Contemporary Theologians

James Bacik put together this volume largely from his own academic and theological experience; the people included here represent most of the major strands of theology during much of the twentieth century. There are twenty theologians included, as follows: Hans Urs von BalthasarKarl BarthMartin BuberTeilhard de ChardinYves CongarMohandas GandhiGustavo GutierrezMartin Luther King, Jr.Hans KungBernard LonerganJohn MacquarrieJacques MaritainJohann Metz\John Courtney MurrayReinhold Niebuhr\Karl RahnerRosemary RuetherEdward SchillebeeckxPaul TillichAlfred North Whitehead One of the first things one will notice from a list like this is that there are very few women represented. Another aspect is that there are very few people who are not from the dominant white-Western culture. The enterprise of formal theology is only now breaking free from the academic enclaves of German, English and American higher education to include people outside the academy as well as people who look different from the standard, German/Germanic theologian of the nineteenth century. If this book is revised in the next decade, the balance will shift considerably. To his credit, Bacik included some atypical choices for a book on contemporary theologians. The inclusion of Martin Buber (who is Jewish), Mohandas Gandhi (a Hindu), and Alfred North Whitehead (more a philosopher than a theologian) show Bacik's willingness to stretch beyond the boundaries of typical theology. The inclusion of Martin Luther King, Jr. shows Bacik accepts that theology that is practiced is equally deserving of attention as the more theoretical, systematic sorts. The sections are designed to be read as independent units - each theologian merits a chapter, and they do not build upon each other, but rather can be used in any order the reader desires. They are arranged as groups, however, with Catholic systematic theologians, broader Catholic theologians, Protestant theologians, etc.  Bacik provides a postscript looking at common features and areas of contrast. One distinction Bacik makes derives from David Tracy's classification based upon the audience of particular theologians: some address the general public, some address the academy, and others address the church. Bacik also brings in George Lindebeck's ideas from `The Nature of Doctrine', looking at the changing models that guide theology in a post-liberal world. Bacik continues from here with short analyses of the different theologians in contexts often used in categorising and interpreting theology. Again, given the reservations of the limitations on represented voices, this nonetheless is a good guide to many theologians, readable and accessible, going into sufficient depth for a general guide, and providing suggested further readings for each theologian. It will serve the undergraduate or seminary student well, and also be helpful for interested laypersons, clergy and general readers who want a quick introduction to these several key thinkers of twenti