God: A Brief History (Facets) [Paperback]

Paul E. Captetz (Author)

Book Description

Series: Facets | Publication Date: November 1, 2003

This brief tour through three thousand years of religious history shows how the Christian doctrine of God evolved in response to tensions within the insights of monotheism. The very personal, changeable, and involved God of the Hebrew Bible transformed decisively in its encounter with Greek metaphysical concepts and with the emerging trinitarian notions of the early Christian period. Capetz skillfully traces this history and shows how the tensions thus created are with us still.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Paul E. Capetz is Associate Professor of Historical Theology, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. He is author of Christian Faith as Religion: A Study in the Theologies of Calvin and Schleiermacher (1998).

Product Details

• Paperback: 204 pages
• Publisher: Fortress Press (November 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800636309
• ISBN-13: 978-0800636302
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #612,896 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Overview, February 8, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: God: A Brief History (Facets) (Paperback)

This is an excellent example of historical theology. It ranges from the ancient Old Testament to contemporary theology and identifies with precision the twists and turns that make up the Christian theological traditions. Capetz covers an amazing sweep of history in this brief book and he make complex thought accessible to academics and lay people, alike. This would be a great text for a church book study. And, it makes a great refresher course for those of us whose Divinity School theology courses are slipping from memory.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Five BIG stars, June 11, 2004

By 

B. F. Mooney "biologist" (Mooresville, NC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: God: A Brief History (Facets) (Paperback)

This is, simply put, an excellent book, historical theology at its best. The scope is very wide, yet not at the cost of useful or thought-provoking depth on this topic - all the more remarkable in a book of 192 pages. If only more authors would think so clearly before beginning to write and remember the virtue of brevity!

Capetz has a way of re-explaining or re-examining the familiar ideas and putting them into a fresh perspective grounded in history. He clearly shows how some tenets of Christianity about God began and evolved, and does so with a fine and subtle economy of language.

A fine book, a pleasure to read and reflect on. I look forward to more from this talented author and thinker.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, October 14, 2009

By 

D. K. Stibbe - See all my reviews
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This review is from: God: A Brief History (Facets) (Paperback)

It can be exceedingly difficult to translate complex beliefs and structures into a few brief, easily digested paragraphs without stripping them of significance and deeper meaning. It is harder, still, to do this and keep the book easy to read and accessible to a broad audience. Yet, Paul Capetz has done just that in this small book. The section on process theology comes to mind, here. I highly recommend it to those new to such studies and, equally so, to those who are well versed in the subject and can appreciate a concise survey. I have given away several copies of this great little book.