A fun, concise and attractive introduction to a fascinating and challenging subject. This is the ideal book for secondary school students and undergraduate students coming to theology for the first time, or indeed for anyone who just doesn't know where to start.

The book examines key thinkers from the New Testament to Feminist Theology. It starts by considering some of the authors of New Testament writings and then focuses on representatives of the western tradition of theological speculation.

Nearly half the work concentrates on 20th century thinkers and problems. It puts them in their historical, social and cultural settings, emphasizing that theology is as much a reflection on the world we live in as it is on God. Technical terms are explained in simple language throughout the text. This makes the book an ideal reference tool for a clear first overview of theology.

Table Of Contents

1. The First Christian Theologians: St Paul
2. The First Christian Theologians: the Gospel Writers
3. St Augustine of Hippo: a Father of the Church
4. St Thomas Aquinas: Revelation and Reason
5. Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation
6. St Ignatius Loyola and John Calvin: The two sides dig in
7. John Wesley and Evangelical Revival
8. The Contexts of Modern Theology
9. Friedrich Schleiermacher and Religious Feeling
10. John Henry Newman and Catholic Renewal
11. Karl Barth and a Theology of the Word
12. Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Cost of Discipleship
13. Karl Rahner and Human Transcendence
14. Rosemary Radford Ruether and Women-Church
15. Walter Brueggemann and the Biblical Imagination
16. Don Cupitt and being Adrift Conclusion Further Reading

Derek Johnston is a retired teacher. He was Vice-Principal of Midleton College, Co Cork, Ireland, where he taught for over 30 years.