'This is Wright at his best - exegete, theologian, churchman, and public intellectual rolled into one.' Miroslav Volf 'Wright's crowning achievement.' John Cottingham Building on his critically acclaimed Gifford Lectures, N. T. Wright presents a richly nuanced case for a theology based on a renewed understanding of historical knowledge. The question of 'natural theology' interlocks with the related questions of how we can conceive of God acting in the world, and of why, if God is God, the world is full of evil. Can specific events in history, like those reported in the Gospels, afford the necessary point from which to answer such questions? Widely shared cultural and philosophical assumptions have conditioned our understanding of history in ways that make the idea of divine action in history problematic. But could better historical study itself win from ancient Jewish and Christian cosmology and eschatology a renewed way of understanding the relationship between God and the world? N. T. Wright argues that this can indeed be done, and in this ground-breaking book he develops a distinctive approach to natural theology grounded in what he calls an 'epistemology of love'. This approach arises from his reflection on the significance of the ancient concept of the 'new creation' for our understanding the reality of the world, the reality of God and their relation to one another.

Building on his critically acclaimed Gifford Lectures, N. T. Wright presents a richly nuanced case for a theology that is based on a renewed understanding of historical knowledge, and in particular of the historical Jesus.

About the Author
N.T. Wright is Research Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St Andrews. He has written over forty books, including the monumental Jesus and the Victory of God (1996) and The Resurrection of the Son of God (2003). He is also the author of the popular 'For Everyone' guides to the New Testament and the best-selling Simply Christian, Surprised by Hope, Virtue Reborn, Simply Jesus and How God Became King (all published by SPCK).

Reviews
'In this extraordinary reappraisal of the traditions of natural theology, N. T. Wright deploys his intellectual energy with surprising punch to address. . . the fundamental problems posed for theology by modernity. Critics may be provoked, but fans will be delighted.' -- Frances Young, OBE, FBA, Emeritus Professor of Theology, University of Birmingham
'A creative and arresting contribution to natural theology, this book argues for the plausibility of the Christian vision of the relation between God and the world by taking seriously the history of Jesus Christ.' -- Miroslav Volf, Professor of Theology, Yale University
'A tour de force, placing history - and Jesus himself! - back at the heart of natural theology. -- John Behr, Regius Professor of Humanity, University of Aberdeen
'An impressive and timely publication. . . Bold, lively, and accessible, it will generate widespread discussion.' -- David Fergusson, OBE, FBA, FRSE, Professor of Divinity, University of Edinburgh
'This powerfully argued book deserves to rank as Tom Wright's crowning achievement.' -- John Cottingham, Professor of Philosophy of Religion, Roehampton University



Book Information
ISBN 9780281081646
Author NT Wright
Format Hardback
Page Count 368
Imprint SPCK Publishing
Publisher SPCK Publishing
Weight(grams) 704g