Customer Reviews

Survivor's Guide to Theology, The

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This book is excellent. In one book, I can study about Roman Catholicism doctrine or Wesleyan. I can get an introduction to early church fathers, major Christian doctrines/teachings. It is thorough, yet not overly detailed and if you wish to dig further, resource information is provided.

I have never come across a theology book that I could literally sit down and read as if it were a novel, but it reads that easily and yet teaches so much at the same time.

Excellent resource to have on your shelf.

Theology can be treacherous land on which a believer navigates. There are jungles, and deserts, dark forests and remote islands. When we set out on a journey of theological terrains, it is advisable to be equipped with a trusty guide. Jim Sawyer has provided us with this in his latest book "The Survivors Guide to Theology".

Just before one begins their journey to far off theological lands, Sawyer challenges the reader to understand the job requirements of the theologian. He explains the three primary roles of the theologian as being that of a guardian (of truth) a scientist/explorer (of the information) and a contextualizer (translator of ancient truth to a contemporary culture). Once these things are mapped out, the journey can begin. And begin it does...

First Sawyer takes us into the potentially threatening place of Epistemology in his chapter entitled "How Do We Know". Epistemology can become a dark jungle filled with tangled vines of question marks and beds of quicksand which the believer can easily sink while looking for answers. Sawyer carefully prunes back the vines and clears the path so the traveler may walk freely down the trail in his quest for truth and knowledge. He brings light and clarity to what often times is a very dark place. From there he then addresses sources of theology; what could be an arid desert Sawyer turns in to an oasis of whimsical analogies and scholarly insight.

Further on, Sawyer leads the reader into the forest of theological traditions. So often we believers can not see this forest for the trees. However, in this book, Sawyer provides us an aerial view. Perching on the treetop that is the present the reader can then look down on the forest of the nearly 2000 years of church history. Sawyer is a well informed guide mapping out each winding path of tradition (from Eastern Orthodox, to Lutheranism, to Neo-Orthodoxy et al). While doing so he is accurate, irenic and balanced. Critiques of traditions offered up after each section, are done in an equally informed, honest and peaceable fashion.

A most useful tool for the believer on a theological journey is what Sawyer gives us at the end of his book; a deep well filled with philosophical and theological terms and well rounded biographies of key theologians in church history. When traveling to these different lands, it is handy to have a reference guide to help us communicate the language of theology. This section on "Significant People and Terms" is just that.

Before we begin any theological trek we should have the appropriate gear for our venture; a map, a compass, and nourishment. Jim Sawyer supplies this and much, much more in his book "The Survivors Guide to Theology".

Conceived as an introduction for the inexperienced student of theology and based on his years of experience as a professor, M. James Sawyer succeeds in providing a solid foundation of knowledge from which any person can begin to build an orthodox theology for today.

As a new student of theology, I found the Survivor's Guide to Theology worth every penny I spent (and then some)! Here are some of the things it offers:

-some 200 pages exploring the work of the theologian, including discussions of epistemology, the taxonomy of doctrine, and the divisions of theology
-a concise summary of nine different theological traditions (from Eastern Orthodoxy to Liberation Theology), their key doctrines, historical relationships and the cultural/intellectual influences that affected their development.
-a glossary of terms and biographies of influential theologians through the centuries

Not only does Sawyer provide concise, comprehensive and highly informational explanations, but he does it in an incredibly organized and readable way. This book is a valuable contribution to the library of both the new and seasoned theologian, because it not only provides a solid foundation for the new, but also offers a reminder to the seasoned that the work of theology must be done with an attitude of humility if it is to be a genuine pursuit of orthodoxy and not the development of a fortress theology. In a world where we are so often divided by dogged commitment to our particular understanding of truth, this is indeed a valuable resource.

From his wealth of experience as a respected professor of theology, and with a good mentor's sensitivity to a student's budget, Sawyer has effectively created a tidy theological reference library in one volume. It concisely covers all the basic introductory issues, orients beginners to the main traditions of doing theology, profiles the major thinkers, explains terminology essential to theological literacy, and concludes with an extensive annotated bibliography. By my calculation, that's just about five volumes in one! From dispensationalism to liberation theology, from Charles Wesley to Paul Tillich, and from epistemology to eucharist, Sawyer capably and even-handedly delivers the big picture. We anticipate many grateful readers. With the help of this volume, young theologians will not only survive but thrive!

Even though Survivor's Guide has a very light-hearted title, it is by no
means a light-weight book. Having taught a similiar discipline for a number
of years, I find this book to be the missing link in theology.

As a student of theology years ago, I remember going through the library
looking for information in this book. Unfortunately, such information is
scattered all over, thus costing me time and frustration. With this book,
such frustrating experience is over. I am pleased to see this book as a
one-stop starting point for theological research. Its advantage comes in
several forms. First, it is thoroughly encyclopedic without being bogged
down at any one fine point. Second, it breadth is wide to cover trends from
ancient to modern. After seeing such an organized effort, I think the
student will see that navigation at the deep end of theology does not need
to be a torturously painful process. While there is no short-cut in life,
there are certain tools that will allow us to work at the next level.
Survivor's Guide is one of such useful tools. Every theology student will do well to use it.

When conservative Christians theologize, the words used to describe God are often unfamiliar (lots of "omni-'" and "-ological" words) and the tone can be smug. Then, if the listener is knowledgeable enough to challenge the speaker with the insights of post-modernism, or Thomas Kuhn's thoughts on scientific paradigms, or Karl Barth's beliefs about the nature of the Word of God, the conversation often ceases. Comfortable in the assumptions and language of Enlightenment thinking, conservative theology is too often unaware of these more current trends in thought.

Dr. Sawyer's book The Survivor's Guide to Theology provides a primer for those wishing to interact with these newer realities while maintaining the historical truths of Christianity. The first six chapters and Appendix 1 should be required reading for all people who wish to speak thoughtfully about God and the Bible. Within these chapters we are confronted with discussions about epistemology, the sources that should inform our assertions about God, the tendency of theologians to become locked into old paradigms, and a suggested methodology for answering theological questions.

Add to this foundation the survey of major theological systems, important theologians, and a dictionary of theological terms, and this book prepares the reader to interact with the present after understanding the past. Dr. Sawyer's degree in Historical Theology informs these sections with a concise directness that helps the reader quickly understand the vocabulary and background of theological inquiry.

This book is not for those who wish to protect their current understanding of God, humanity, and salvation. It is a call to the uncomfortable task of wrestling with God as Jacob did. Finding that we cannot win the fight by completely understanding these issues, we nonetheless receive blessing in the process. It is, in my opinion, a valuable companion to anyone wanting to grow as a Christian thinker who takes the Bible seriously.

The Survivor's Guide to Theology
By M. James Sawyer

For anyone desiring to get their arms around the concept of "theology," Jim Sawyer's The Survivor's Guide to Theology is a must-have. Beginning with a brief overview of what it means to be a theologian, Dr. Sawyer walks the reader quickly, yet thoroughly, through the maze of epistemology, sources and authority in theology, and doctrinal taxonomy, to a hardening of the categories of theology and why theologians seemingly "oppose" new knowledge. He concludes the opening half of his Guide with a short review of the many divisions of theological study.

The second half of Sawyer's Survivor's Guide focuses on nine (9) different theological systems--from Eastern Orthodoxy to Roman Catholicism to Lutheranism to the Reformed Tradition (i.e., Calvinism) to Wesleyan-Arminian Theology to Dispensationalism to Liberalism to Neo-Orthodoxy concluding with a discussion on Liberation Theology. Throughout his discussion of these nine traditions, Dr. Sawyer presents a very fair, accurate and well-balanced discussion of each theological system--all in an irenic manner that so characterizes this very capable and well-respected scholar.

Dr. Sawyer concludes his Survivor's Guide with a short presentation of significant theological and philosophical terms, as well as a section of biographical sketches of major theologians and philosophers. This allows the reader to walk away with a true sense of accomplishment in grasping the critical issues associated with the study of theology, an understanding of the key Christian theological systems and traditions co-existing in the world today, and a useful understanding of the theologians who helped shape and define those systems and traditions throughout church history.

The Survivor's Guide to Theology by M. James Sawyer should be included in the personal library of every serious student of Christianity. Personally, I find my well-worn copy of the Survivor's Guide sitting on my desktop far more often than I find it on the shelf. I believe you will also.

Dr. Sawyer's Survivor's Guide to Theology fills a much needed gap as an introductory text in theology. More specifically, his work is an excellent introduction to what is known as theological prolegomena, which examines the essential prerequisites to the study of theology. He explores such critical issues as epistemology (the theory of knowledge), tradition, authority structures, the importance of theology for the believer and church, the role of worldview in how we view and explain reality, and the difference between what I would call primary and secondary doctrines (taxonomy). Other strengths of Dr. Sawyer's work include a very good overview of the major theological systems such as orthodoxy, Catholicism, Reformed theology(to name a few), a helpful glossary, and fine bibliography for further study. For pastors desiring to teach theology to interested lay people, this is an outstanding resource to use. Students beginning their study of theology either in a Christian college or seminary will find this work very helpful. The study of theology is indeed a spiritual discipline, and Dr. Sawyer's passion for seeing Christians and the church engage in a serious study of theology in order to ensure doctrinal purity and spiritual health is infectious. This is a text I will definitely be using in my own preaching and teaching ministry.

I am currently half-way through the book, and to be completely honest, have never crossed a book so thoroughly practical and thought provoking. I have attempted many times to find in one book the information that would help me understand the mechanics of theology, its history, and many helpful tips in approaching the subject. It is readily obvious the author has a vast pool of resources and is able to share them in such a way as to allow me to develop the skills I need to become a more grounded layperson whose theology is sound. If I were to recommend any book to another friend interested in understanding what theology is and how to develop the necessary ability to construct a historical, biblical grasp of the Christain faith, this would be THE book. It's the best money I have spent in a long while!

Jim Sawyer's book, The Survivor's Guide to Theology is an excellent and helpful addition to the library of the theologically curious. Intelligent yet succinct, broad, but focused, introductory, yet developed; Sawyer's work stands out as unique among the plethora of theological volumes currently in print. The Survivor's Guide is different because it steps back and takes a look at Christian theology through the lens of its various movements. Instead of losing the forest for the trees, it pays careful attention to the way Christian belief has been understood by some of the faith's major leaders and their followers. Conveniently, the guide serves as both a narrative of the movements and an excellent reference for both biographical information and term understanding. Finally, the first 200 pages of the book provide an excellent introduction to the study of theology. Overall, Sawyer's book offers a unique contribution to the study of Christian theology that will not disappoint the reader, either the newcomer to Christian theology or the seasoned student.