Fundamental Theology

Matthew Becker offers college students a crucial book for their study of theology. Fundamental Theology not only provides much of the background material needed to orient students to the study of theology, introducing them to the diversity, practice, and history of Christian traditions, but also provides incisive accounts of basic questions in theology. Becker does this with care to the ecumenical, historical, and present day needs of theological work. Every student can find a place to start and continue the study of theology. In each chapter, Becker does more than summarize or arrange theological positions. He provides important insight while providing connections to the often forgotten theological past. This is the rare book that can play a role on the reference shelf when needed as well as the main text for discussion in an undergraduate theology classroom. * Gregory Walter, St. Olaf College, USA * This work represents the state of the art in systematic theology; it is a major intellectual achievement that responds to all the stronger and many of the weaker challenges with a persuasive and careful method of argumentation, including both exegesis, historical theology and contemporary philosophy of religion. In a mode of traditional and progressive systematics, and always attentive to contemporary debates, Becker moves outside the established lines of conflict on many of the issues by proposing cutting-edge new readings of, and often forgotten interpretive options, to long-standing theological problems. In ecumenical terms, this promising account of Christian thought outshines the simpler but apparently quite tempting and somewhat successful approach of polarization and radical exclusion (religious or otherwise). * Paul Silas Peterson, University of Tubingen, Germany *