Contemporary Christologies: A Fortress Introduction

by Don Schweitzer

While many know of the signal contributions of such twentieth-century giants as Paul Tillich or Karl Barth or Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, the important work since their time often goes unremarked until some major controversy erupts. Here is a smart and helpful survey of the chief approaches and thinkers in today's understanding of the person, significance, and work of Jesus Christ. Schweitzer offers an insightful introduction to the contemporary context of Christology, in which basic questions in the discipline (and soteriology) are being rethought in light of globalization, postmodernity, and the contemporary experience of evil. He then offers a kind of typology of the current approaches and Jesus, Revealer of God (like the Gospel of John): Karl Rahner, Dorothee Soelle, Roger Haight Jesus, a Moral Exemplar (like Abelard): Rosemary Radford Ruether, Mark Lewis Taylor, Carter Heyward Jesus as Victor (like Origen): Luis Pedraja, James Cone, Elizabeth Johnson Jesus as Representative (like Anselm): Douglas John Hall, Marilyn McCord Adams, Jurgen Moltmann Jesus as Source of Openness (like Francis of Assisi): Raimon Panikkar, John B. Cobb, Jacques Dupuis Schweitzer's volume concludes with a reflection on the recent past and present imperatives of a discipline that virtually defines what Christianity has to offer the present age.

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Will Waller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading Contemporary Christologies was a challenge because the author presents a not so introductory look at the soterology of each theologian. He starts with the premise that it’s a beginners look at each theologian but I found many parts unreadable because he moves so quickly through such an in depth topic such as this. The effort does well though because it makes you want to know more about each theologian. He includes a helpful glossary at the end of the book for those who need to know some terms like Chalcedon (although if you’re reading this, I’d bet you know why this is an important Christological word). Schweitzer also includes further reading if your interest has been perked.

I’d suggest this to someone who is in seminary, but not to those outside it. Just too unapproachable for most (including myself).