God in Dispute: "Conversations" among Great Christian Thinkers

by Roger E. Olson

This volume creatively explores the history of Christian thought by imagining a series of twenty-nine dialogues and debates among key figures throughout church history. It traces the history of theology via such conversation partners as Augustine and Pelagius, Calvin and Arminius, Barth and Brunner, and Bultmann and Pannenberg. Each imagined dialogue includes a brief summary that introduces the figures under consideration, a more detailed assessment of the thinkers and theological issues presented, and a guide for further reading. This approach offers readers an entertaining, informative, and concise history of Christian thought.

Genres: Theology

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Roger E. Olson (PhD, Rice University) is professor of theology at George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University. He is a prolific author whose volumes include The Story of Christian Theology and The Mosaic of Christian Belief. He is also coauthor of 20th-Century Theology. Olsen identifies as an Arminian and a Baptist.

Reviews

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining and creative introduction to historical theology from a noted historical theologian. One wishes Olson would have included more women (Julian of Norwich or one of the four Roman Catholic female doctors of the church perhaps?), but otherwise it is really well done. Specialists will protest and Olson's Pentecostal-Arminian-(ana)Baptist leanings lurk in the shadows, but overall this is fantastic, I wish it were more widely known.

[Leroy Seat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book about many of the primary Christian theologians through the centuries.

In the last sentence of the book, the author says that his main hope in writing this book was to make theology "come alive to many students, pastors, and lay people" (p. 302). I think he surely fulfilled his goal.

[Michelle]

looks interesting, might be a good gift for Dad.