The Nature of Christian Doctrine: Its Origins, Development, and Function

Alister E. McGrath's groundbreaking book explores the origins, development, and enduring significance of Christian doctrine, highlighting its role as a theological laboratory and a means of testing doctrinal formulations. He offers a robust critique of George Lindbeck's Nature of Doctrine and provides a more reliable account of the functions of doctrine, employing Mary Midgley's concept of "mapping" and Karl Popper's Three Worlds. Doctrine provides ontological disclosure, offers a coordinating framework, and safeguards and articulates the core vision of reality essential for the proper functioning and future flourishing of Christian communities.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 01 February 2024
Publisher: Oxford University Press

A comprehensive exploration of the origins, evolution, and profound impact of Christian doctrine, delving into its enduring significance for Christian communities. Drawing insightful parallels between the development of scientific theories and Christian doctrine, Alister E. McGrath examines the evolving perception of early Christianity as a theological laboratory. Rather than viewing doctrinal formulations as static accounts of orthodoxy, McGrath proposes that they can be understood as proposals submitted for testing and refinement across the Christian world. This approach aligns more closely with the available evidence and emphasizes the crucial role of debate within Christian churches as a vital means of refining and testing doctrinal formulations.

McGrath offers a robust critique of George Lindbeck's influential Nature of Doctrine (1984), raising significant concerns about its reductionist approach. In contrast, he presents a more comprehensive account of the multifaceted functions of doctrine, employing Mary Midgley's concept of "mapping" to coordinate the various aspects of complex phenomena. McGrath's approach also incorporates Karl Popper's Three Worlds framework, recognizing the theoretical, objective, and subjective dimensions of doctrine as essential and interconnected.

Through this exploration, we witness how Christian doctrine provides ontological disclosure about the nature of reality, while simultaneously offering a coordinating framework that ensures its diverse aspects are perceived as integral components of a greater whole. Doctrine serves as a framework or standpoint that enables theological reality to be perceived and experienced in a fresh and transformative manner. It safeguards and articulates the core vision of reality that is vital for the proper functioning and future flourishing of Christian communities.

Weight: 384g
Dimension: 223 x 142 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198901440