Top 10 Best Christian Theologians: What makes their theology important?
85Answering Hub Requests can lead to long afternoons, deep thought, and more questions...
How are we defining terms?
If a theologian is someone who is learned in theology or who speculates about theology and theology is the study of the nature of God and religious truth, well then, what is the nature of God and what is religious truth?
Religious truth may be easier to define than the Nature of God, though both are controversial concepts. Religious truth can mean:
1. Figuring out the underlying and intended meaning behind parables, stories, The Word, wisdom writings, etc. and shaping these discoveries into a coherent concept that points to a universal, unshakeable reality.
2. Acceptance of a dogma that informs a cohesive group's understanding of God, as in when a group of people come together to share in a group of religious beliefs that are considered absolutely correct.
3. An ethical statement of reality.
4. Whatever Jesus said.
5. Whatever Elvis said.
The Nature of God? Well, that, too, is not a perfect science. I suppose that is why theologians spend so much time and effort theologizing. Here are some ideas:
1. God is love.
2. God is Mother Nature.
3. God is the first mover.
4. God is everything.
5. God is energy... light... life...
6. God cannot be understood.
7. God is inside of you.
8. God is s/he who cannot and must not be defined.
The list goes on and on.
Who are the Top Ten?
- Arminian Chronicles: Top Ten Theologians of All Time
1. Athanasius – Defended the church from the most serious heresy it faced: Arianism. 2. Martin Luther – Champion of justification by faith and sola scriptura. 3. Augustine – Defended the church from the Manichean and Pelagian heresies, even - Contest: The Top Living Theologians « Levellers
* Jürgen Moltmann (German Reformed ) If “best” WERE a theological category, Moltmann would have my vote for best living theologian, period. * Hans Küng (German Catholic). * Wolfhart Pannenberg (German Lutheran). * Desmond Tutu, Archbi - Amazon.com: "Top 10 English Speaking Theologians"
Jensen, Milbank, Williams, Hart, Hauerwas, Volf, Marshall, Gustafson, O'Donovan, Grenz - My Top Ten Theology Stories of 2008 | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction
Christianity Today continues as a leader in providing informative editorial on current events, news from a Christian perspective, Christian doctrine, issues and trends. - Top 5 Christian Theologians: Who Did I Leave Out? « Kingdom People
Athanasius of Alexandria Augustine of Hippo Thomas Aquinas John Calvin Karl Barth - Top 10 Most Influential Theologians… « my four walls
10. Norm Beck 9. Walter Wink 8. Brennan Manning 7. Rob Bell 6. C.S. Lewis 5. Walter Brueggeman 4. Brian McLaren 3. Tom Sine 2. Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch 1. Mike Yaconelli - Top Ten Systematic Theologians
# Karl Barth, Reformed # Emil Brunner, Reformed # Hans Küng, Roman Catholic # John MacQuarrie, Anglican (originally Reformed, Church of Scotland) # Jürgen Moltmann, Reformed # Thomas Oden Wesleyan # Wolfhart Pannenberg, Lutheran # Karl Rahner, Roman
Who are the top ten theologians?
Okay, I admit I probably shouldn't have accepted the challenge of answering the request, Top Ten Christian Theology Writers, what makes them important? Because who is defining the top ten Christian Theology Writers?
Well, okay, we have the word Christian included in the text so I suppose this excludes non-Christian writers who have pondered the question of religious truth and the Nature of God. Contemporary guys like Ken Wilber and ancient books like the Bhagavad Gita are immediately stricken from a Christian list. But that doesn't begin to narrow the field.
Are we talking contemporary top ten, or top ten of all time?
Are we focusing on American Top Ten or English-speaking Top Ten or the Top Ten in the International Scene?
Are we eliminating anyone but the Catholic Top Ten- considering this religion contains the only theologians with numbers beginning with Number One, Peter of the Rock?
Or are we concerned with the nondenominational Christian Top Ten, which eliminates Martin Luther, John Calvin and Henry the 8th?
What about the Unity Theologians? Charles Filmore built his faith on the Bible, the Christian book which contains The Word of God. But Unity scholars don't study it in quite the same way as the religious right studies it.
So, which path are we talking?
Are we going with fiction writers, like Dan Brown who write DaVinci Code and William P. Young who wrote The Shack?
Or are we sticking with guys like Duns Scotus, William of Ockham and John Wycliffe who were among the leading Oxford theologians of the later Middle Ages?
It's tough to begin to answer such a question until we rule out everyone falling outside a narrow frame of reference.
Which leads to my third and final question.
Theologian Rock Group
Why does it matter?
The world's worst wars were fought over ideology. But killing each other in the name of religion has never been out of fashion. John Kelsay
Let's see, in recent years, the earth has suffered Crusades, French Wars of Religion, the Thirty Years War, Jihads, the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Saxon War, the Irish war between Catholics and Protestants- all in the name of religion. Certainly, the Christian religion came out of the Jewish faith and the Old Testament overflows with battles fought under the protective care of the Great I AM.
So I ask you, what benefit do defining and redefining religious creeds bestow on mankind, other than further separating man from man? What positive changes for humanity have been directly attributed to the writings of a Christian Theologian?
If you can name one such benefactor to all of humanity, I guarantee his/her pragmatic theological statements would begin my list of significant theological writers.
Theologians
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If I may add something to willbeblessed's post, the way I've been thinking about denominations and (by extension?) theology for the last few years is as follows:
(i) God by definition is infinite; infinite grace, wisdom, beauty, knowledge.
(ii)Human beings are finite. We can only know so much.
(iii) It is impossible for a finite mind to fully understand an infinite mind.
(iv) Individually, we cannot know everything about God. We can know a little or a lot but not everything.
(v) Due to the kind of people we are and the experiences we have gone through, some of God's nature is more easily accessible to us; to experience and understand.
(vi) We can't know God without revelation. Knowing a person takes relationship.It is as much as God reveals himself to us through relationship that we can know of him.
I was raised Lutheran (ALC). Bonhoeffer is a great addition, thanks Pam!
Thank you for an interesting post. Voted "up".
For me, "theology" is "talk about God" and everyone who speaks thoughtfully about God is a theologian.
From the Christian tradition, I think that I would definitely include Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Kewel. Keep on Hubbing. Blake4d
I am also glad I asked! Wags to your muttface from mine.
No silly. Bill W. wrote the Bluebook and started Alcoholics Anonymous. But I am glad you asked. Much love to your puppy. I have a very loyal mutt monster myself. Paws in the air. Keep on Hubbing. Blake4d
haha, one worthwhile nasty comment, Blake4d? Why nasty?!! Anyway, I love your religiously ecclectic list and the reasons for it. Bill W? I know nothing about him! Are you hubbing on him?? If you hub on any of these folk or all of these folk, please make sure I get the link. Some days, like yesterday when my pup got a deep cut on his paw, I did not really have time to look at much online.
I will give it a try, although theology is my third vocation at best.
Sir Francis Bacon
St. Thomas Aquaintis ( I know spelling is probably off)
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Manly P. Hall ( Rosycrux philosopher, and theologian)
St. Francis of Assisi
Bill W. ( Yes from the Bluebook of AA, call me on it.)
Herbert W. Armstrong ( Worldwide church of God )
Aleister Crowley ( Occult theologian and philosopher)
Carl Jung ( Occult Psychologist and theologian)
L. Ron Hubbard ( Occult Scientologist the anti-theologian)
I choose these ten for their contributions to the interpretation and expansion of religious knowledge, not the religion they were partial to. Theologians are more philosophers like scientists are more sorcerers, my list is based on this concept. Hope it sparks some interest or at least one worthwhile nasty comment. Great hub ST. Keep on Hubbing. Blake4d
FHE, hahah. I believe that question requires another hub, eh? What do you think?
kindly answer my question? what makes philosophy philosophy?
Kris, thank you for your list! Very comprehensive. I will zip over to your profile page in hopes of reading a few hubs on theological writers I do not know from your list. I admit I am not much into those I recognize on the Alive list- I do like Bishop Spong, http://johnshelbyspong.com/.
Classic:John Calvin, Augustine, Jonathan Edwards, John Owen, Charles Hodge, Martin Luther, Jeremiah Burroughs,
Contemporary (But with the Lord): John Murray, J. Greshem Machen, Meredith Kline, Geerhardus Vos, Louis Berkhof
Contemporary (Alive & easier to read): John Piper, RC Sproul, Wayne Grudem, Michael Horton, Joel Beeke, Steven Lawson, Kim Riddlebarger, Phil Ryken, Robert Godfrey, Carl Trueman, J.I. Packer, Jerry Bridges (Gospel for Real Life is a must read!)
*That's a good start!!!
Mickey Dee, I don't believe you can go wrong with the Golden Rule. Hugs, Story
Great hub Storytellersrus. I have to keep it really simple for myself. That's why I stick to the Golden Rule. The GR is in every religion. I cannot think of anything more important than lifting up humanity. We cannot see God or get His signature, but we can see the suffering of our own kind and we all should be appalled at any of our brothers and sisters not reaching their potential. God bless!
Sherman, I am very familiar with- and APPRECIATE- Bishop Spong (I attend an Episcopal Church), Crossan and his Jesus Seminar- Borg was also in that group but I have read subsequent material by Borg, Annie Lamott as writer in Bird by Bird, CS Lewis and his Mere Christianity and the Sermon on the Mount in Aramaic- Neil Douglass Klotz's version, which is disturbing yet fascinating. I will have to look into the others! Thank you so much for the list, and for reminding me about Nouwen... haven't read him in awhile.
"A waiting person is a patient person. The word patience means the willingness to stay where we are and live the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us."
— Henri J.M. Nouwen
My top Theologians: Robert Farrar Capon, Spong, Brendan Manning, Brian McLaren, John Dominic Crossan, Marcus Borg, Anne Lamott, C S Lewis, Ruth Bell Graham, Rembrandt's picture of the Prodigal Son and Nouwen's book on it, Mike Yaconelli, Phillip Yancey.
Check them all out. Astounding insights into the theology of grace, mercy and love by God through and of Jesus. Oh yeah, and savor the whole Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7.
Admirable
Tonymac, the pleasure is all mine. What a gem of a poet you are. This small bit you composed above is inspiring and visual and deeply theological. Thank you.
I really enjoyed this Hub - great take on theologians! I generally prefer those who live theology to those who merely write it. I think of Dorothy Day, Peace Pilgrim, A.J. Muste, Dom Helder Camara, Cardinal Cardijn, just for starters!
Must agree that those who proclaim theology as a way of separating people are of little practical use to us. There is far too much doctrine and teaching and far too little acting to really change the world for the better.
There is a connection in my mind between the hands and theology. The hands can be raised in praise, or bunched up in fight and anger, or spread wide in giving and supporting. They can be clasped together in prayer (a la Durer) or clasped with another person's hands in caring and love. The hands can make a weapon or a basket. The hands can be closed and grasping for me or open and giving to others. The hands can be raised in fists to defend myself, or opened and vulnerable. Each of these actions or attitudes of the hands has a whole theology behind them.
Thanks for setting me off of this little reflection!
Love and peace
Tony
I wasn't disappointed at all. It was intellectually stimulating1
Well, I hope you weren't disappointed and that you found something to challenge your God-given brain!
Great piece storytellers! I was expecting something different when I clicked into your article.
I'm in agreement with some here who've stated that we don't need theologians to interpret scripture for us-that the Word of God speaks for itself. Scripture never mentions 'theologians', but does mention teachers, evangelists, workers, prophets etc.
If one is looking for the top Muslim or Jewish theologians then it is to those of that faith that one should inquire. I'm a Christian and have chosen to take little notice of the writings of those who I view as theologians. I've read some of their works, but I pay little heed to their words.
Great job, and as I think about how we would define a great theologian I have to agree it would be a formidable job. AS you pointed out theology is a study of the nature of God, or just plain God. Theo= God and ology=the study of. So in a sense we are all theologians. If we read the bible, take to heart to seek the nature of God and know who He is...I would say we are theologians. So how do we catorgorize this...we can't...if a 16 year old is studying and seeking God with all his heart...and a 60 year old seminarian has grown cold in his heart towards the things of God...who would we say is the greater theologian?
It is a great question...and handled with love and truth. Interesting Hub.
Blessings Ulrike Grace
Thanks for your comments, Valdimir Uhri!
I must agree religion is trouble. I hate religions. Jesus hated only religion and sin. I think He hated religion more since he solved the sin problem. He loved people and died for them. There is no other founder of religion who died for people. But people died for the founders.
Thank you for opening this subject.
Religion is opinion of man about God and His Word.
No another book match the Bible.
Have a pleasant weekend.
Tolkien? Interesting. I am reading Sigurd and Gudrun, which he adapted from the Old Norse Prose Edda. I myself prefer the Poetic Edda. But I did not consider him a Theologian. I would love to hear more about this, rdlang05.
Storytellersrus,
Very well thought out hub, and while I don't agree with every aspect, I respect your argument and agree with most of it. I consider myself to be a theologian, and your hub evokes mixed responses from my ego ;-) My suggestions for theologians (you will be able to tell my background probably)--C.S. Lewis, Paul Tillich, Karl Rahner, Hans Urs Van Balthasar, Pope John Paul II, Thomas, Aquinas, J.R.R. Tolkien, Augustine, G.K. Chesterton, and Fulton Sheen. Not in any particular order, and somewhat diverse. Thank you!
This question interests me: would the writers of the Bible qualify as theologians?
A big part of this question must be, who wrote the Bible? And another, did God write the Bible?
Defining God as a theologian is an interesting exercise. If the Bible is inspired text, this is what you are asking.
However, if you are implying that the Bible was written from the hearts of ordinary men, well, this is evaluated differently.
Assuming for a moment that the books were actually written by the people in the books, i.e., Pauls Letters are word for word written by Paul might be considered a theologian. While others might be better named poets and still others historians, laying down the "facts" without evaluation. What do you think?
In my experience, the Old Testament informs the New Testament and therefore must be considered as part of a Christian Theologian's complete context directly or indirectly. It's present as pumping blood might be present when viewing a body but it isn't the entire body, could be a rough analogy of my perspective on this.
A Theologian focused on the Old Testament but informed by the New Testament would still be a Christian Theologian, I believe. But a theologian who accepts the Old Testament without the New Testament would not be considered a Christian Theologian.
This is a candid and honest evaluation upon which I would principly agree with, but probably not for the same reasons. What's my take on the question, "Who are the top ten Theologians?" I think that the answer to that question would be about as important as "Who are the top ten Prophets, Apostles, or Martyrs in the Bible? There are clearly enough commonalities with men which could be used to suggest a comparitive analysis, but I would also argue that there are just as many differences, which would cleary make it impractical. All men are similar, but there are no two exactly alike, neither are there any two that think exactly alike. This is a mark of the great wisdom of our God, everyman is like a thrown rock into the water; the movement of the water is never the same twice, and God uses each and every person through their gifts and talents to express a unique perspective of the mind and character of Himself. All of the collective thoughts of men are but a reflection of the depth of the mind of the Creator, thus there could never be a true comparison among men. Paul say's in 2Corinthians 10:12 "but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." In Ephesians 4:11, God called men to be, Bishops, Apostles, Evangelist, Pastors, Teachers, Prophets. Men, made Theologians. I would like to have responded also to the challenge concerning a "Christian Theologian writer" effecting direct positive change on society, but I would need some more clarification. Would the writers of the Bible qualify as theologians? Does this term "Christian Theologian" refer to both New and Old Testament periods?
Thanks for the Hub, Be Blessed, Shalom!
Thank you so much for your additions, aslanlight!
Gustavo Gutierrez, the father of Liberation Theology, which was influenced by Marxism and revolutionary ideas of setting the poor people free and giving them tools to enable them to take action, or praxis to better their lives.
It started in Latin America in the 70's but can be useful in any country where there are marginalised, excluded people (that's everywhere!)
And I agree with the above comment that mentioned Paul Tillich, his Correlation Theology fits very nicely with Liberation Theology because it's getting people to speak to each other and listen to one another's ideas.
Karl Barth did some good work attempting to bridge the gap between conservative and liberal christians and he looks like a sweet old grandad with his pipe so I must add him.
I will include this, but it's not hub policy to put your hub links on other people's sites, fyi.
Great Hub! Here's one for measure: http://hubpages.com/hub/WalkwithGod
YES! thanks for all the reminders, no body! i appreciate you!
And like love, after it's been given - you give it right back. Luvya!
Oh no body, you are totally welcome but I didn't give you the spot silly! It's kind of like love. It's there for the taking. You just have to ask or respond or somehow engage. You know, my husband is a bit overweight but with that has come a mellowing of his personality and that makes him even more sexy to me.
I really am no body important. I think I was just feeling sorry for myself when I chose the name. I had just been defeated by the scale again and I was feeling desperate to give my wife something sexy to look at and play with. (So I have no...body!) You know what? The more I use the name the more I like it. I even like the mysterious avatar that Hubpages gave me. I know that God loves me and Jesus died for me and that makes me special as it does everyone that is a believer but the mysterious voice of reason out of the shadows - well that's just downright cool!
Oh yeah, thank you for giving me a spot to speak. You really are the best.
Dear no body, Thanks for expressing your ideas on this very personal subject. I wonder if you are no body meaning you are spirit or if you deny the body or if you think this of yourself, that you are truly nobody? interesting choice of name. Thanks again for sharing what you think about all of this.
If you let Scripture interpret Scripture, taking everything as literally as you can than there is a guideline that you can work with. It doesn't matter what I am or what I think. What does the Bible mean if I were dead? As soon as anyone starts giving what they think and their "take" then is where the problem starts. People "spiritualizing" symbolizing" "I think this meanzing" - This is where things go wrong. The Bible is a living book. Written for the ages in its perspective. It doesn't need our embellishments though they sound so enlightened. If you are a theologian I sincerely apologize for I did not mean to say theologians aren't necessary. But what one says over another is moot. What does God say in His Word that answers the question at hand. Using the Words to guide the principles and the principles to guide the Word - What does God say about XYZ. That is more important than my, your, or anyone's opinion.
haha, okay so your point is what? I thought at first you were agnostic but then I thought you might be born again. What is your take, no body? if you are no body does this mean you are fully spirit? i don't mean to be rude i am seriously curious!
Theologians come, theologians go. Each, if they give their own take on Scripture is to be viewed warily. I see no problem however giving Scripture takes on Scripture, letting The Word define the Word without adding or taking anything away. I do it and other hubists do it, blessing me to pieces. The Bible itself says to "reason together" and to "examine the Scripture" to "rightly divide it". (though these are 3 different references they do go hand in hand. That's how I see the words I read but then again I am just No Body.
We appreciate the information you have put together here.
Hey BCM, That is great! CS Lewis was one of my early favorites- his Mere Christianity, especially. Thanks for the comment!
Hi everyone, i have to say I love C.S. Lewis my self.
I could not leave this hub without say so.
Thank you Jewels. I've never been quoted back to myself. What a kick!
"I think the best gifts intellectual theologian writers offer is the raising of questions and the offering of ideas to inspire reflection." Great statement, I enjoyed your hub.
Haha, that's a major compliment, Tom!!! Thank you so much. My Lutheran parents would be thrilled to know I am walking the path of Martin.
I saw the play Inherit the Wind tonight at my daughter's school. Excellent job and very relevant to your comment as well. Thanks for stopping by. You have been hubbing like crazy. Good for you!
I really enjoyed this work of yours. There's humor and argument and logic and history. It should be nailed to someone's door, probably.
Thanks, Matt. I am sure your list is worth examining. Thanks for stopping by to share this news.
I posted my own answer to this question. I interpreted the question in my own context. People are usually looking for someone who has published a book that addresses Christian Living. My understanding is that some of the ministers in our modern world are the real professionals when it comes to bridging the gap between theory and practice in regards to faith. My list is ripe with ministers and even a couple of professors who have shaped my life and the lives of countless other people.
These are the writers I recommend becasue of the positive impact they have in real life. I like to think that we can live in an idealized world but the fact is we all have "baggage." We are all damaged and we all have issues that we are dealing with. Our greatest challenge is not in the pursuit of perfection or ideals but our hope relies on the reality that we have been forgiven all of our inadequacies.
I believe that it is in our brokenness that we find the greatest hope of all.
Hey, lemarq, your clarification is duly noted! I love C.S. Lewis myself. His Mere Christianity came to me at the perfect time. He definitely influenced my outlook. Since then, which was back in 1979 actually, I have been inspired by many theologians but as evidenced by my statement, more so by Christian practitioners.
I guess the most theoretical guy I read with constant amazement is Ken Wilber and his cache of religious wizards on his site, Integral Spirituality http://isc.integralinstitute.org/Public/static/Def where he labels the different belief systems and defines why someone at a certain level or line might hold the opinion about religion or spirituality that they do. This approach fascinates me because it puts everything into perspective and on an equivalent basis. Thanks for stopping.
Maybe it would have been easier if the request asked for "YOUR 10 favorite theologians". Then subjectivity would have been quite natural and expected in your response. Choosing the top then is a tall order. In any case, you brought up great points and I enjoyed the read. I would have to say my favorites for the 20th century would be Paul Tillich and, dare I say, C.S. Lewis (many wouldn't consider him a theologian, but he is important to me. I credit him with my own embracement of Christianity.)
Hey, einron! You remind us that deeds speak louder than words. There is sense to that old saying. I was thinking about men like Martin Luther King, Jr. who have put their theology to the action test. What do you think about contemporary theologians like him? Or like Mother Theresa? Or Gandhi? I think the best gifts intellectual theologian writers offer is the raising of questions and the offering of ideas to inspire reflection. I do love ideas. I enjoy the ideas presented in the Bible as well as the ideas presented in other Wisdom Books. In fact, I am grateful to Blake for even raising this question because after I wrote this, I went for a walk with the dogs and I felt so calm and in the zone.
Elena, thank you! I didn't start out with this ending in mind. It evolved. That's what I love about writing. It's so present. I focus on the path immediately before me and the ending reveals itself.
Hi Storyteller, what a take on the request, a great turn of the screw :-) Well done!
I cannot name the top theologians in this world. It is useless to name any one. What is the criteria for choosing one over another? Our church is right in not quoting from any of the world famous theologians. If we wish to quote anyone, we quote from the examples of the people in the Bible. They are mentioned in the Bible for a specific reason and that is, you can quote them for their deeds. God be praised.
Well if you want the names of theologians, look at all the links I have provided. There are lists and lists of possibilities! So I haven't completely failed you, haha.
I appreciate your comment. In fact, my husband just arrived home after work and read your words, saying, "Hmm. That's a nice comment!" He is not very forthcoming in his approval where I am concerned, so I appreciate this response from two perspectives!!! Made my day, in fact. Thanks so much!
I am hoping others will weigh in with their top inspiring theologians...
I am blown away by how you answered my request. I wrote a title with one interpretation in mind and you used a different interpretation of the same title. You answered a much deeper question. Why do we need Theologians, since they only cause factions? Great point.
I do agree that it is important for you to seek truth on your own with your own mind. I asked because I can't name more than a couple theologians. Just hoping for some direction for educating myself, so that I might become more humane. Unfortunately I will need to get that from another hub.
You are a deep thinker and a person who questions. I admire you for that.
Storytellersrus Hub Author 6 weeks ago
soa, thank you for your very logical approach. Being born a contrarian, I immediately wonder what the illogical approach might be- or the intuitive one. Still, I appreciate your methodical analysis!