Theology: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) [Paperback]

David F. Ford (Author)

Book Description

Series: Very Short Introductions | Publication Date: June 15, 2000

This book offers a concise and original introduction to the whole of the theological discipline. Writing with a focus on Christianity, David Ford provides a trenchant and balanced discussion of the study of faith and religion. He describes the development of the field of theology, and explores such issues as knowledge, community, worship, salvation, God, prayer, and evil. Ford also weaves the idea of the quest for wisdom into the entire fabric of his discussion, and concludes with a look ahead to the theology of the next century. Theology: A Very Short Introduction tackles the questions raised by and about religion in a thought-provoking and engaging manner.

Editorial Reviews

Review

`It is written in an extremely accesible, interesting and fresh style and this combined with its 'safely' othodox but balanced tone will make it a useful aid to assisting a range of people.' Ray Gaston, Theology November/December 1999

About the Author

David Ford is Regius Professor of Divinity in the University of Cambridge. His books include Jubilate: Theology in Praise (with Daniel W. Hardy), Meaning and Truth in 2 Corinthians (with Frances M. Young), The Modern Theologians: An Introduction to Christian Theology in the Twentieth Century (ed.), The Shape of Living, and Self and Salvation: Being Transformed.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (June 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192853848
• ISBN-13: 978-0192853844
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #486,302 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique introduction to doing theology, January 8, 2001

By 

Hans Castrop (La Crosse, WI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Theology: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) (Paperback)

Although I have a Master of Divinity degree from a seminary and have been reading theology off and on for thirty years, I have seldom enjoyed a work as much as this short but fascinating introduction to the field. Every word is worhy of thought. For Ford, theology has to do with "overwhelmings" in life. Human beings can be overwhelmed by most any concern: money, sex, race, nation, fitness, youth, etc. But theolgy has to do with being overwhelmed by God. Using that approach, Ford then shows how Christian theology has talked about the Christian God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) in the face of overwhelings in history. He shows how people like Barth and Tillich differ in their systems, but does so in a way that is really clear and helpful. He gives the classic response to evil, but in a way that does not take away the mystery of evil nor belittles the pain of human life. Within his discussion of evil, which he terms the dark mystery, he offers readers the mystery of goodness, the mystery of light. Both belong to any thoughtful discussion of life, and both come to focus in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. I for one will now read other works by Ford and will look for other titles in this excellent series of Very Short Introductions to interesting subjects. This is a book to buy, to return to, and to offer friends. Even people who never thought they would be interested in theolgy will find themselves responding to the questions Ford asks.

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Theology on the quick..., February 19, 2004

By 

FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Theology: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) (Paperback)

Part of a series by Oxford University Press, this book, 'Theology: A Very Short Introduction', by David Ford, Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Cambridge, follows the same format as other texts in the Very Short Introduction series -- it has fewer than 200 pages, is well indexed, has a useful listing of further readings, accessible and enjoyable narrative, and captures the essence in a very short space the major points of its topic. There are probably nearing 100 volumes in this Very Short Introduction series (making it, ironically, not a Very Short series), but among those that I have read, this text stands out as being one of the more interesting to me.

There are ten chapters grouped according to three major sections: Describing the Field of Theology; Theological Explorations; and Skills, Disciplines and Methods. In the first section, Ford sets the stage by looking at the state of religious and academic institutions generally, before proceeding on to looking at the particular disciplines of religious studies and theology, which contrary to much popular thinking, are not the same thing at all. Ford looks specifically at postmodernism, Karl Rahner, Hans Frei's five types of theology, and general philosophical ideas at play in theological study.

In the section on Theological Explorations, for most this is where the heart of the matter lies. Various key components of systematic theological thinking are explored - the doctrine of God, the idea of ethics and morality (particularly as it has to do with worship and God), the problem of evil, basic Christological issues, and the idea of salvation. Ford does not confine his text to one particular view, but gives a sampling of different ideas, and highlights difficulties and strengths of each view.

The final primary section is one that often comes first in many theology texts of this sort - a discourse on method (with apologies to Descartes). Ford looks a bit at the history of the theological enterprise and how others have `done' theology in the past. He then looks at key tools such as experience, knowledge and wisdom as shapers of theology. tools such as experience, knowledge and wisdom as shapers of theology. He uses Lonergan's three-level description method for epistemology as an example, and then turns to a nine-fold approach to appropriate knowing of God.

The last chapter looks at issues continuing for theology into the third millennium. Theology as a Christian enterprise is 2000 years old, and shows no signs of slowing, although theology in the future will be a very different creature and construct from theology in the past, all the while it must acknowledge its grounding in the events and the methods of the past.

Like other books in this Very Short series, there are some useful illustrations and suggestions for further reading, should the Very Short introduction not prove sufficient (and for many, this sample will leave the reader wanting more). I cannot speak too highly of this series.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Densely packed with information, not easy to read., June 25, 2005

By 

GPK (The Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Theology: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) (Paperback)

I have little background in (any) religion, but always have had an interest in philosophical/religious subjects. Therefore I was looking for a book that could give me good, unbiased introduction into theology. I hoped that this VSI would be that book. No.

First, I found the book not an easy read. Although it is filled with well-thought-through information, it is presented in a way that requires a lot of effort from the part of the reader to grasp everything. After finishing the book, I found it very difficult to give a summary of it, and to say what exactly I have learned by reading this book.

Second, to me it seems that the author stresses a lot the fact that theology is a branch of science/thought that requires to combine every scientific discipline on this planet together in one analysis. This left me with a uncomfortable feeling: how credible is this claim? Who can safely say of himself that he masters multiple (let alone many) disciplines to such an extent that he is able to synthesize an overall picture out of that knowledge? I have no judgement here on the quality of the author, it just made me hesitant.

Overall, my opinion is that this book does contain very readable and interesting chapters, but taken as a whole it is no easy read. Please note that I am a 'beginner' in reading theology literature, so it is difficult for me to compare this book with others. Given the price, this book is ok, but in my experience, it is not a must-have-book.