Issues in Contemporary Christian Thought.
Mattes, Mark
Issues in Contemporary Christian Thought. By Duane Olson.
Minneapolis: Fortress, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-8006-9665-8. xiii and 296
pages. Paper. $25.00.
This book is intended to be an introduction to Christian faith for
introductory courses in Christianity at the university level. Instead of
approaching the topic either through the lens of history or an overview
of doctrine, it lays out Christian teachings from the following
viewpoints: (a) "biblical literalism," basically a
fundamentalist perspective, (b) "theological literalism,"
which concedes a historical-critical approach to scripture but insists
on a God who intervenes in life and history, and finally (c)
"theological reinterpretation," which sees Christian teachings
as symbols referring to religious insights but has divorced itself from
an interventionist God.
Olson develops both history and doctrine within a structure that
raises the question of modernity's challenge to traditional
Christian views, the rapport between God and cosmology, Christ and
history, and human destiny and anthropology, and then looks at how other
religions, feminism, homosexuality, and environmental concerns bear on
Christian faith. Summarizing the reinterpreter's view of faith,
Olson notes that, "Christian theology consists of articulating what
the Christian encounter uniquely involves, but the living core of faith
is experience and not cognitive assent to a set of doctrinal statements
as facts about reality" (38).
The text offers a number of helpful inserts, notably the snapshot
of proofs for God's existence is markedly lucid (53ff.). Likewise,
he has a fine summary of traditional Chris-tological themes, which he
compares and contrasts with liberationist, existential, and theology of
hope perspectives. At every angle, he wishes to affirm the results of
contemporary scholarship even where they do not square with traditional
Christian teachings. Likewise, for Olson, no responsible presentation of
Christianity can ignore the impact of feminism on God language and
concepts, the importance of integrating gay and lesbian people into
Christian community, and a respect for the environment.
Olson's text is bound to make for invigorating class
discussions since he deftly lays out positions both affirming and
critiquing traditional Christianity. For Olson, the coherence and
intelligibility of the faith in today's secular world is what must
crucially be dealt with. However, this is what should be rethought.
Secular Europe and America have proven themselves to be utterly
grace-less. In Sartre's words, we invent our own worlds; we are
"condemned to be free." If modernity is viewed as an
alternative path to salvation than Christianity, it is thoroughly
works-righteous. Thoughtful Christians are wise when they ask how
credible modern ideologies are. For Olson, they are more non-negotiable
than they are to my way of thinking.
Mark Mattes
Grand View University
