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Theologygrams: Theology Explained in Diagrams
Theologygrams is a brilliant introduction to theology presented in the form of easy-to-understand diagrams. Rich Wyld runs the popular Theologygrams blog, and here presents 100 original diagrams - in full colour - for the non-specialist reader. Some diagrams come with a small piece of descriptive text to help explain the theological concept. Clever, cheeky and genuinely instructive, Theologygrams will be loved by non-academics, plus students and tutors in-the-know!
160 pages, Paperback
First published July 29, 2014
8 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Rich Wyld
4 booksRich Wyld is an Anglican priest and has a PhD from Durham University looking at theological hermeneutics. He is currently studying hope in 1 Peter, and loves dogs and walks. He once intended to be a rock star, and more recently hoped to publish weighty volumes of deep theological insights. Future ambitions are currently being revised.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 9, 2017
Some might think that this is a rip-off of Challies “Visual Theology” but it’s not meant to be and it’s not. It’s a nice humorous little book that brought me to laugh many times and share what I just saw. There are also convicting times when the author charts out a command the Bible gives. There’s something in the simplicity of it that hits the heart with Holy Spirit conviction and reminding.
I do wish that there were less explanations as I feel they many times got in the way. This book could be a Demetri Martin type of book, where the pictures stand on their own and work.
But that little opinion aside, this was a fun read. I reco it to people who love theology and humor.
I do wish that there were less explanations as I feel they many times got in the way. This book could be a Demetri Martin type of book, where the pictures stand on their own and work.
But that little opinion aside, this was a fun read. I reco it to people who love theology and humor.
August 6, 2020
One of the best short silly serious books of all time! Pictures not thousands of words. Quirky but very profound. Read first on the toilet (where many good books are encountered or specially taken along) at my sister's and thereafter under more salubrious conditions.
April 15, 2018
fun reading, especially with beer.
April 7, 2018
If you give this to a theology nerd, he/she will love you forever.
December 14, 2017
This year, Rich Wyld (such a cool name!), an Anglican priest educated at Durham, turned his blog into a short book titled: Theologygrams: Theology Explained in Diagrams.
The book is pretty simple and straightforward. It uses diagrams to offer a more visual way of thinking about theological topics. He moves from the OT to the NT and then deals with practical issues in the life of the church. He concludes with a chapter on theology.
The chapters include some really interesting topics. In the OT chapter we get “Jonah’s Mood-O-Meter” and its pretty funny. The NT chapter gives us a very helpful diagram on “Resurrection Appearances.” Also, a hilarious graph on Paul’s defense in 2 Corinthians 11. I’m definitely showing this one to my class at Eternity Bible College. His Theology chapter has a diagram on the Trinity – and guess what: Its not incorrect!
This is a really fun book to flip through. It would make a really cool stocking stuffer for theology nerds. It would also make a cool coffee table book for theology nerds. Also… if you are a nerd and into infographics and like theology you are going to like this. Also, if you are into nerdy puns or nerdy cultural references you are going to be into this book. Basically, if you are a theology nerd get this book. And if you aren’t a theology nerd, but know a theology nerd get them this book. *Enough Said*
In all seriousness, this book is really cool. You should get it.
The book is pretty simple and straightforward. It uses diagrams to offer a more visual way of thinking about theological topics. He moves from the OT to the NT and then deals with practical issues in the life of the church. He concludes with a chapter on theology.
The chapters include some really interesting topics. In the OT chapter we get “Jonah’s Mood-O-Meter” and its pretty funny. The NT chapter gives us a very helpful diagram on “Resurrection Appearances.” Also, a hilarious graph on Paul’s defense in 2 Corinthians 11. I’m definitely showing this one to my class at Eternity Bible College. His Theology chapter has a diagram on the Trinity – and guess what: Its not incorrect!
This is a really fun book to flip through. It would make a really cool stocking stuffer for theology nerds. It would also make a cool coffee table book for theology nerds. Also… if you are a nerd and into infographics and like theology you are going to like this. Also, if you are into nerdy puns or nerdy cultural references you are going to be into this book. Basically, if you are a theology nerd get this book. And if you aren’t a theology nerd, but know a theology nerd get them this book. *Enough Said*
In all seriousness, this book is really cool. You should get it.
May 18, 2021
Just my level. And a lot clearer than many of my professors. Seriously though, behind some of these very funny diagrams are some serious points, and dipping in from time to time while reading wordier theological tomes helps to bring a bit of perspective on things.
June 7, 2018
Three words: “flat-pack creation.” Though there’s plenty more goodness in there!
November 13, 2017
Do you need a laugh that will make you say, "that's so true!" Theologygrams: Theology Explained in Diagrams, is the book for you. The only two grams is a work published by IVP and is the out workings of the personal website of Rich Wyld who is an Anglican minister who originally posted these comedic yet thought-provoking diagrams on his personal blog. Not often can a book be both humorous and thought-provoking while remaining theologically. Yet Wyld does a phenomenal job of blending the three. Some of the diagrams directly appeal to the person in the Pew While others are directed at Ministry leaders themselves.
Or reading this book I could not stop laughing at each and every page. This is a book that I will keep on my bookshelf when I need a laugh, for it pokes fun at myself through satirical diagram humor. As a bonus if you are a very nerdy person, whether a theological nerd or a science fiction nerd you will find this book a treasure trove of humor. While this book may not win any Scholastic Awards it deserves to be read due to the thought-provoking satirical nature of the writer. I highly recommend it.
This book was provided to me free of charge from IVP Academic in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.
Or reading this book I could not stop laughing at each and every page. This is a book that I will keep on my bookshelf when I need a laugh, for it pokes fun at myself through satirical diagram humor. As a bonus if you are a very nerdy person, whether a theological nerd or a science fiction nerd you will find this book a treasure trove of humor. While this book may not win any Scholastic Awards it deserves to be read due to the thought-provoking satirical nature of the writer. I highly recommend it.
This book was provided to me free of charge from IVP Academic in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.
November 16, 2017
Rich Wyld is an Anglican priest with a PhD from Durham University in theology. He is the brain behind the Theologygrams blog where he has created hundreds of 'theology diagrams' which describe the world of the Bible, theology, church history, ethics and life in the church. With Vin diagrams, pie charts, tables, graphs and just a bit of cheek, helps us visualize the world of theology.
Theologygrams: Theology explained in diagrams (IVP, 2017, previously published in the UK by Darton, Longman & Todd) collects a number of Wyld's reflections on the Old Testament, the Gospels, the rest of the New Testament, the Life of the Church and Theology. Wyld has a gift for being silly without being wholly irreverent. He describes this as "quite a silly book about some quite serious stuff" and says his "intention is never to mock or belittle God, theology, the Bible or the Church" (4). So this isn't a book making fun of faith, though Wyld does give us a fair share of good-natured ribbing.
This is a fun little book. A perfect stocking stuffer for a theology buff. Some diagrams are more serious and content heavy than others. Some are mostly silly with a side of theological reflection. I give this book four stars - ★★★★
Notice of material connection: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review
Theologygrams: Theology explained in diagrams (IVP, 2017, previously published in the UK by Darton, Longman & Todd) collects a number of Wyld's reflections on the Old Testament, the Gospels, the rest of the New Testament, the Life of the Church and Theology. Wyld has a gift for being silly without being wholly irreverent. He describes this as "quite a silly book about some quite serious stuff" and says his "intention is never to mock or belittle God, theology, the Bible or the Church" (4). So this isn't a book making fun of faith, though Wyld does give us a fair share of good-natured ribbing.
This is a fun little book. A perfect stocking stuffer for a theology buff. Some diagrams are more serious and content heavy than others. Some are mostly silly with a side of theological reflection. I give this book four stars - ★★★★
Notice of material connection: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review
January 27, 2025
This is a fun little book, I think the subtitle is spot on: making sense of Christianity through badly-drawn diagrams.
There truly are some absolutely wonderfully terrible diagrams!
And yet, it's a genuinely helpful little book too.
The most important thing to learn is that giraffes know everything.
There truly are some absolutely wonderfully terrible diagrams!
And yet, it's a genuinely helpful little book too.
The most important thing to learn is that giraffes know everything.
October 5, 2025
This was a gift from one of my dear Professors after I graduated seminary. I read this book and laughed throughout the entire book. In fact, it was the only book I read for a couple months (who wants to read one more book after seminary?) What a gift this book was for me, highly recommend for those who have a sense of humor and don’t take life too seriously.
June 27, 2018
Fun little book, some silly, some serious. Light reading for those with a theological bent.
May 10, 2019
Hilarious, yet remarkable insightful and accurate. Ven diagrams never were so deep.
August 26, 2020
There are some great (and hilarious) diagrams in this book, but the great ones weren't as prevalent as I would have liked.
September 12, 2023
Some good insights, but mostly just not very funny.
Read
December 4, 2023The best ones were complex theological principles mixed with references to sci-fi/fantasy shows
December 23, 2023
Clever. A couple of these would even be useful! I enjoyed it.
August 23, 2024
A fun and informative read haha.
I want to finish reading the Bible and read this again so that I will understand all the references
I want to finish reading the Bible and read this again so that I will understand all the references
January 23, 2026
some good insights here and there.
March 13, 2017
These are really fun - an underpinning of theology, the odd Dr Who reference - all in diagrammatic form.
March 17, 2018
This is probably a humourous, light-hearted take at something in the vein of the very serious and informative Visual Theology by Tim Challies. From the content, my guess is that the target audience are British Anglican Christians.
I really like the idea and creativity behind it, (and it was great fun reviewing this book after going through other more wordy ones), but unfortunately only two out of all the diagrams in the book were brilliant - namely the Matthew 13 Parable on p46-7 and the 7 churches in Rev. 2-3 on p86-7. The rest in my opinion, were not as insightful or amusing.
It indeed is a great pity, because when I checked out Rich Wyld's blog (theologygrams.wordpress.com), I found that I like many of the unpublished charts that were posted since the book was published. Hopefully in subsequent print revisions, more of these later ones posted in 2016-7 be added. Pop culture perhaps has moved on since the first edition was published in 2014. If however you found this book appealing, I recommend you check out Adam4d's work as well!
I received this book from Inter-Varsity Press for the purposes of providing an unbiased review. All views are my own.
I really like the idea and creativity behind it, (and it was great fun reviewing this book after going through other more wordy ones), but unfortunately only two out of all the diagrams in the book were brilliant - namely the Matthew 13 Parable on p46-7 and the 7 churches in Rev. 2-3 on p86-7. The rest in my opinion, were not as insightful or amusing.
It indeed is a great pity, because when I checked out Rich Wyld's blog (theologygrams.wordpress.com), I found that I like many of the unpublished charts that were posted since the book was published. Hopefully in subsequent print revisions, more of these later ones posted in 2016-7 be added. Pop culture perhaps has moved on since the first edition was published in 2014. If however you found this book appealing, I recommend you check out Adam4d's work as well!
I received this book from Inter-Varsity Press for the purposes of providing an unbiased review. All views are my own.
September 14, 2020
A delight. The creation flat pack was HILARIOUS.
2020 reread: Creation flat pack even MORE hilarious. I knew it was funny but still cracked up harder and harder each panel. Gold. Shared with my housemate and her son. Favorite page in the book.
2020 reread: Creation flat pack even MORE hilarious. I knew it was funny but still cracked up harder and harder each panel. Gold. Shared with my housemate and her son. Favorite page in the book.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews