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Both carefully researched and lucidly written, Iain Taylor's Pannenberg on the Triune God makes a significant contribution to the scholarly literature on the theology of Wolfhart Pannenberg. Covering the doctrinal loci in the order in which they appear in Systematic Theology (ST), the work advances as a detailed exposition and evaluation of Pannenberg's mature trinitarian theology. Taylor contends for the doctrine of God as the organizing centre of ST. Helpful in this discussion is his refutation of assumptions of Hegelianism in Pannenberg's trinitarian thought. Taylor demonstrates throughout a consistently generous reading of Pannenberg's theology without hesitating to articulate careful critiques. While all readers of Pannenberg may not concur with those appraisals, his grasp of Pannenberg's dogmatics makes this volume highly valuable to those hoping to explore Pannenberg's trinitarian theology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reviews the book "The Historicity of Nature: Essays on Science and Theology," edited by Niels Henrik Gregersen.

In recent years, a wave of publications has appeared on the relationship between violence and the doctrine of atonement. Stricken by God?, edited by Brad Jersak and Michael Hardin, is a wide-ranging contribution to the ongoing discussions similar to Maret Trelstad's Cross Examinations (Fortress, 2006). The twenty collected essays are categorized under six subheadings related to the significance of the cross event: the historical Jesus, sacrifice, forgiveness, justice, nonviolent victory, rebirth and deification. By drawing together a diverse array of contributors the issues and questions orbiting around nonviolent atonement are explored from various angles, perspectives, and traditions with a panorama of alternative outlooks offered to the penal substitution theory. Though readers will not find an entirely unified formulation of nonviolent atonement, some common threads are found running throughout: bountiful use of Girardian mimetic theory, reappopriation of Irenaeus' recapitulation model, and frequent appraisal and critique of Hans Boersma's Violence, Hospitality, and the Cross (Eerdmans, 2004) which often stands in for sacrificial ideology in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reviews the book "The Promise of Peace," by Alan Spence.

Roger Haight's The Future of Christology follows his controversial and best-selling book Jesus Symbol of God which was denounced by the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith as containing 'grave doctrinal errors'. The Future of Christology covers similar ground as the previous book though in a more accessible format. Toward fashioning a Christology that attends to the realities of religious pluralism and post modernity, Haight addresses historical Jesus research, Christological method, conceptions of salvation, theologies of the cross, religious pluralism and church mission. Readers hoping to find in The Future of Christology a robust confession of the incarnation's sheer uniqueness, affirmation of divine initiative in the suffering of Christ for salvation, an acknowledgement of salvation by faith in Christ alone, or a traditional view of the resurrection will be consistently disappointed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This book aims to provide an overall account of the field of systematic theology as it is understood by contemporary practitioners, to 'take stock of where the discipline lies'. The book unfolds in four parts encompassing a total of thirty-seven entries. Part I considers doctrinal loci; Part II explores the 'Sources' of theology; Part III focuses on a selection of interactions that systematic theology takes up in giving a conceptual reconstruction of Christian teaching; and in Part IV, entries examine the 'Prospects' of systematic theology. It is difficult to imagine another volume that rivals the quality, scope and diversity of the contributions found here. University professors will find the essays here useful as brief introductions to the doctrinal loci of Christian theology, the settings in which it is conducted and sources from which it has traditionally made use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reviews the book "Wolfhart Pannenberg on Human Destiny," by Kam Ming Wong.

The Person of Christ is a collection of conference essays originally presented at the Research Institute in Systematic Theology at King's College, London. The ten contributors (Murray Rae, John Webster, Richard Burridge, Robert Jenson, Stephen Holmes, Douglas Farrow, Brian Horne, Douglas Knight, Sandra Fach, and Christoph Schwöbel) all share a commitment to the orthodox theological tradition in Christology as expressed in the creedal heritage of the Christian church and together attempt to explore the ongoing coherence and importance of that theological tradition. Topics discussed include New Testament Christology, Christ in the Trinity, the baptism of Christ, the person and nature of Christ, the ascended Christ, and the reconciling work of Christ. In contrast to the impenetrable prose that unfortunately characterizes far too much theological writing, those who appreciate the clarity and succinctness often found in the best conference papers will not be disappointed here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]