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Theology in the Democracy of the Dead: A Dialogue with the Living Tradition
G. K. Chesterton wrote, "Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead." This book pays homage to major theologians of the Christian tradition that tell the history of theology. Matt Jenson engages in charitable yet critical exposition and dialogue with eleven select thinkers, offering a lucid, synthetic account of their theology with a view to ongoing systematic theological issues. He engages directly with core primary texts and treats individual theologians in greater depth and nuance than most overview textbooks.
352 pages, Paperback
Published October 15, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 4, 2020
A whirlwind tour through church history. If you're looking to understand important theologians and writers by engaging with their primary texts (but maybe don't have the time to read through them all), this is an excellent survey.
One of the biggest strengths of this book is that it is unafraid to criticize or challenge views of earlier theologians when they aren't in step with historic, orthodox Christianity. But at the same time, Jenson doesn't write off people wholesale, instead commending people within the tradition based on the value and truthfulness of their ideas. It's really quite refreshing.
Of the church fathers and theologians within this book, my absolute favorites were Irenaeus, Athanasius, Augustine, Anselm, and Barth. Calvin is an honorable mention. It's really amazing, but through these varied authors across time, this book impressed me with God's goodness and beauty toward humanity in redemption.
Take Athanasius: “The Spirit’s descent on [Jesus] in Jordan was a descent upon us, because of his bearing our body. And it did not take place for promotion to the Word, but again for our sanctification, that we might share his anointing.”
Or Anselm: “It would hardly be fitting for the Creator to abandon his creation; he will bring it to fulfillment.”
In Jenson's words, “Even a world that groans and waits...is nevertheless a world charged with the grandeur of God, chock-full of beauty and blessing.”
One of the biggest strengths of this book is that it is unafraid to criticize or challenge views of earlier theologians when they aren't in step with historic, orthodox Christianity. But at the same time, Jenson doesn't write off people wholesale, instead commending people within the tradition based on the value and truthfulness of their ideas. It's really quite refreshing.
Of the church fathers and theologians within this book, my absolute favorites were Irenaeus, Athanasius, Augustine, Anselm, and Barth. Calvin is an honorable mention. It's really amazing, but through these varied authors across time, this book impressed me with God's goodness and beauty toward humanity in redemption.
Take Athanasius: “The Spirit’s descent on [Jesus] in Jordan was a descent upon us, because of his bearing our body. And it did not take place for promotion to the Word, but again for our sanctification, that we might share his anointing.”
Or Anselm: “It would hardly be fitting for the Creator to abandon his creation; he will bring it to fulfillment.”
In Jenson's words, “Even a world that groans and waits...is nevertheless a world charged with the grandeur of God, chock-full of beauty and blessing.”
November 28, 2023
I was not able to read the entire thing, but sections of this book were assigned for my Theology II class and I really enjoyed it!! I will have to go back and read the rest when I am done with school.
January 12, 2024
It's an interesting book concept. Didn't hate it, didn't love it. The chapter on Schleiermacher was probably the most interesting.
October 1, 2024
Interesting read…took me a while to finish it. Glad I did!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews