Transforming Christian Theology: For Church and Society

Title Page, Copyright

Transforming Christian Theology Advance praise for Transforming Christian Theology “Philip Clayton is one of the world’s leading philosophical theologians. In this new book, he calls for a transformation of theology—for a theology that transforms by radically engaging the concrete and practical concerns of both church and society. Pointing to significant movements within the Christian church, as well as shifts in late modern culture, Clayton clearly shows that the time is right for challenging old divisions such as ‘evangelical’ and ‘liberal.’ A welcome call for and contribution to transforming theology!” F. LeRon Shults Professor of Theology and Philosophy University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway Author of Reforming the Doctrine of God “In the confusion of how to live one’s faith in these changing times, Dr. Clayton calls all of us, and especially young people, not to ‘give up on church.’ Thankfully, he goes on to tell us why and how, with a challenge to become active theologians, to write our own credos and debate them vigorously. That is the challenge he has taken up in this valuable book.” Bishop Mary Ann Swenson The Los Angeles Area The United Methodist Church Transforming Christian Theology For Church and Society Philip Clayton In collaboration with Tripp Fuller Fortress Press Minneapolis TRANSFORMING CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY For Church and Society Copyright © 2010 Fortress Press, an imprint of Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical articles or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Visit http://www.augsburgfortress.org/copyrights/ or write to Permissions, Augsburg Fortress, Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440. Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the New Revised Standard Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. The “NIV” and “New International Version” trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society. Scripture marked KVJ is taken from The New King James Version, copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Coverimage:M.C.Escher’s“MetamorphosisII(partof)”©2009TheM.C.EscherCompanyHolland . All rights reserved. www.mcescher.com Cover design: Paul Boehnke Interior design: PerfecType, Nashville, Tenn. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Clayton, Philip, 1956Transforming Christian theology : for church and society / Philip Clayton in collaboration with Tripp Fuller. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references (p. ). ISBN 978-0-8006-9699-3 (alk. paper) 1. Theology, Doctrinal—United States. 2. Church and the world. 3. Church. I. Fuller, Tripp. II. Title. BT30.U6C53 2010 261’.10973—dc22 2009035382 The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z329.48-1984. Manufactured in the U.S.A. 14 13 12 11 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ...