Details for Influential Contemporary Theologians

This unit explores the writings of seminal modern theologians, focusing on their method, central ideas, and contribution to the development of Christian thought 

The unit Influential Contemporary Theologians is part of the subject area Theology and is offered as a part of the following Awards: Master of Arts (Christian Studies) (Alphacrucis College (NSW Dept. of Education)).

Unit Content

Curriculum Objective

At the successful completion of this unit, students shall be able to:

1. Critically and contextually describe major movements in twentieth century theology
2. Identify the theological approach of influential modern theologians
3. Understand the background, context and central influences that inform the work of selected theologians
4. Critically analyse theological assumptions and conclusions
5.  Apply theological insights to ecclesial, social and cultural issues

Subject Content

1. Karl Barth
2. Dietrich Bonhoeffer
3. Bernard Lonergan
4. Jűrgen Moltmann
5. Wolfhart Pannenberg
6. Elizaberth Schüssler-Fiorenza
7. Paul Tillich;
Hans Urs von Balthasar 

Assessment Methods

Forum responses, essays.

Prescribed Text

Ford, D. (ed.). The Modern Theologians. Cambridge: Blackwell, 2005.

Course reader: extracts of original works in English, e.g. Bonhoeffer, D. Letters and Papers From Prison; Lonergan, B.  Method in Theology; Moltmann, J. Experiences in Theology; Pannenberg, W.  Systematic Theology; Schüssler-Fiorenza, E. The Power of the Word; Tillich, P. Systematic Theology; von Balthasar, Hans Urs. The Glory of the Lord, De Lubac, Henri, The discovery of God, Rahner, Karl, The Trinity etc

Representative References

Barth, Karl; G.W. Bromiley, T.F. Torrance (eds), Church dogmatics, London; New York: T & T Clark, 2009.

Block, E. (ed.). Glory, Grace and Culture: The Work of Hans Urs Von Balthasar. New York: Paulist, 2005.

Bosco, Mark and David Stagaman (eds),  Finding God in all things: celebrating Bernard Lonergan, John Courtney Murray, and Karl Rahner, New York: Fordham University Press, 2007.

Busch, Eberhard, Barth, Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2008.

Bychkov, Oleg V. and James Fodor (eds), Theological aesthetics after von Balthasar, Aldershot, England; Burlington, VT: Ashgate, 2008.

Enander, Glen, Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza,Philaldelphia: Chelsea House, 2005.

Hinlicky, Paul R., Paths not taken: fates of theology from Luther to Leibniz, Grand Rapids, Mich.: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 2009.

Manning, Russell. The Cambridge companion to Paul Tillich, Cambridge, UK; New York: Cambridge University Press, 2009.

Manning, Russell. Theology at the end of culture: Paul Tillich’s theology of culture and art, Leuven; Dudley, MA: Peeters, 2005.