Product Description

This volume provides an introduction to the main themes in Christian theology. It is aimed at undergraduates and those training for the ministry at theological colleges of all denominations throughout the English speaking world. Assuming no previous knowledge, this book takes a simplified look at basic issues in the Christian faith. It introduces the Hebrew scriptures and the New Testament and surveys the development of Christianity from its infancy right through to major themes in ethics and modern theology.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #859227 in Books
• Published on: 2001-11-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 309 pages

Review
.,."this book is a rich combination of biblical studies, church history, theology, and biblical ethics."--Edmund J. Rybarczyk, Religious Studies Review
.,."a useful text in a broad survey course on Christianity or comparative religions."--Stephen G. Ray, Jr., Teaching Theology and Religion

Stephen G. Ray, Jr., Teaching Theology and Religion
...a useful text in a broad survey course on Christianity or comparative religions.

About the Author
MICHAELA DAVEY completed her training for the Anglican Ministry, after reading Theology at Nottingham University. She has worked as both an interpreter and a lecturer, and speaks five languages.

Customer Reviews

Mastering Theology review
it is difficult to know where to start, because this book is so very disappointing. I need to say that overall the "Mastering" series of books are usually very good, but this particular sample falls well below the standard.
First off, how did Michaela Davey get the Job?? Her qualifications for writing such a book appear very limited i.e. a degree in Theology plus some training for ordination. On this citeria, there must be thousands of possible choices for writing a book such as this. Notwithstanding, if the content and style were good, her background would not matter too much. Sadly, both content, style and logic are of a low standard.
Some examples:
(a)there is lot of "history" in the book, in order presumably to set the scene for the theology, which comes over as lower priority; this is puzzling in a book titled "Mastering Theology".
(b)the structure of the writing, which attempts at all stages to "summarise" is confusing and contradictory in places. I accept that it is useful for students to have arguments summarised, but at least the summary should reflect the main arguments.
(c) Ms.Davey often injects what I presume to be her own views as statements of fact. For example, in the sections on Jesus' attitudes to family, woman, divorce, she contrasts this with the early church's "dogma", in order to try to show that the early church did not follow and/or understand Jesus' teaching. A complex subject indeed, but when Ms Davey states, for example, "Jesus did not expect the world to last for very long, etc ,etc" (I am paraphrasing here) who is she talking about??
Christian's consider Jesus to be the Son of God, the second person of the Holy Trinity - in this "role" there is no way we can talk about "Jesus thought this, thought that" in the context of Him "getting in wrong"
If Ms. Davey is talking about the "Historical Jesus", from a secular viewpoint, then she should make it clear that this is where she is coming from.

To summarise: this book not only does not show how to "Master theology", it runs the risk of thoroughly confusing anyone who tries to read it.