Theology : Systematic Theology / Dogmatics: God - Immanence

In this book Paul Molnar seeks to set out a contemporary doctrine of the immanent Trinity and to address the issue of how we can know God according to his true nature rather than create him in our own image. It is Paul Molnar's contention that any theology that starts with self-transcendence and not explicitly with God's self-revelation through his Word will result in a flawed perception of both divine and human freedom. He holds that while God is and remains incomprehensible even in his revelation, he can be known as a very definite object in faith and by grace. A sound doctrine of the immanent Trinity recognizes the freedom of God as the basis of our own human freedom and upholds God's distinction from his creation, thus avoiding the theological pitfalls of agnosticism, monism and dualism.'Molnar sets out to place the doctrine of the immanent Trinity firmly back on the agenda of the Christian doctrine of God, and does so to considerable effect. In conversation not only with Barth but with many contemporary proposals in trinitarian theology, he makes a persuasive case for the centrality of the doctrine and against the perils that attend its neglect. This is an essay in Christian dogmatics of a high order, learned, intellectually powerful and spiritually engaged; it deserves to be widely read and discussed. ' John Webster, Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity, University of Oxford

The nature of God's holiness has been widely misunderstood bycontemporary theologians. In this volume E. David Willis not onlyclarifies this divine attribute but also gives it the prominence inChristian thought that it deserves. According to Willis, confusion about God's holiness is due tothe compound mistake of treating the notions of transcendenceand immanence as opposities and subsuming holiness exclusivelyunder God's transcendence. To correct this view, Willis beginswhere all true Christian theology should with the cross. Heshows how Jesus' death is the supreme example of God's immanence, which continues to be realized in the act of communion.On this more direct experience of God is to be found a surerunderstanding of the meaning of holiness, and Willis looks indetail at its many facets purity, simplicity, infinity, beauty, andlove. Finally, he explores how the holiness of God provides thebasis for the life of Christian faith and hope in today's world. Providing inspiration for the soul as well as solid theologicalinsight for the mind, this book will benefit students, groups, andindividuals alike.

Christopher Knight uses the notion of revelation to ask whether scientifically literate people need to be as simplistic in their religion as they are sophisticated in their science. Knight extends the dialogue begun in John Polkinghorne's and Arthur Peacocke's work to explore new possibilities. Their stress on natural processes as the form of divine immanence and the locus of divine action opens the way to Knight's rethinking the psychology of religious experience as a medium of divine revelation.