In Your Light: Theological Religious Studies In The Evangelical Tradition

by Daniel Strange

Debates surrounding both the definition and study of ‘religion’ are longstanding and continue to have far-reaching implications for religious literacy and education at all levels of society. From a confessionally evangelical perspective with its commitment to sola Scriptura, this volume joins the voices of those who recognise the impossibility of ‘neutrality’ in the study of religion and who advocate a theological religious studies, contending that the fullest understanding and interpreting of the religions are seen ‘in the light of the triune God who is the fullness of truth. Only from this theological narrative can other religions be truly understood, simply because Christianity is true.’ (D’Costa).

This volume justifies this methodology for the study of religion, exploring not only these epistemological concerns but also the definitional scope of ‘religion’ and its relation to ‘worldview’ ‘culture’ and the ‘secular’. Having laid this foundation, Daniel Strange offers a constructive proposal for an evangelical theological religious studies, building on the theological anthropology of the missiologist J.H. Bavinck and his morphology of a universal religious consciousness which he calls the ‘magnetic points,’ and which are both subverted and fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

320 pages, Paperback

Expected publication February 17, 2028

About the author

Daniel Strange was born in 1974 to British and Guyanese parents. After studying theology and religious studies at Bristol University, he completed his doctoral work on the theology of religions under Prof. Gavin D'Costa. From 2000-2005 he was Co-ordinator for the Religious and Theological Studies Fellowship, part of UCCF. He joined the faculty of Oak Hill Theological College, London as Tutor in Culture, Religion and Public Theology in 2005. In 2018 he became the Director of Oak Hill. His book, Their Rock is Not Like Our Rock, received an Award of Merit for Theology/Ethics in Christianity Today's 2016 Book Awards. Dan is a Contributing Editor for Themelios. He is married to Elly, has seven children and serves an Elder at East Finchley Baptist Church. He regularly suffers as a season ticket holder at West Ham United.