Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #87013 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 439 pages

Customer Reviews

The search is on...
n 'Faith Seeking Understanding'. Migliore has in this book put together one of the clearest, accessible systematic theologies available today. It is written in a crisp, concise, and engaging style which is short on technical and differently-defined terms, and long on meaning and substance.

Migliore addresses all of the major issues of a Christian systematic theology -- the nature of God, the nature and mystery of the Trinity, the person and work of Jesus Christ, the authenticity of sources and norms, eschatology and the future of faith, as well as other topics. He does a very good job at briefly introducing each topic in a modern historical context, bringing up topics from the past that have impacted upon the development of theological ideas, and then presenting the diversity of current theological positions.

This text is used in systematic theology courses in ecumenical seminaries -- it is particularly well suited for the task because it does not shrink from important issues of faith or morality, but does not force the reader into a particular set of beliefs. All who read this will variously agree and disagree with the author, with historical authorities, and with contemporary theologians at some point or another in the text.

However, this is no mere textbook. It is a wonderful introduction to theological thought processes. Whether your theological framework is medieval catholic or liberation or process or non-denominational; whether your approach to biblical authority is literalist or free-form or skeptical; whether your faith is strong, weak, agnostic, or atheist, this book will give you things to think about. It is in no way preachy, and doesn't even pretend to try to convince. This is the point of faith seeking understanding -- one will not come to faith by simple academic exercise. But this book can help clarify whatever faith is already there.

orthodoxy in the light of modern debates
I plead guilty to having set Migliore as a textbook for students (though not for the person whose review mentions this!)

Whilst Migliore is not always the most dynamic or colourful of writers, he is both thorough and reliable. He displays admirable balance whilst clearly stating his own point of view. He is consistent with historic Christianity (i.e. orthodoxy, the Creeds), whilst taking seriously issues raised by modern movements such as feminism, black theology, the ecological crisis. This is much more than the 'discuss briefly in order to summarily reject' approach which we sometimes see, and is itself a model for Christian engagement. Whilst Migliore comes from a Reformed background, he argues that challenges posed by our contemporary world to historic Christianity must be addressed (compare Alvin Kimel's 'Reading the Christian God: the Holy Trinity and the Challenge of Feminism').

There are substantial and helpful sections on all the standard theological 'topoi', subjects - Task of Theology, Revelation, Scripture, Trinity, Creation, Providence, Humanity, Holy Spirit, Sacraments, Church, Hope. The Christology section includes a substantial (and helpful) treatment of atonement. Three appendices contains cleverly written imagined conversations between groups of theologians (including Barth, Rahner, Moltmann, Tillich et al.) covering some central subjects of modern theology - the Resurrection, Natural Theology, Political Theology. Whilst some might regard these figures as now dated, I would argue that this is far from the case and - though Migliore is far from being a comprehensive guide to modern and historic theology - his fundamental approach is sound, informative and worth emulating. One other thing these do is to show the continuing critical contribution of Karl Barth to theology.

Migliore usefully discusses methodology, around which his instincts are generally sound - as evidenced in the title, 'Faith Seeking Understanding' (following Anselm) and following the contemporary resurgence of the doctrine of the Trinity.

Finding a decent 'Introduction to Theology' book is very hard - probably the reason why so many teachers end up writing their own - but this is a very trustworthy start, one that you will find does not sell you short in avoiding difficulties, and that will direct you the right way.

how to make theology boring
I have recently completed a course in Christian Theology with Migliore's 'Faith Seeking Understanding', I found this book an endless source of tedium.

Migliore's systematic theology relies heavily on Reformed Trinitarian doctrine. The unwavering structure of each chapter views a particular doctrine as flawed, relating its importance to world issues, the doctrine then undergoes a study of its development from patristics to the present day. I would hate to ruin the ending of each chapter for you but it is unfailingly a trinitarian conclusion.

This book overflows with tautologies, meaningless statements and theological hyperbole. One such example is this from p 151 in the chapter on 'Humanity as Creature, Sinner, and New Being in Christ', 'declaring our freedom to be infinite, we proclaim ourselves God'. Migliore is the king of dramatic overstatement, conjuring images of fear and terror he is an exponent of the unfortunate attempt at Christian scare tactics. This book could be reduced from its 439 pages to a mere 50 and saving the environment at the same time.

In the interests of being honest and balanced the actual content(once you edit all the wasted words out) of the book deserves a fair appraisal. Each doctrine at least references many of the those key to its development but once feels Migliore leaves much unexplored. This Trinitarian theology redressed to make it appropriate to the times, dressed in the common fears of Christian and non-Christians alike.

Money would be better spent on Alister McGrath's 'An Introduction to Christian Theology'. This provides the reader with coherent information uninfluenced by an agenda and complemented by McGrath's quiet command of the English language.