Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic!, July 31, 2006
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.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a solid foundation, August 15, 2006
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.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must have for your theological journey!, August 5, 2006
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".
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