, heady academic type of reading which can feel like hard work, but Olsen certainly is able to present all the leading theologians perspectives on various theological points that society often contemplates, and weighs them up and presents alternative viewpoints also.
March 15, 2023
Really great overview of Christian theology. Olson does a fantastic job of expressing what he believes and giving the full picture of the buffet of Christian orthodox beliefs and leaving room for differing beliefs
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August 19, 2021Good overview of the basics of Christianity with short discussions on cults.
September 2, 2022
Very informative. A comprehensive overview of Christian theology and its various perspectives.
December 23, 2019
Read for School Assignment.
August 2, 2016
The Mosaic of Christian Belief: Twenty Centuries of Unity and Diversity (2nd ed.) by Roger E. Olson is an up-to-date, revised and expanded exploration into the history of Christian doctrine. As with the previous edition, Olson does an excellent service to the reader by thematically tracing the contours of Christianity down through the centuries in and easy-to-read package. Olson carefully unearths much of the consensus teaching to be discovered in the history of the Church, including details surrounding various areas of doctrinal diversity, and adds an additional chapter on the Holy Spirit.
There is much to be excited about here. First, and probably foremost, Olson does an incredible job keeping his audience in focus as he surveys the land of theological belief. Olson makes historical theology exciting and accessible for the nonspecialist. Second, Olson’s overall tone is to be appreciated as he interacts with various figures and ideas that have plagued the history of Christianity—some for good, others not so much. Third, while addressing various doctrines (divine revelation, the Trinity, divine providence, Christology, Soteriology, Eschatology, etc.), Olson constructs a picture (or mosaic) of Christian belief as it has been handed down through the centuries. The benefits of this are immediately accessible to the reader and compound as the journey continues.
Those familiar with Olson’s work will be able to easily detect his theological bias and Arminian presuppositions. This framework is visible throughout and should be noted. However, compared to some of Olson’s other works, The Mosaic of Christian Belief is much more mild and balanced. If you identify with Olson’s tradition, you will likely find his analysis helpful and cooperative in your convictions. Those who do not identify with Olson’s theological tradition will unavoidably approach disagreement more frequently than others. Still, as one who rarely agrees with Olson, for the reasons mentioned above (and more), I found The Mosaic of Christian Belief: Twenty Centuries of Unity and Diversity to be an excellent (possibly even one of the best) introduction to historical theology.
I received a review copy of this books in exchange for and honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
There is much to be excited about here. First, and probably foremost, Olson does an incredible job keeping his audience in focus as he surveys the land of theological belief. Olson makes historical theology exciting and accessible for the nonspecialist. Second, Olson’s overall tone is to be appreciated as he interacts with various figures and ideas that have plagued the history of Christianity—some for good, others not so much. Third, while addressing various doctrines (divine revelation, the Trinity, divine providence, Christology, Soteriology, Eschatology, etc.), Olson constructs a picture (or mosaic) of Christian belief as it has been handed down through the centuries. The benefits of this are immediately accessible to the reader and compound as the journey continues.
Those familiar with Olson’s work will be able to easily detect his theological bias and Arminian presuppositions. This framework is visible throughout and should be noted. However, compared to some of Olson’s other works, The Mosaic of Christian Belief is much more mild and balanced. If you identify with Olson’s tradition, you will likely find his analysis helpful and cooperative in your convictions. Those who do not identify with Olson’s theological tradition will unavoidably approach disagreement more frequently than others. Still, as one who rarely agrees with Olson, for the reasons mentioned above (and more), I found The Mosaic of Christian Belief: Twenty Centuries of Unity and Diversity to be an excellent (possibly even one of the best) introduction to historical theology.
I received a review copy of this books in exchange for and honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
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