Creation (Truth and the Christian Imagination) [Hardcover]

Alister E. McGrath (Author)

Book Description

Series: Truth and the Christian Imagination | Publication Date: January 31, 2005

Employing seven classic paintings, Creation invites readers to envision the origin, dependence, and larger purpose of the universe and their own lives. McGrath explores seven traditional aspects of the doctrine of creation: encountering creation, tending creation, the spirituality of creation, the parables of creation, the Lord of creation, the place of humanity in creation, and the ruin and restoration of humanity. The first of six volumes in the Truth and the Christian Imagination series, this book will help students and lay people understand the relevance of traditional theological terminology, the continued viability of a broadly Christian approach, and the pertinence of doctrine to their daily lives.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"There is a genuine intellectual excitement to wrestling with God," writes Oxford University theologian McGrath in this first volume of a series on truth and the Christian imagination. (Future volumes will deal with incarnation, redemption, resurrection, heaven and God.) McGrath invites readers to engage in what he calls "a discipleship of the imagination," pairing the written word with visual art to help readers understand creation more intimately. The book is divided into sections on encountering creation, tending creation, a spirituality of creation, the parables of creation, the Lord of creation, humanity’s place in creation and the ruin and restoration of humanity. While novice readers may find that McGrath’s style is still too elevated for their tastes, they will revel in the book’s stories (including a memorable anecdote about Vincent Van Gogh’s first sermon and his short tenure as a theology student). Art by Van Gogh, William Blake, Peter Paul Rubens, Jan Bruegel, Michelangelo and others graces the pages, though the reproductions are sometimes undersized.
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Review

"'Alister McGrath invariably combines enormous scholarship with an accessible and engaging style.' Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury; 'Oxford University's McGrath has distinguished himself not just as an historical theologian, but as a generous and witty writer who brings life to topics that would turn to dust in others' hands.' Publishers' Weekly" --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 87 pages
• Publisher: Fortress Pr (January 31, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800637003
• ISBN-13: 978-0800637002
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 7.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #880,690 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alister E. McGrath is a historian, biochemist, and Christian theologian born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. A longtime professor at Oxford University, he now holds the chair in theology, ministry, and education at the University of London. He is the author of several books on theology and history, including Christianity's Dangerous Idea, In the Beginning, and The Twilight of Atheism. He lives in Oxford, England, and lectures regularly in the United States.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning, April 22, 2005

By 

FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Creation (Truth and the Christian Imagination) (Hardcover)

This beautiful book is very different from Alistair McGrath's general writing on theology. His introductory Christian theology book is a standard text used in seminaries around the English-speaking world; his work on Christian spirituality and historical theology is essential reading, in my opinion. In this book, McGrath departs from the typical academic text to look at the topic of creation (generally one of the major topics in systematic theology); he explores the theme of creation in a very creative way.

McGrath looks at creation lyrically, poetically, spiritually, and visually. The first thing that will strike the reader is the incredible colour and images of famous paintings throughout the book. McGrath uses seven key paintings to illustrate, focusing upon small pieces as well as broad strokes of the canvases. McGrath uses the following seven paintings:

`The Ancient of Days' by William Blake
`Adam and Eve in Paradise' by Jan Bruegel
`Landscape with a Rainbow' by Peter Paul Rubens
`The Sower' by Vincent van Gogh
`The Marriage Feast at Cana' by Juan de Flandes
`The Creation of Adam' (a detail of the Sistine Chapel ceiling) by Michelangelo
`Tower of Babel' by Pieter Bruegel

Each of these paintings has made an impact on artists, theologians, and the general public in many different ways. McGrath uses these images to go beyond the simple exposition of theology in rational and academic terms to look at theological ideas imaginatively, for artistic _expression touches the soul in diverse ways. McGrath writes that `we must discover a discipleship of the imagination, in which we allow the great themes of the Christian faith to control, nourish and delight our glorious vision of the God-created world.'

Developing ideas from Blake's painting, McGrath warns against an `excessively rational approach to God as creator' while not discounting the proper use of reason in theological development. McGrath uses Rubens' painting in connection with a poem by George Herbert and St. Patrick's `Deer's Cry' (the Breastplate) to explore spiritual dimensions of creation, showing delight in creation that goes beyond doctrines and dogmas.

McGrath draws references widely to other creative images, including the Hebrew scriptural image of God as a potter at the potter's wheel, and Dorothy Sayers' analogy of God as the author of a book. Some images are grand, and others are down-to-earth; some are exalted and power, whereas others are homespun and inviting.

The production value of the text is superb - the multi-colour process printing brings out the vivid details of the paintings, and catches the subtle shadings in paintings such as Rubens and Flandes (one can even see in the mirror on the wall in Flandes' painting the details of the scene in front of it).

This is a wonderful book, and makes a great gift for one's friends and oneself.

5.0 out of 5 stars Creation, March 4, 2010

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Roy S - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Creation (Truth and the Christian Imagination) (Hardcover)

I would recommend this book even though when I ordered it I thought it was about the first part of Genesis dealing with the creation of the Heaven's and the earth and man. But as I read the forward I was surprised and happy to read what the author was saying and the premise from which he was coming not only intrigued me, but also showed that the author was starting with Scripture and then going to the topic he was talking about. I enjoyed reading this book.

6 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars More of the same..., September 6, 2005

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Eric Brotheridge (Indianapolis, IN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Creation (Truth and the Christian Imagination) (Hardcover)

I respectfully disagree with the prior reviewer. McGrath explores the Christian doctrine of Creation without himself engaging in any new and exciting methods of creation. This book, steeped in tradition, does not move beyond traditional thinking. If you are seeking an exploration of traditional thinking about Creation from the Christian perspective, reflected upon through age-old traditional works of art, then you may enjoy this book. McGrath continues to conform (rather than transform) to conservative tradition with terms such as "Old Testament," God as "He," and Eve as the initial instigator of apple-handling. Seeking the cutting edge? Do not be fooled by the slick packaging or the short comment on the back-cover by Archbishop Rowan Williams. (I expect more from Archbishop Williams.)