The third volume of an extended and systematic exploration of the relation between Christian theology and the natural sciences, focussing on the origins and place of theory in Christian theology

Provocative and immensely well informed, The Order of Things represents a substantial and original contribution to the fields of systematic theology, historical theology, and the science and religion dialogue. Leading theologian, Alister E. McGrath explores how the working methods and assumptions of the natural sciences can be used to inform and stimulate systematic theology. Written by one of today's best-known Christian writers Explores how the working methods and assumptions of the natural sciences can be used to inform and stimulate systematic theology Continues McGrath’s acclaimed exploration of scientific theology, begun with his groundbreaking three-volume work, A Scientific Theology Includes a landmark extended analysis of whether doctrinal development can be explained using Darwinian evolutionary models, and exploration of how the transition from a “scientific theology” to a future “scientific dogmatics” might be made Supported by a published review of McGrath’s scientific theology project, which is currently the best brief introduction to his thought.

Select contemporary issues of theology, philosophy and cosmology seem conflicting to pros and ordinary people alike. How can Biblical issues of Genesis be correlated with Big Bang theory and evolution with theistic creation? Gary Clifford Gibson examines many of salient issues even published physicists blunder about in fields beyond their usual professional occupational interests concerning philosophy, theology, and history misleading to the public today. The author regards problems even theologians stumble upon; such as. when the tribulation occurred (in the first century a.d. or to be announced), Adam and Eve, the time-line of Genesis, the Biblical flood and Multiverse theory.

Noting the important parallels between scientific theory and Christian doctrine, McGrath offers a sustained defense of the necessity of doctrine within Christian theology against those who argue for a "non-dogmatic" Christianity. The approach developed within this volume builds on the work of writers such as Heidegger and Habermas, and argues that theory is to be conceived in terms of the communal beholding of reality. The many theoretical issues to be addressed in this volume include the manner in which closure is secured in theological theorizing, the implications of the stratification of reality for its representation, the place of metaphysics in Christian theology, and the nature of revelation itself. Viewed as a whole, Theory represents a fresh evaluation of the origins and place of theory in Christian theology, which is certain to provoke discussion and debate. This third volume completes the A Scientific Theology series. A Scientific Theology is a groundbreaking work of systematic theology in three volumes: Nature, Reality and Theory. Now available as a three volume set.

Are social scientific theories and confessional theologies of sacrifice equally well suited as public discourse about religion? The French liberal Protestant theologians of the 5th Section of the École Pratique and the French doyen of sociology, Émile Durkheim and his two main followers, Henri Hubert and Marcel Mauss, engage in a struggle over the proper approach to sacrifice in the public university. The Durkheimians argued that theological language and assumptions were inappropriate for this purpose because of their confessional allegiances. Another approach to sacrifice, free of confessional entanglements, was required. This is what Hubert and Mauss sought to provide in the Sacrifice: Its Nature and Function.