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Why Have You Forsaken Me? by John Colwell now available

John Colwell's new book Why Have You Forsaken Me? was due out last December, but got caught up in the problems Paternoster were then facing. It is now finally available. It has eight chapters reflecting both on Psalm 22 and his own struggles with manic depression.

1. Into the Darkness

2. Reflecting on the Darkness

3.Darkness and the Psalmist

4. Darkness and Israel

5. Christ's Human Darkness

6. Christ's Unique Darkness

7. Darkness and God

8. Darkness and Presence

The book is Colwell's most personal so far - the book opens with the story of his experience of manic depression whilst being a church minister and college tutor. The bulk of the book them explores how we trust God in his absence. Through the book Colwell argues for the importance of lament in worship over against worship that operates only as praise. He is critical of contemporary worship scene. In later chapters he also argues against a understanding of atonement in terms of penal substitution, the doing away with the doctrine of impassibility and a distorted gospel that sees miracles as everyday (and so not they cannot be described as 'miraculous') and healing as a right. The book is a departure from his earlier books on ethics, the sacraments and Christian doctrine. It is a 'Personal Reflection' as the subtitle indicates. Although exploring not an easy subject matter - illness and the absence of God - it is written in the usual Colwell style: the occasional anecdote, the helpful and clear engagement with theological questions (here most notably the doctrines of atonement and impassibility) and a readership that always seem to keep the pastor and interested Christian in mind (that is, the so what question is always near the surface). While there are other books that deal with the absence of God and illness (I can think of several Philip Yancey ones), John provides a theological exploration with honest reflection that I think will be helpful to many.

 
   

The Turn to Political and Public Theology

It seems the University of Chester has (quietly) pulled together an impressive looking line-up in its list of theology staff. While other universities are cutting jobs, since the summer they have recruited Rob Warner (sociology of contemporary religion), Elaine Graham (public theology), and Chris Baker (public and urban theology) to add to David Clough (christian ethics), Celia Deane-Drummond (theology and science, Tom Greggs (systematic theology) and Anthony Thiselton (new testament and doctrine), amongst others. It will be interesting to see if how they shape the department.

There is a definite move in English theology departments towards a more public and political theology - King's with its Faith and Public Policy Forum convened by Luke Bretherton; Cambridge with its Interfaith Programme directed by David Ford; Nottingham with its Centre of Theology and Philosophy, the home of John Milbank; Oxford with its McDonald Centre for Theology, Ethics and Public Life directed by Nigel Biggar; Manchester with its Centre for Religion and Political Culture co-directed by Graham Ward; Exeter with its Network for Religion in Public Life directed by Esther Reed; Bristol with its Centre for Christianity and Culture directed by Gavin D'Costa.

Now this probably reflects two things. Firstly this is where the available research funding is and secondly a renewed interested of theology in the public square. There is the New Visibility of Religion and faith is finding itself it a myriad of relationships with Contemporary Politics, to which theologians are writing Political and Public theology, asking how can we best speak in Public Places and how do we best engage with a diverse Religious and Secular World. You can find theologians writing on The Ethics of Human Rights to the University, Vegetarianism, Euthanasia and New Labour. 

I'm excited by this new engagement with public and political life.

Has Colin Gunton's Theological Project Really Failed?

Mark Thompson (Moore College, Sydney) has posted a great response here to Bernhard Nausnera's recent Scottish Journal of Theology article.  Thompson notes that David Hohne, who wrote his doctorate on Gunton under David Ford at Cambridge and about to publish it as The Spirit of Sonship, is writing a response.

It does seem that Gunton's theological project has not continued, at least in England, but possibly has north of the border at the universities of Aberdeen (with Webster) and St. Andrew's (with Holmes and Torrance) (see the recent articles in Modern Theology). Theology in England is now a different landscape - so Milbank and Radical Orthodoxy at Nottingham, Oliver Davies and Transformation Theology at King's, Ford and what I might describe (mistakenly) as conversational theology (so his recent Christian Wisdom as chapters on inter-faith, inter-disciplinary, and inter-personal wisdom) at Cambridge, Pattison and Fiddes at Oxford, the newly appointed L. Ayres at Durham (whose book on Augustine due in 2010, will I'm sure not look kindly on Gunton), Higton and Gorringe at Exeter and D'Costa and Crisp at Bristol. I'm not saying this is bad - I like lots of theologians above - but it does seem sad that the kind of theology Gunton was doing and encouraging has not continued anywhere.

Amy Plantiga Pauw to deliver the 2009 T.F. Torrance Lectures

Amy Plantinga Pauw, the Henry P. Mobley Professor of Doctrinal Theology at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, will deliver the 2009 T.F. Torrance lectures at King's College, Aberdeen.

The lectures will be held from Monday, 26 October, through Thursday, 30 October, 2009.

Alan Torrance will deliver the Didsbury Lectures October 26th - 29th, 2009.

In 2010 Cardinal Walter Kasper will deliver the annual Sarum Theological Lectures

Suzanne McDonald on John Colwell's The Rhythm of Doctrine

Suzanne McDonald (Calvin College, Michigan) reviews John Colwell's The Rhythm of Doctrine in the latest edition of Theology (May/June 2009). Here is some of she says:

In this slim volume John Colwell has given us a beautifully conceived, theologically rich and engagingly written introduction to systematic theology. His method is both original and rewarding: he allows his presentation of the doctrines to follow the narrative of the liturgical seasons, in a theological journey of seven chapters ...
Throughout, familiar theological concepts appear in fresh ways as they are refracted to us in the light of the liturgical framework in which they are set ...
Colwell is modelling a self-consciously integrative approach. The practice of theology is very deliberately placed in the context of the rhythm of church life and worship, and this in turn encourages us to make connections between doctrines ... In addition Colwell seeks to hold together theology and ethics ...
The Rhythm of Doctrine deserves to be widely read and creatively used. Here is a little book to provide rich reflection for individuals and church study groups, to inspire sermon preparation, and hopefully to find its way onto reading lists for theology undergraduates and ordinands. Intended both as an introduction to systematic theology and as a programmatic sketch for future, more detail exploration, Colwell has given us a masterly systematics in nuce, and has left me (and without a doubt many other readers) eagerly awaiting more.

David Fergusson to Deliver Warfield Lectures

Next week sees Professor David Fergusson of Edinburgh University deliver the 2009 Warfield Lectures.

Fergusson’s lecture series, titled “The Theology of Providence: Historical, Dogmatic, and Pastoral Perspectives,” will include six lectures given. The schedule of lectures is as follows:

Lecture I: “Providence in Hebrew and Christian Traditions” on Monday, February 16
Lecture II: “Reformed Emphases? Calvin to Barth” on Tuesday, February 17
Lecture III: “Deism and the Persistence of Providence” on Tuesday, February 17
Lecture IV: “The Politics of Providence” on Wednesday, February 18
Lecture V: “What Did Darwin Do to Providence?” on Thursday, February 19
Lecture VI: “Providence and Pastoral Care” on Thursday, February 19

Educated in philosophy and theology in the Universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Oxford, Fergusson worked for several years as a parish minister in the Church of Scotland. Before returning to Edinburgh to his present position, he was professor of systematic theology at the University of Aberdeen from 1990 to 2000. His research interests include issues in Christian doctrine, theological ethics, and the history of Reformed theology, especially in the Scottish context. He has served as president of the Society for the Study of Theology (2000 to 2002) and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Fergusson has delivered the Cunningham Lectures in Edinburgh (1996), the Bampton Lectures in Oxford (2001), and most recently the Gifford Lectures in Glasgow (2008), which will be published as Faith and Its Critics by Oxford University Press.

In April and May Richard Harries will deliver the annual Sarum Theological Lectures on Christianity and Public Life. The political philosophy of our society is now dominated by key concepts like freedom, human rights and democracy. It is assumed that these are the values of a secular society that has outgrown religion.Richard Harries shows that there are very different understandings of the secular and argues that essential political values have deep roots in the Christian faith.

In September Professor Stephen Williams (Union Theological College, Belfast, Ireland) will deliver the 2nd Kantzer Lectures under the title "The Election of Grace: a Riddle without Resolution?". Lectures on election with special reference to Karl Barth, the Bible, and the pastoral function of the doctrine.

In October Professor Alan Torrance (University of St. Andrew's) will deliver the 2009 Didsbury Lectures.

Theology in Oxford, Hilary Term 2009

Nigel Biggar will be giving the first McDonald Lectures in Theology, Ethics and Public Life on ‘Behaving in
Public: Christian Ethics outside of the Church’ Thursdays, 5pm (5, 12, 19, 26 Feb)

The Oxford Centre for Christianity and Culture will be running a series on Darwin Reconsidered (Tuesdays, 5pm)
20 January Dr Fuller – Darwin and Design
27 January Dr Brooke – Darwin on Nature and God
3 February  Dr Dixon – The Impact of Darwin on Victorian Ethics and Morals
10 February  Dr Deane-Drummond – Evolution and Christology
17 February  Dr Barrett – Darwin and Evolutionary Psychology
24 February  Prof. Lennox – Is Darwinism the Cause of Secularism?
3 March  Dr Cunningham – Darwinian Variants
10 March  Dr John Weaver – The Challenge of Evolutionary Theory for the 21st Century Church 

Professor Parish will be giving the 2009 Bampton Lectures on 'Le christianisme est étrange: Christian particularity in writing of the French 17th century'. Also on Tuesdays, 5pm at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin

Prof. Riches (University of Glasgow) may be giving the Hensley Henson Lectures (TBC).

Oliver Davies on Transformation Theology

Oliver Davies responds to Ben Myers review of his book Transformation Theology here and in the comments enters into some conversation with the likes of George Hunsinger.

McGrath moving to King's

(HT to Jason)
Alister McGrath is moving to King's in a newly created role of Professor of Theology, Ministry and Education. This will see him join Luke Bretherton, Pete Ward and Andrew Walker in the growing area of theology and ministry courses King's has begun running over the last few years in the school of education, although in partnership with the theology and religious studies department.  In recent years, perhaps with the lack of internationally renowned British theologians working in England, McGrath has become increasingly high profile. He's giving the Gifford Lectures in 2009. McGrath is a prolific writer, keeping pace, if not surpassing, that other prolific of writers, Tom Wright. It's an interesting move because McGrath has said he could see himself no where else but Oxford, where he was principal of Wycliffe Hall and more latterly Professor of Historical Theology, based in Harris Manchester College. For more see here. 

Penal Substitution: A Recent Bibliography

For
1. The Cross of Christ by John Stott (1986)
2. The Wondrous Cross by Stephen Holmes (2007)
3. Pierced for Our Transgressions by Mike Ovey and others (2007)
4. Aspects of the Atonement by I. Howard Marshall (2007)
5. Where Wrath and Mercy Meet edited by David Peterson (2001)
6. The Message of the Cross by Derek Tidball (2001)
7. What Did the Cross Achieve? The Logic of Penal Substitution by J I Packer (1974, 2002)
8. The Glory of the Atonement edited by Charles Hill and Frank James (2004)
9. Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem (1994)
10. 'The Cross and Substitutionary Atonement' by Simon Gathercole in Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology (2003)
11. 'Can Punishment Bring Peace? Penal Substitution Revisited' by Stephen Holmes in Scottish Journal of Theology (2005)

Against
1. Recovering the Scandal of the Cross by Joel Green and Mark Baker (2000)
2. Atonement Today edited by John Goldingay (1995)
3. Actuality of Atonement by Colin Gunton (1988)
4. Past Event and Present Salvation by Paul Fiddes (1989)
5. The Non-Violent Atonement by J. Denny Weaver (2001)
6. The Radical Evangelical by Nigel Wright (1996)
7. Consuming Passion edited by Simon Barrow and Jonathan Bartley (2005)
8. God's Just Vengeance by Timothy Gorringe (1996)
9. Atonement for a Sinless Society by Alan Mann (2005)
10. Jesus and the Victory of God by NT Wright (1996)
11. The Rhythm of Doctrine by John Colwell (2007)
12. Once and for All by Tom Smail (1998)

For / Against
The Atonement Debate edited by Derek Tidball and others (2008)