Introduction to Modern Theology: Trajectories in the German Tradition

by John E. Wilson

Surveying important nineteenth- and early twentieth-century theologians, primarily in the German tradition, John Wilson provides a thorough introduction to modern theology and those whose work within it helped initiate a new era in Christian theology. Beginning with Immanuel Kant and moving into the present time, Wilson describes the formative theological work of a number of theologians such as Friedrich Schleiermacher, Albrecht Ritschl, Karl Barth, and Emil Brunner. In doing so, he follows the trajectories of their thought to the present day, which have had profound influence on contemporary theologians such as Reinhold Niebuhr and H. Richard Niebuhr, Martin Luther King Jr., Wolfhart Pannenberg, and Karl Rahner.

Genres: Theology, Philosophy, Religion

296 pages, Paperback

First published May 21, 2007

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Discusses major players in German theology after Kant. Very helpful for succinct summary of theologians in the German tradition, especially for those generally unfamiliar and needing help.

[Joel Forsell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wished I had read this book 10 years ago or so. It would have made my life a lot easier (or at least spared me a lot of time). Wilson not only gives an overview of (almost) all the important players in the modern German theological tradition, but more importantly: a historical picture of how they’re connected. He spends a fair amount of time on the ‘founding fathers’ of German philosophy (Kant, Hegel, Schelling, etc.), which is really helpful for understanding what comes afterwards.

The amount of space given to the various thinkers is somewhat uneven at times – like giving Bonhoeffer’s short career just as much space as Barth (and more than either Brunner, Bultmann or Tillich). I also found it a little bit strange that Küng and von Balthasar was completely left out of the picture, making Rahner the only major Catholic theologian of the whole book. But apart from that, I consider this book to be an enormous accomplishment, and I will certainly return to it from time to time.

[Eddie Mercado · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overview of the history of Modern(ist) theology. If you’re looking for a critique, look elsewhere, but this is a good distillation of significant figures throughout the history of theology and philosophy.

[Charles Puskas · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me several months to read (I was also reading a few other titles). Discusses the theological significance of German thinkers like Kant, Hegel, and Schelling, Kierkegaard, Schleiermacher, Ritschl, Heidegger, Barth, Bultmann, Bonhoeffer, Tillich, Moltmann, Niebuhr, Rahner, and Pannenberg. Author, John E. Wilson, points out the influences of the early thinkers on the latter, e.g., the influence of Schelling's thought on Tillich and Pannenberg, with cross-references to the earlier discussion of, e.g., in Schelling. He has good discussion on the impact of German Idealism and Romanticism on certain theologians. Includes some famous quotes: "God woud rather hear the curses of the impious than the praises of the pious." p. 216 n. 183 (Bonhoeffer's paraphrase of Luther, LW 25:390). "A God without wrath, brought people without sin into a kingdom without judgment, through the ministrations of a Christ without a cross." p. 233, H. Richard Niebuhr's critique of liberal theology.

[Joseph Sverker · Rating 4 out of 5]

No one, even with the best intentions, can say that German theology and philosophy in the 19th and early 20th century was easy. And this book shows that it certainly was the case that German thought of that period was rather complex and complicated. I suppose that is why it is even more impressive how well WIlson has been able to explain it. It says "Introduction" in the title, and it is an introduction, but one should not be fooled and think that it is an easy book because of that. Wilson really makes you forced to engage with the theologians' thoughts on quite a deep and detailed level. But if someone, with a fair bit of reading of philsophy and theology behind them, wants to get an insight and understanding of the content and background of liberal, neo-orthodox, and post-ritschlian theology, this is certainly the book to start.