ABSTRACT
This is not yet another book that introduces the standard topics or themes of Christian theology (‘trinity’, ‘incarnation’, ‘salvation’ and the rest) – though many of those topics and themes will certainly come up. It is instead a book designed to introduce the practice of Christian theology. We’re not using the word ‘practice’ in the sense it has in the phrase ‘practice
makes perfect’. In other words, we’re not primarily talking about the things that budding Christian theologians do when they are first starting off, in order to become proficient – before taking the trainer wheels off and doing it for real. We will certainly talk a bit, from time to time, about ways to get started on the practice of Christian theology, but that’s not the main theme of the book. Instead we’re using the word ‘practice’ in the sense it has in a phrase like ‘her
normal practice’. That is, we’re going to be talking about the ongoing habits, the persisting patterns of activity, involved in the pursuit of Christian theology. We’re going to be talking about the craft of Christian theology; this is a book about what Christian theologians habitually do. In particular, we’re going to be asking what it means for Christian theologians to
practise their craft well, so as to be – to the extent that this is possible at all – good Christian theologians.
