Description
Book SynopsisThe comprehensive and engaging introduction to contemporary Christianity, revised and updated
The second edition of Understanding Christian Doctrine presents a completely updated and revised edition that builds on the most popular features of the first edition to offer a lively overview to the central beliefs of Christianity. Ian S Markham, a noted authority of Christianity, discusses the great thinkers of the Christian tradition and puts them in conversation with contemporary progressive theologies in a book that goes from Augustine, Aquinas, and Luther to Liberationist, Feminist, and Queer theologies. Designed to be a basic primer, the text is written in a manner that assumes the reader has no prior knowledge of theology or Christian doctrine.
The book is designed to present the basic options in all the key areas of Christianity as well as information on how to make complex theological decisions. The author tackles all the key questions from creation to
Table of Contents
Preface to the Second Edition ix
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction 1
1 Finding a Way In 5
2 The Theistic Claim 23
3 The Nature of God 49
4 The Trinity 73
5 The Problem of Evil and Suffering 89
6 Creation and the Significance of Humanity 103
7 God Incarnate 119
8 Dying to Sin, Living to Redemption 135
9 The Holy Spirit and the Church 149
10 Sacraments and the Life of Virtue 167
11 Religious Diversity: What is God Up To? 179
12 Hope Beyond the Grave 195
13 The End of the Age 205
14 Participating in the Conversation 217
Index 223
