This innovative work is an introduction to Christian theology with a difference. Not only does it interpret, with clarity and energy, fundamental Christian beliefs but it also shows how and why these beliefs arose, promoting an understanding of theological reflection that encourages readers to think theologically themselves. This innovative work is an introduction to Christian theology with a difference. Not only does it interpret, with clarity and energy, fundamental Christian beliefs but it also shows how and why these beliefs arose, promoting an understanding of theological reflection that encourages readers to think theologically themselves. Preface ix Part I Becoming a Theologian 1(54) How God Makes Theologians 3(13) Astonishment and Theological Virtue 3(4) Resurrection to Pentecost: Where Christian Theology Begins 7(6) But Can You Study Theology without Having to Believe? 13(3) Strange Calling: Theologians as Adventurers, Pirates, Mystics, and Sages 16(15) Adventure: Continuing Conversion of the Theologian 16(2) Piracy: Thinking Analogically 18(4) Mystical Life: Interpreting Reality in Terms of God 22(5) Wisdom: Thinking by Means of God's Thoughts 27(4) Divine Teaching and Christian Beliefs 31(24) Theology's Weakness and Wisdom's Parting Gift 32(3) Sacred Teaching: The Nature and Function of Christian Beliefs 35(5) Visions of the Whole: Origen, Aquinas, and Barth 40(6) How Not to Believe: The Dangers of Fantasy and Fanaticism 46(9) Part II Theology's Search for Understanding 55(174) Salvation: The Foundation of Christian Theology 57(22) Orientation 57(22) Why Start with Salvation? 57(2) Salvation as the Basis for Christian Theology 59(6) Identifying Different Approaches to the Mystery of Salvation 65(14) Salvation: Meeting Heaven Face to Face 79(32) Landmarks 79(15) Irenaeus: Salvation and New Creation 80(6) Brief Interlude: A Crucial Difficulty in Soteriology 86(1) Augustine and God's Justice 87(4) Anselm and the Divine Order 91(3) Pathfinding 94(17) On the Death of Christ: Orthodox, Feminist, and Girardian Concerns 94(5) Salvation and the Paschal Mystery 99(12) Divine Life: Trinity, Incarnation, and the Breathing of the Spirit 111(68) Orientation 111(27) Sheer Bliss: Why God Reveals Divine Life to be the Trinity 111(3) Forgiveness and Abundance: Origins of Trinitarian Awareness 114(3) The Life of the Incarnate Word and the Power of the Spirit 117(2) The Developing Principles of Trinitarian Theology 119(19) Landmarks 138(29) Augustine on the Mysterious Attraction of the Trinity 139(20) Karl Barth on the God Who Loves in Freedom 159(8) Pathfinding 167(12) Questions in Trinitarian Theology Today 167(8) The Trinity and Mystical Participation in God 175(4) Creaturely Life: A Journey towards Beatitude 179(50) Orientation 179(25) Death No Longer Has Dominion: Creation's Path in the Light of Easter 180(8) Creation - Revelation - Sacrament 188(11) Human Life - Ecclesial Life - Beatitude 199(5) Landmarks 204(13) Thomas Aquinas on Creation: ``A Representation of the Divine Wisdom'' 204(6) Blaise Pascal on Human Existence 210(7) Pathfinding 217(12) Two Disputed Questions 217(5) The Human Calling in Creation 222(7) Notes 229(12) Bibliography 241(8) Index 249