Theological Foundations, Alternate Edition, Revised and Expanded

Concepts and Methods for Understanding Christian Faith

Course instructors considering a book for adoption will be provided a complimentary copy.
$32.95
Digital Books

“I used Theological Foundations for our core theology class. I enjoyed the development and presentation of the material in the text as it portrays Christianity as a vital experience, and the arrangement of the material was helpful in allowing the students to appreciate the historical and theological development of Christianity. Students especially enjoyed the easy design and flow of the material and the perceptive approach of the ‘Questions about the Text and for Discussion’ at the end of each chapter, as they allowed them to review the material in a logical manner. I used the questions as a framework for group participation and discussion, as well as for quizzes and exams.”

James Hannan
Saint John's University, New York

About This Book

Overview

Introduces students to the basics of Christian theology, covering its development through the ages and across cultures

Theological Foundations: Concepts and Methods for Understanding Christian Faith, rev. ed., is a thorough, concise, and comprehensive introductory theology text that has been revised with customer requests in mind. This prominent book on theology begins with a new introduction that centers the text on the Mystery of God. Its twelve body chapters unfold Christian theology by exploring its roots in the sacred scriptures; discussing the New Testament and other early Christian literature; and interweaving Christology and ecclesiology with the signs, symbols, and seven sacraments of the Church. Social justice issues figure prominently in the text, as does Catholicism’s relationship with Judaism and Islam. Subdisciplines of Catholic theology also address the Church’s mission in the world, as well as moral issues. Ultimately, the text describes the changing contours of Christianity in the modern era, with an emphasis on Protestantism, Evangelicalism, and Fundamentalism.

This Alternate Edition offers the full content of the ten core chapters of the parent text while providing a more concise version of the book—minus the research coverage—for instructors who prefer this approach.

Details

Weight 1.1 lbs
Dimensions 7.25 × 1.5 × 9.125 in
Format

Softcover

Print ISBN

978-1-59982-134-4

Pages

298

Item # 7036

Customer Reviews

“I used Theological Foundations for our core theology class. I enjoyed the development and presentation of the material in the text as it portrays Christianity as a vital experience, and the arrangement of the material was helpful in allowing the students to appreciate the historical and theological development of Christianity. Students especially enjoyed the easy design and flow of the material and the perceptive approach of the ‘Questions about the Text and for Discussion’ at the end of each chapter, as they allowed them to review the material in a logical manner. I used the questions as a framework for group participation and discussion, as well as for quizzes and exams.”

James Hannan
Saint John's University, New York

About the Author

J.J. Mueller, SJ, editor

Fr. Mueller holds a PhD in historical and systematic theology from the Graduate Theological Union at Berkeley. His interests are in Christology and social responsibility.

Table of Contents

Preface: From the Editor
Purpose of This Book
Audience
Organization of the Book and Revisions
Arrangement of Each Chapter

Introduction: Religion, Spirituality, and the Question of God
What Is Religion?
What Is Spirituality For?
Tradition
How Big Is (My) Religion?
A Trip to Tuscany
This Book Has a Worldview

1. Discerning the Mystery of God
From the Editor
Wonderment and Perplexity Ways to God, Ways to Theology
What’s in a Name? The Transcendence and Nearness of YHWH
Creation and the One God: From Narrative to Confession
Living the Triune Mystery: The God of Christian Faith
Participation in Divine Life: Scriptural Witness and Creedal Formulation
Conclusion: Trinitarian Theology Today
PART I: THE SACRED SCRIPTURES AND CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY

2. The Old Testament
From the Editor
The Hebrew Bible, Called by Christians the “Old Testament”
Tanak Division 1—Torah: Words of Instruction
Tanak Division 2—Nebiim: Words of Judgment and Salvation
Tanak Division 3—Kethubim: Words of Wisdom

3.
The New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature

From the Editor
Overview: The Early Christians and Their Writings
Early Christian Gospels
Keep in Touch: Early Christian Letters
Summary
PART II: CHRISTOLOGY AND ECCLESIOLOGY: FOLLOWING CHRIST IN A COMMUNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

4. Christology—”Who Do You Say That I Am?”
From the Editor
The Question
The Story Begins: Jesus of Nazareth and the Kingdom of God
The Story Continues: The Christology of the New Testament Church
Faithfully Interpreting the Story: The Christological Councils
Conclusion: The Never-ending Question

5. The People of God: The Church
From the Editor
An Image
After That First Day
A Historical Resource
Is Competition Good for the Church?
Studying Tradition
Conclusion: Leaving a Lot Out

6. Protestantism, Evangelicalism, Pentecostalism: Changing Contours of Christianity in the  Modern Era
From the Editor
Introduction
Protestantism
Evangelicalism
Pentecostalism
From Unity to Diversity, and Back Again: A Final Hypothesis

7. Grace and Sacraments: The Mystery of the Divine-Human Encounter
From the Editor
Overview
Signs and Symbols: Creating Meaning in Human Communication
Describing and Defining the Sacraments
The Two Basic Sacraments of Christ and Church
The Seven Sacraments
Conclusion: Christians as Living Sacraments

PART III: THE CHURCH’S MISSION IN THE WORLD

8. Christian Morality: Choosing God in This World
From the Editor
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
What Resources Are Available?
Recognizing Moral Issues

9. Social Justice: Gospel Witness and Mission of the Church
From the Editor
Overview
Gospel Witness
Conclusion: Social Justice and Christian Spirituality?

PART IV: THE ABRAHAMIC FAITHS: CATHOLICISM AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH JUDAISM, ISLAM

10. Judaism, the Jewish People, and the Church
From the Editor
Overview
First-Century Judaism
Jewish Christianity
Rabbinical Judaism
Traditional Jewish Faith and Practice
Modern Judaism
Christian-Jewish Relations
The Holocaust and Vatican II on Jews and Judaism

11. Islamic Religious Experience: Foundations, Scripture, and Spirituality
From the Editor
Overview
Islamic Images of God
The Qur’an and the History of Revelation
Muhammad and the History of Prophethood
Distinctive Scriptural Themes in Islamic Spirituality

PART V: CATHOLIC THEOLOGY IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT

12. Catholic Theology in a Global Context: A World Church
From the Editor
Overview
Meaning of Terms: World Christianity, World Church
Theological Aspects of a World Church
Some Commonalities in Theologies from around the Globe

Index

Browse by Subject

  • Eco-Ethics
  • Ethics
  • Religious Studies
  • Science and Religion
  • Scripture
  • Theology
  • World Religions