Alister McGrath - Wikipedia

Alister McGrath - Wikipedia

Alister McGrath

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The Reverend Alister McGrath FRSA
Born	Alister Edgar McGrath 23 January 1953 (age 68) Belfast, Northern Ireland
Spouse(s)	Joanna Collicutt
Ecclesiastical career
Religion	Christianity (Anglican)
Church	Church of England
Ordained	1980 (deacon) 1981 (priest)
Academic background
Alma mater	Wadham College, Oxford Linacre College, Oxford Merton College, Oxford
Doctoral advisor	George Radda
Influences	Thomas Aquinas[1] Karl Barth[1] Roy Bhaskar[2][3] C. S. Lewis[4] Thomas F. Torrance[1]
Academic work
Discipline	Theology
Institutions	Wycliffe Hall, Oxford King's College, London Harris Manchester College, Oxford
Doctoral students	Michael Horton[5] Frank A. James III[6]
Main interests	Theistic evolution natural theology relationship between religion and science
Influenced	Nicky Gumbel[7]
Website	alistermcgrath.weebly.com

Alister Edgar McGrath FRSA (born 1953) is a Northern Irish theologian, priest, intellectual historian, scientist, Christian apologist, and public intellectual. He currently holds the Andreas Idreos Professorship in Science and Religion in the Faculty of Theology and Religion, and is a fellow of Harris Manchester College at the University of Oxford,^[8][9] and is Professor of Divinity at Gresham College.^[10] He was previously Professor of Theology, Ministry, and Education at King's College London and Head of the Centre for Theology, Religion and Culture,^[11] Professor of Historical Theology at the University of Oxford, and was principal of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, until 2005. He is an Anglican priest.^[12][13]

Aside from being a faculty member at Oxford, McGrath has also taught at Cambridge University and is a Teaching Fellow at Regent College. McGrath holds three doctorates from the University of Oxford: a doctoral degree in molecular biophysics, a Doctor of Divinity degree in theology, and a Doctor of Letters degree in intellectual history.

McGrath is noted for his work in historical theology, systematic theology, and the relationship between science and religion, as well as his writings on apologetics.^[14] He is also known for his opposition to New Atheism and antireligionism and his advocacy of theological critical realism^[15].^{[16][17][18][19]} Among his best-known books are The Twilight of Atheism, The Dawkins Delusion?, Dawkins' God: Genes, Memes, and the Meaning of Life, and A Scientific Theology.^[20] He is also the author of a number of popular textbooks on theology.^[21]

Contents

• 1Biography
• 2Views
• 3Writings
• 4References
• 5Further reading
• 6External links

Biography[edit]

McGrath was born on 23 January 1953 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and grew up in Downpatrick, County Down, where he attended Down High School. In September 1966 he became a pupil at the Methodist College Belfast, where his studies focused on mathematics, physics and chemistry. He went up to Wadham College, Oxford, in 1971 and gained first-class honours in chemistry in 1975. He began research in molecular biophysics in the Oxford University Department of Biochemistry under the supervision of George Radda^[22] and was elected to an E.P.A. Cephalosporin Research Studentship at Linacre College, Oxford, for the academic year 1975–1976, and to a Domus Senior Scholarship at Merton College, Oxford, for the period 1976–1978. During these three years, he carried out scientific research while studying for the Oxford University Final Honour School of Theology. He was awarded an Oxford Doctor of Philosophy degree for his research in molecular biophysics (December 1977), and gained first-class honours in theology in June 1978.^[23]

Reflecting on his time as an undergraduate at Wadham, McGrath has written, "I was discovering that Christianity was far more intellectually robust than I had ever imagined. I had some major rethinking to do, and by the end of November [1971], my decision was made: I turned my back on one faith and embraced another."^[24]

McGrath then left Oxford to work at the University of Cambridge, where he also studied for ordination in the Church of England. In September 1980, he was ordained deacon and began ministry as a curate at St Leonard's Parish Church, Wollaton, Nottingham, in the English East Midlands. He was ordained priest at Southwell Minster in September 1981. In 1983, he was appointed lecturer in Christian doctrine and ethics at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, and a member of the Oxford University Faculty of Theology. He was awarded a BD by Oxford in 1983, for research in historical theology.^[25] He spent the fall semester of 1990 as the Ezra Squire Tipple Visiting Professor of Historical Theology at the Divinity School of Drew University, Madison, New Jersey.^[23]

McGrath was elected University Research Lecturer in Theology at Oxford University in 1993 and also served as research professor of theology at Regent College, Vancouver, from 1993 to 1999. In 1995, he was elected Principal of Wycliffe Hall and in 1999, was awarded a personal chair in theology by the University of Oxford with the title "Professor of Historical Theology". He was awarded the Oxford degree of DD in 2001 for his research in historical and systematic theology,^[23] and was a founding member of the International Society for Science and Religion.^[26] On 1 September 2008 McGrath took up the Chair of Theology, Ministry and Education in the Department of Education and Professional Studies at King's College London. In 2010 McGrath was included in "The 20 Most Brilliant Christian Professors" list.^[27] In 2013 he was awarded his third doctorate from Oxford University, a DLitt, Division of Humanities, for research into science and religion, and natural theology. He is married to Joanna Collicutt McGrath and they have two adult children.^[28]

In 2014, McGrath was appointed the 32nd Professor of Divinity at Gresham College, a position dating back to 1597.^[10] In this position he is to deliver a series of free public lectures on Science, Faith, and God: The Big Questions,^[29] in which he hopes to present "a coherent exploration of how Christian theology can engage with concerns and debates within modern culture, focussing on one of its leading elements – the natural sciences."^[30]

Views[edit]

A former atheist,^[31][32] McGrath accepts and promotes evolution.^[33][34] In 2004 McGrath suggested in The Twilight of Atheism that atheism was in decline. He has been highly critical of Richard Dawkins, calling him "embarrassingly ignorant of Christian theology". His book, The Dawkins Delusion? – a response to Dawkins's The God Delusion – was published by SPCK in February 2007, and the two had public debate on the topic, "Does religious belief damage the health of a society, or is it necessary to provide the moral and ethical foundations of a healthy society?"^[35]

McGrath has also debated with Daniel Dennett, at the Greer-Heard Point-Counterpoint Forum in New Orleans in February 2007, as well as Christopher Hitchens at Georgetown University.^[36][37] In March 2007, McGrath debated with Peter Atkins at the University of Edinburgh on the topic 'Darwin and Humanity: Should We Rid the Mind of God?' In November that year, he debated with Susan Blackmore on the existence of God. McGrath has debated with David Helfand at the Veritas Forum on whether belief in God is a delusion.^[38] In 2011, he debated with Stephen Law on the topic 'Why Won't God Go Away?'^[39] He was interviewed by Richard Dawkins about his book Dawkins' God and faith in general for the television documentary The Root of All Evil? McGrath's interview was not included in the final cut, but the unedited footage is available online.^[40]

Writings[edit]

The author of more than 50 books,^[41] among McGrath's more notable works are:

• Understanding the Trinity, Grand Rapids: Academie Books, 1988, ISBN 0-310-29680-3
• Understanding Doctrine, Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992, ISBN 0-310-47951-7
• Bridge-Building, Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1992, ISBN 0-85110-969-1
• Intellectuals Don't Need God & Other Modern Myths, Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1993, ISBN 0-310-59091-4
• The Renewal of Anglicanism, Harrisburg: Morehouse, 1993, ISBN 0-8192-1603-8
• A Life of John Calvin (1993) ISBN 0-631-18947-5
• A Passion for Truth: The Intellectual Coherence of Evangelicalism (1996) ISBN 0-8308-1866-9
• Iustitia Dei, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998, ISBN 0-521-62426-6
• Science and Religion: An Introduction (1998) ISBN 0-631-20842-9
• Historical Theology: An Introduction to the History of Christian Thought (1998) ISBN 0-631-20844-5
• I Believe: Exploring the Apostles' Creed (1998) ISBN 0-8308-1946-0
• T. F. Torrance: An Intellectual Biography (1999) ISBN 0-567-08683-6
• The Journey: A Pilgrim in the Lands of the Spirit (2000) ISBN 978-0-385-49588-2
• Christian Theology: An Introduction (2001) ISBN 0-631-22528-5 (often used as a seminary textbook)
• The Christian Theology Reader (2001) ISBN 0-631-20637-X (containing primary sources referred to in his Christian Theology)
• In the Beginning : The Story of the King James Bible and How It Changed a Nation, a Language, and a Culture (2001) ISBN 0-385-72216-8
• Glimpsing the Face of God: The Search for Meaning in the Universe (2001) ISBN 0-8028-3980-0
• The Reenchantment of Nature: The Denial of Religion and the Ecological Crisis (2002) ISBN 978-0-385-50059-3
• Knowing Christ (2002) ISBN 0-385-50316-4
• A Scientific Theology v. 3 (2003) ISBN 0-567-08349-7
• A Brief History of Heaven (2003) ISBN 0-631-23354-7
• The Intellectual Origins of the European Reformation (2003) ISBN 0-631-22939-6
• The Twilight of Atheism: The Rise and Fall of Disbelief in the Modern World (2004) ISBN 0-385-50061-0
• Christianity's Dangerous Idea: The Protestant Revolution from the Sixteenth to the Twenty-First Century (2007) ISBN 978-0-06-082213-2
• The Dawkins Delusion? Atheist Fundamentalism and the denial of the divine (2007) ISBN 0-281-05927-6 (A critical response to Dawkins' book The God Delusion)
• The Open Secret: A New Vision for Natural Theology (2008) ISBN 978-1-4051-2691-5
• A Fine-Tuned Universe: The Quest for God in Science and Theology (2009) ISBN 0-664-23310-4
• Heresy: A History of Defending the Truth (2009) ISBN 978-0-06-082214-9
• Mere Theology: Christian Faith and the Discipleship of the Mind (2010) ISBN 0-281-06209-9
• Chosen Ones (Series: The Aedyn Chronicles Volume: 1) (2010) ISBN 0-310-71812-0
• Surprised by Meaning: Science, Faith, and How We Make Sense of Things (2011) ISBN 0-664-236-928
• Why God Won't Go Away: Engaging with the New Atheism (2011) ISBN 0-281-06387-7
• Flight of the Outcasts (Series: The Aedyn Chronicles Volume: 2) (2011) ISBN 0-310-71813-9
• Darkness Shall Fall (Series: The Aedyn Chronicles Volume: 3) (2011) ISBN 978-0-310-71814-7
• Reformation Thought: An Introduction (2012) ISBN 0-470-67281-1
• Darwinism and the Divine: Evolutionary Thought and Natural Theology (Oxford: Blackwell-Wiley, 2011). The 2009 Hulsean Lectures at the University of Cambridge
• The Intellectual World of C. S. Lewis (2013) ISBN 978-0-470-67279-2
• C. S. Lewis- A Life: Eccentric Genius, Reluctant Prophet (2013)
• Dawkins' God: Genes, Memes, and the Meaning of Life ([2004] 2015), 2nd ed., Wiley. ISBN 1-4051-2538-1 ISBN 0-281-05927-6 ISBN 978-1-4051-2538-3, pbk. (A critique of scientist Richard Dawkins' attitude towards religion)
• The Big Question: Why We Can’t Stop Talking About Science, Faith, and God (2015), St. Martin's Press, ISBN 978-1-250-07792-9
• Enriching Our Vision of Reality: Theology and Natural Sciences in Dialogue (2016), Templeton Press, ISBN 978-1-599-47534-9
• The Landscape of Faith: An Explorer's Guide to Christian Creeds (2018), SPCK, ISBN 978-0-281-07625-3
• Mere Discipleship: Growing in Wisdom and Hope (2018), Baker Books, ISBN 978-0-801-09422-4
• Narrative Apologetics: Sharing the Relevance, Joy, and Wonder of the Christian Faith (2019), Baker Books, ISBN 978-0-801-07577-3
• Richard Dawkins, C.S. Lewis and the Meaning of Life (2019), SPCK, ISBN 978-0-281-08019-9
• A Theory of Everything (That Matters): A Brief Guide to Einstein, Relativity, and His Surprising Thoughts on God (2019), Tyndale, ISBN 978-1-4964-3807-2
• J.I. Packer: His Life and Thought (2020), InterVarsity Press, ISBN 978-0-8308-4177-6

References[edit]

1. ^ Jump up to:^a b c "Review Article: Alister E. McGrath's A Scientific Theology" (PDF). Andrews University Seminary Studies. 44 (2): 345. 2006. ISSN 0003-2980. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
2. ^ "Review Article: Alister E. McGrath's A Scientific Theology" (PDF). Andrews University Seminary Studies. 44 (2): 343, 345. 2006. ISSN 0003-2980. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
3. ^ Dew, James K., Jr. (2011). Science and Theology: An Assessment of Alister McGrath's Critical Realist Perspective. Eugene, Oregon: Wipf and Stock. pp. 109, 111. ISBN 978-1-60899-855-5.
4. ^ McMath, Terence Handley (7 July 2017). "Alister McGrath, Theologian". Church Times. London. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
5. ^ McDonald, Jeffrey S. (2017). John Gerstner and the Renewal of Presbyterian and Reformed Evangelicalism in Modern America. Eugene, Oregon: Pickwick Publications. pp. 183–184. ISBN 978-1-4982-9631-1.
6. ^ "Frank A. James III, DPhil, PhD". Hatfield, Pennsylvania: Missio Seminary. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
7. ^ Aitken, Jonathan (2006). Heroes and Contemporaries. London: Continuum. p. 234. ISBN 978-0-8264-7833-7.
8. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
9. ^ "Revd. Professor Alister McGrath". Hmc.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
10. ^ Jump up to:^a b 'Gresham College Press Release, 08/04/15' Archived 22 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 8 April 2015)
11. ^ Alister McGrath, University of Oxford
12. ^ "Banner of Truth Trust". web.archive.org. 24 September 2003. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
13. ^ What is an Evangelical Anglican? Archived 19 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine
14. ^ [1]^{[permanent dead link]}
15. ^ "Revd. Professor Alister McGrath". Hmc.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
16. ^ "Sound and fury of the New Atheists – Alister McGrath – The Times (London) – RichardDawkins.net". Archived from the original on 4 November 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
17. ^ McGrath, Alister (31 January 2011). "Thank God for the New Atheism". ABC Religion & Ethics. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
18. ^ "Theology and reality: Critical realism in the thought of Alister E. McGrath – Udini". Archived from the original on 25 July 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
19. ^ "Wipf and Stock Publishers". Archived from the original on 13 March 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
20. ^ "Alister McGrath | Participants | Profile | Closer to Truth". Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
21. ^ "Alister E. McGrath". Alister E. McGrath. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
22. ^ McGrath, Alister (2010). Mere Theology. London: SPCK. p. 80. ISBN 978-0281062096.
23. ^ Jump up to:^a b c "Biography". Alister E. McGrath. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
24. ^ McGrath, Alister (2010). Mere Theology. London: SPCK. p. 81. ISBN 978-0281062096.
25. ^ "Curriculum Vitae". Alister E. McGrath. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
26. ^ ISSR List of founding members Archived 7 March 2005 at the Wayback Machine
27. ^ Brill, Alan (18 April 2010). "The 20 Most Brilliant Christian Professors". Retrieved 28 October 2021.
28. ^ "World-leading Theologian joins King's". Archived from the original on 21 August 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
29. ^ "Science, Faith and God: The Big Questions". Gresham.ac.uk. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
30. ^ "Professor Alister McGrath". Gresham.ac.uk. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
31. ^ Nigel Bovey. "Alister McGrath talks of God, science and Richard Dawkins". Christian Evidence Society. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2010. 'As a child I never had any interest in Christianity,' he says. 'I went through the motions of going to church with my parents but neither my heart nor my head was in it. It was while I was at the Methodist College, probably aged around 15 or 16, that I became an atheist – somebody who deliberately and intentionally does not believe in God and thinks that anyone who does believe in God is mentally deficient or seriously screwed up.'
32. ^ Interview on CBC: The Hour 18 May 2007
33. ^ Nigel Bovey. "Alister McGrath talks of God, science and Richard Dawkins". Christian Evidence Society. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2010. All I can say is that, with complete integrity, there are many Christians who see evolution as illuminating the way in which we understand Genesis and as giving us an enhanced vision of how God brought the world and humankind into being. People can make evolution atheistic but it doesn't have to be.
34. ^ Roger Morris. Is 'Theistic Evolution' a Cop-Out?. Faith Interface. Modern proponents of theistic evolution include: Dr Francis Collins, former director of the Human Genome Project and author of The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief (2007). Prof Alister McGrath, former Oxford molecular biophysicist and current Professor of Theology, Ministry and Education, and Head of the Centre for Theology, Religion and Culture at King's College, London. He is the author of numerous books and textbooks on Natural Theology and Scientific Theology. Rev. Dr John Polkinghorne, Physicist and Theologian from Cambridge University.
35. ^ "Audio Visual Resources". Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. Archived from the original on 29 March 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2007., includes sound recording of the Dawkins-McGrath debate
36. ^ "NOBTS – Alister McGrath and Daniel Dennett debate the future of atheism at Greer-Heard". Archived from the original on 6 February 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
37. ^ "Christopher Hitchens Debates Alister McGrath – FORA.tv". Archived from the original on 30 December 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2007.
38. ^ Alister McGrath & David Helfand - The God Delusion?, retrieved 3 August 2021
39. ^ "Unbelievable? 5 Feb 2011 - Alister McGrath & Stephen Law - Why Won't God Go Away?". Premierchristianradio.com. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
40. ^ [2]^{[dead link]}
41. ^ Alister McGrath, A Theory of Everything That Matters: A Brief Guide to Einstein, Relativity, and His Surprising Thoughts on God, Tyndale House Publishers (2019), p. 217

Further reading[edit]

• Chung, S. W. (ed.). Alister E. McGrath and Evangelical Theology: A Dynamic Engagement. Carlisle: Paternoster, 2003. ISBN 978-0-8010-2639-3
• Keating, James F. "The Natural Sciences as an Ancilla Theologiae Nova: Alister E. McGrath's A Scientific Theology." The Thomist 69 (2005): 127–52.
• Myers, Benjamin. "Alister McGrath's Scientific Theology." Reformed Theological Review 64 (2005): 15–34.
• Shipway, Brad. "The Theological Application of Bhaskar's Stratified Reality: The Scientific Theology of A. E. McGrath." Journal of Critical Realism 3 (2004): 191–203.

External links[edit]

• Official website 
• Alister McGrath homepage
• Open Forum with Alister McGrath – 'Is God a Delusion? Atheism and the Meaning of Life'
• Alister McGrath on The Hour (CBC television)
• Richard Dawkins Interviews Alister McGrath Video
• Alister McGrath lecture: God and the Good: Einstein and Religion. Filmed at The University of Sheffield
• Prokhorov Centre interview with McGrath
• Alister McGrath talks to Nigel Bovey of The War Cry: Part 1; Part 2
• Christopher Hitchens debates (with) Alister McGrath
• Alister McGrath debates with Peter Atkins at Edinburgh University
• Alister McGrath debates Sue Blackmore at Bristol University on the motion that "belief in God is a dangerous delusion". 13 November 2007.
• Full texts of McGrath's 2009 Gifford Lectures on natural theology

Academic offices
Preceded by John Barton	Bampton Lecturer 1990	Succeeded by Colin Gunton
Preceded by R. T. France	Principal of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford 1995–2005	Succeeded by Richard Turnbull
Preceded by Peter Harrison	Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion 2014–present	Incumbent
Preceded by The Lord Plant of Highfield	Gresham Professor of Divinity 2015–present

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Categories: 

• 1953 births
• 20th-century Anglican theologians
• 21st-century Anglican theologians
• Academics of King's College London
• Alumni of Linacre College, Oxford
• Alumni of Merton College, Oxford
• Alumni of Wadham College, Oxford
• Anglican priests from Northern Ireland
• Calvinist and Reformed ministers
• Christian apologists
• Converts to Anglicanism from atheism or agnosticism
• Critics of atheism
• Evangelical Anglican clergy
• Evangelical Anglican theologians
• Living people
• People educated at Down High School
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• People from Belfast
• Principals of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford
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• Systematic theologians
• Theistic evolutionists
• Writers about religion and science

==

The Christian Theology Reader eBook : McGrath, Alister E.: Amazon.com.au: Books

The Christian Theology Reader eBook : McGrath, Alister E.: Amazon.com.au: Books





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The Christian Theology Reader 5th Edition, Kindle Edition
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Regarded as the leading text in Christian theology for the last 25 years, Alister E. McGrath’s The Christian Theology Reader is now available in a new 5th edition featuring completely revised and updated content.
Brings together more than 350 readings from over 200 sources that chart 2,000 years of Christian history
Situates each reading within the appropriate historical and theological context with its own introduction, commentary, and study questions
Includes new readings on world Christianity and feminist, liberation, and postcolonial theologies, as well as more selections by female theologians and theologians from the developing world
Contains additional pedagogical features, such as new discussion questions and case studies, and a robust website with new videos by the author to aid student learning
Designed to function as a stand-alone volume, or as a companion to Christian Theology: An Introduction, 6th edition, for a complete overview of the subject
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978-1118874387
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5th
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Alister E. McGrath is Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion at Oxford University, UK. He is regarded as one of the world's leading theologians and is the author of some of the world's most widely used theological textbooks, including the bestselling Christian Theology: An Introduction (Wiley Blackwell, 2016), now in its sixth edition. He is in constant demand as a speaker at conferences throughout the world. In addition to major academic works and textbooks, he is the author of the highly acclaimed award winning biography, C. S. Lewis: A Life (2013), and The Big Question: Why Can't We Stop Talking about Science, Faith, and God (2015), nominated by Library Journal as one of the best religious books of 2015. --This text refers to the paperback edition.

About the Author

Alister E. McGrath is Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion at Oxford University, UK. He is regarded as one of the world's leading theologians and is the author of some of the world's most widely used theological textbooks, including the bestselling Christian Theology: An Introduction (Wiley Blackwell, 2016), now in its sixth edition. He is in constant demand as a speaker at conferences throughout the world. In addition to major academic works and textbooks, he is the author of the highly acclaimed award winning biography, C. S. Lewis: A Life (2013), and The Big Question: Why Can't We Stop Talking about Science, Faith, and God (2015), nominated by Library Journal as one of the best religious books of 2015.--This text refers to the paperback edition.


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ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01JZW1BKQ
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wiley-Blackwell; 5th edition (5 August 2016)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1679 KB
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Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 615 pages
Best Sellers Rank: 390,216 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
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Customer Reviews:
4.5 out of 5 stars 103 ratings
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Alister E. McGrath


Alister McGrath is a scholar and writer who is presently Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion at Oxford University. After initial work in the natural sciences, McGrath moved into the field of Christian theology. He is best known for his definitive and widely used textbooks on Christian theology and his authoritative biography of C. S. Lewis. As a former atheist, McGrath is fascinated by the interaction of faith, science, and atheism, and writes regularly on these themes.

McGrath was born in Belfast in 1953, and holds both Irish and British citizenship. He lives in the Cotswolds near Oxford.

For McGrath's website, including details of his weekly Youtube postings and videos helping you use his theology textbooks, go to alistermcgrath.net

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5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Book showing Writings from many of the "Fathers' off Christian Theology.Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 June 2019
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I brought this a companion to the same author's book "Christian Theology: An Introduction (6th edition). It contains over 350 readings from more than 200 sources, including Justin Martyr, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Augustine of Hippo, The Nicene Creed, The Apostle's Creed, and many many more. Like the companion book it covers subjects such as the sources of theology, the Doctrine of God, The Person of Christ, Salvation, Human nature and sin, the Church, The Last Things, and the Sacraments.

In this book we read what the early "Fathers" wrote, with explanations and questions for further study. It really is a fascinating read. Certainly gives plenty of food for thought.

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Craig Leppert
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful companion resource to McGrath's seminal theology textbookReviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 August 2017
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As a companion volume for McGrath's 'Christian Theology; An introduction' this book is an absolute essential. The basic format of each reading consists of a contextual introduction, the text itself, a summary and a number of study questions relating to the text. It is no exaggeration to say that this volume is detailed and comprehensive enough that it easily facilitates the ability for an individual to self teach to a very high standard.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Five StarsReviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 October 2017
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This book is really good

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5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource for study.Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 June 2018
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An excellent resource for the study of the Christian faith and helpful to use with a copy of the book Christian Theology by Alister McGrath. The author gives us the inspiration to want to study more.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Five StarsReviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 November 2017
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Really useful to have the texts readily to hand in one volume and excellent explanations to give context

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The Christian Theology Reader

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The Christian Theology Reader

by Alister E. McGrath (Editor)

 4.18  ·   Rating details ·  400 ratings  ·  19 reviews

The most comprehensive book of its kind, the new edition of the Christian Theology Reader collects more than 360 readings that illuminate the key doctrines, point of views, intellectual developments, and theologies from various factions of Christian history.

Contains 361 readings, drawn from 233 different sources, spread throughout the 2,000 years of Christian history.

Exceptionally user-friendly: every reading is accompanied its own introduction, commentary, and study questions.

Now includes increased representation of Catholicism, Orthodoxy and women writers.

A new section provides a "bird's-eye" view of the historical development of Christian theology, allowing users to locate a reading against its historical context.

Additional lecturer resources are available at the accompanying website: www.blackwellpublishing.com/mcgrath. (less)

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Paperback, 744 pages

Published September 1st 2006 by Blackwell Publishers (first published January 1st 1995)

Original TitleThe Christian Theology Reader

ISBN140515358X (ISBN13: 9781405153584)

Edition LanguageEnglish

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Tung

Jan 16, 2012Tung rated it really liked it

Shelves: christian-seminary

This textbook is not a stand-alone text, but an accompanying reader – i.e. it does not explain any theological doctrines, but rather provides a tremendous sampling of the writings of various theologians throughout history on a variety of topics. We get to read excerpts from the earliest theologians like Origen and Iraeneus, to theologians from the Middle Ages like Augustine and Aquinas, to philosophers like Locke and Pascal, to contemporary theologians like J.I. Packer. They cover all of the essentials of Christian theology from theology to Scripture to Christology to salvation to eschatology. In addition to providing the excerpts, McGrath includes a few sentences highlighting the important doctrinal points being made in the excerpt and/or the excerpt’s historical relevance. McGrath even includes follow-up questions to ensure comprehension of the text. Overall, I enjoyed the variety in the chosen readings, and found the excerpt summaries eminently useful. Recommended. (less)

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Jennifer

Apr 16, 2014Jennifer rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition

I read about 70 of the selections. This book has many primary sources that would be helpful in understanding theological issues. Each selection has an introduction and commentary afterwards. Sometimes the commentary is more helpful than the selection. This is because many of the selections are short excerpts and the comments are an explanation of the whole piece of writing,

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Steve Irby

Jul 03, 2021Steve Irby rated it liked it

Shelves: 2018

I just finished "The Christian Theology Reader," by Alister McGrath.

It was really a great book. I found Augustine as the sane voice between Tertullian and Justin Martyr in the discussion of Hellenistic philosophy in Christianity. Tertullian was totally against it and Justin was all for it. Augustine was for using it like a spoil of war but to be uses correctly. Then Augustine seems to set out to contradict this viewpoint by resurrecting Plato with his unspecified statements of God being immutable and impassable. It would have done his arguments a world of good to preface his comments with "ontologically," because as we can see in scripture, economically, God does change and feel pain. (Awaiting my friends who take issue with the aforementioned statement to send me nasty texts.) (less)

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Toria

Mar 20, 2021Toria rated it really liked it

Shelves: theology

Good collection of writings by theologians from over the many years of the Christian church. Everything is grouped in chapters by topic and there are lots of references to help find other related writings in the book. There are descriptions, summaries, and questions for each writing provided.

It is a hard read, in that, it is very in-depth.

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Kristi Stewart Elliott

Apr 04, 2020Kristi Stewart Elliott rated it it was amazing

Excellent source for original Christian texts, but in an accessible way.

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Bret James Stewart

Nov 14, 2013Bret James Stewart rated it really liked it

I need to preface this review by saying I do not like this type of book. Readers contain snippets of various works so you can get a feel for various issues on a given subject--theology, in this case. As usual, there is not enough room to really get a feel for the information, so you have to go and find the original if you want to do anything beyond skimming the surface. All the readers I have were bought because I had to for school. The only thing I use them for is padding out bibliographies for papers. Okay, that' s enough of front matter.

McGrath has done an average or slightly above average job on this book. He generally provides pro and con views of a matter, which is fairly standard. His selections are mostly acceptable, and it is easy to find information. Frankly, what else is there to do? I rank it four stars for being a decent example of what it is. It is not spectacular, but it is better than some I have seen. I fault it for assuming Roman Catholic dogma/doctrine represents Christianity, and I fault it because I just don't like it. (less)

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Jeff Elliott

Feb 19, 2014Jeff Elliott rated it really liked it

Shelves: bible-interp-theology

Given I only read 73 of the 300+ sections but they were the 73 that were assigned from class. This book is a collection of some of the greatest minds, thinkers and theologians in the history of Christianity. The downside is some of the selections are very short; so short, in fact, that they don't so much other than the introduction to each section does. The reality is that it is too expensive for publishers to use larger excerpts and I understand that but at some point it's not worth printing short sections at all. Overall, this is great introductory material including some very important pieces. (less)

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Pamela Tucker

Aug 08, 2010Pamela Tucker rated it it was amazing

If one is learning Catholism and Theological terms this is the book for you. It begins with the Roman Catholic Fathers and ends in the Modern Technological age with stress on Liberalism Theology.

It has some really good points, but there are some typo's and a couple of strange sentence structures claiming oneself to be a god. I do not think they meant for it to come out that way but the sentence actually states this.

Generally it is a very thick book and comes with the Christian Theology which one can use this for reference to actually writings of quotes used by the theologians for the past 2000 years. (less)

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Christopher Porter

Sep 16, 2007Christopher Porter rated it really liked it

An expansive and somewhat representative collection of excerpts from the most important Christian theologians. Much to be preferred to the companion Christian Theology: An Introduction, which I found to have a number of weaknesses. The presentation of apatheia seems to misunderstand the intent of the doctrine entirely. The author also has a fondness for the "Suffering God" theology that Moltmann made popular, which may account for the poor account of apatheia. (less)

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Kathleen Dixon

Oct 30, 2011Kathleen Dixon rated it really liked it

Shelves: religion-and-spirituality

This is an excellent "reader" which gives comprehensive coverage of theologians' writings on all the areas that theologians have ever talked through, agonised over, and written about. It's very clearly set out, and has succinct explanations before each quoted text so that the reader doesn't have to struggle with the jargon but can get right into struggling with what the theologians were saying. (less)

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Kimberly

May 22, 2012Kimberly rated it liked it  ·  review of another edition

Shelves: at-hand

Not as helpful as other theology books. But has good quotes from various sources on different theological issues. Includes such authors as Karl Barth, St. Augustine, John Calvin, Justin Martyr, Thomas Aquinas, Rene Descartes, and Sallie McFague. Includes the Nicene and Apostles' Creeds, and the Westminister Confession of Faith. (less)

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John

Jun 13, 2015John rated it it was amazing

This is an excellent resource for those who want to sample the primary sources of theology who simply don't have the time or inclination to collect and read hundreds of books. The selections are diverse and fair and will hopefully compel readers to dig deeper into the subjects that interests them while doing theology. (less)

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Chet Duke

Jan 20, 2016Chet Duke rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition

Shelves: theology, history-biography

This was our readings textbook for Systematic Theology. Awesome! I dont know how McGrath has time to put something like this together! He not only presents the material with brief introductions, but each section provides summaries and study questions. I plan to keep this book for a long time.

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