I have just finished reading Alister McGrath’s latest book. For those unfamiliar with him McGrath is a prolific writer. He is former Principle of Trinity College at Oxford University. He is a remarkable theologian. I first encountered McGrath’s writing just prior to my going to seminary and later at Nashotah House Seminary I was pleasantly surprised to find him on our assigned reading lists for a number of courses. His best known works are on historical theology and Christian apologetics. However I believe that his two finest books are Evangelicalism & the Future of Christianity and Reformation Thought: An Introduction.
His newest work is called Christianity's Dangerous Idea: The Protestant Revolution--A History from the Sixteenth Century to the Twenty-First. That is a long title and it is a long (526 pages) work. If I had to reduce the essence of the book down to one sentence synopsis I would say it is this: The Bible is the central authoritative feature of Christian life and the Protestant view is that individuals can read and interpret the Bible themselves, without a centralized authority, and this has tremendous ramifications for the faith and the world we live in.
McGrath looks at the history of Protestantism from the Reformation right up to the current moment to see how this principle has played out. This is a fascinating book by one of finest Anglican writers. He discusses what the authority of Scripture means and he looks at the issue of interpretation in light of history as well our current situation. This is not light reading, but I recommend it to all Christians who understand themselves to be both reformed and catholic in their faith.
His newest work is called Christianity's Dangerous Idea: The Protestant Revolution--A History from the Sixteenth Century to the Twenty-First. That is a long title and it is a long (526 pages) work. If I had to reduce the essence of the book down to one sentence synopsis I would say it is this: The Bible is the central authoritative feature of Christian life and the Protestant view is that individuals can read and interpret the Bible themselves, without a centralized authority, and this has tremendous ramifications for the faith and the world we live in.
McGrath looks at the history of Protestantism from the Reformation right up to the current moment to see how this principle has played out. This is a fascinating book by one of finest Anglican writers. He discusses what the authority of Scripture means and he looks at the issue of interpretation in light of history as well our current situation. This is not light reading, but I recommend it to all Christians who understand themselves to be both reformed and catholic in their faith.
