Description
Most systematicians take as their starting point the nature of God, and scripture as the means by which God’s nature is revealed, but what would a systematic theology look like that began with an experiential knowledge of God? Here, Edmond Chua offers a method for just such an approach. Beginning with realms of human experience including psychology, cultural diversity and religious plurality, he builds the framework of a systematic theology that is inclusive and pluriform, while retaining the core tenets of a Christian doctrine of God.
Notwithstanding his novel methodology, Chua’s argument remains biblically rooted and appreciative of the Christian tradition. In the latter half of the book he returns to the classical doctrines of the Trinity, Christology, evil, sin and salvation, allowing his inclusive view of the human religious experience to shed new light on the wisdom bequeathed by Paul, Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Barth, and others. The result is a bold Christian vision that is culturally engaged and globally applicable, of interest to systematic theologians while contributing to interreligious dialogue.
About the Author
Edmond Zi-Kang Chua (PhD, University of Otago, NZ) is an academic researcher specialising in the Trinity, systematics, patristics and Asian theology. He is author of ‘God-ness’, ‘God-ity’, and God: A Historical Study and Synthesis of the Christian Doctrine of the Divine Being, on Trinitarian coherence; and A Systematic Theology from East Asia: Jung Young Lee’s Biblical-Cultural Trinity.
Contents
Foreword by Douglas Pratt
Acknowledgements
List of Abbreviations
Introduction: Experience, Culture and Religion in Systematic Theology
1. Foundations I: Experience, Culture and World Religions
2. Method: Towards a Christian Global Systematic Theology
3. Case Study: A Classical Theology of God and Its Philosophical Debt
4. Foundations II: Faith, Scripture, Tradition and Reason
5. Doctrines: The Trinity
6. Doctrines: Christology
7. Doctrines: Theodicy
8. Doctrines: Sin and Salvation
Selected Bibliography
Subject Index
Scripture Index
Endorsements and Reviews
Edmond Chua rethinks systematic theology within a global context that engages religious diversity from a conservative Christian framework. Far from a liberal and pluralist account, Chua takes a conservative Evangelical approach, with a literalist biblical hermeneutics, to meaningfully engage interreligious dialogue and learn from other religions. A refreshing voice in the conversation. Paul Hedges, Associate Professor in Interreligious Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Chua offers a stimulating combination of a solid grasp of the Christian tradition with a capacity to proffer novel ideas that may yet resolve theological conundrums, or at least open up the possibility of fresh theological thinking actually making a difference. This is an exciting, must-have book. Douglas Pratt, from the Foreword
