Theology Book Summaries

A collection of very brief summaries of major theological works to know what ideas are being discussed in theology today.

Theology and Race

The Christian imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race
Willie James Jennings
Summary by Dr. Amy Erickson

Dr Amy Erickson summarizes the basic outline of Jennings’ award-winning book on how how race came to be and how theology can renew the imagination. Dr. Erickson provides links to videos and offers practical suggestions based on the conclusions of the book.

Race: A theological Account
J Kameron Carter
Summary by Rev. Drew Smith (Pastor, College Hill PC, Cincinnati)

Rev. Drew Smith provided us with a review he did for his DMin project. We have mildly edited it and provide it here.

The Cross and the Lynching Tree
James Cone
Summary by Dr. Amy Erickson

James Cone, a celebrated American theologian who died in 2018, is known as a founder of black theology, which considers theological truths in light of the experience of African-Americans. The opening paragraph of his work offers an apt summary and introduction: “The cross and the lynching tree are separated by nearly 2,000 years. One is the universal symbol of Christian faith; the other is the quintessential symbol of black oppression in America. Though both are symbols of death, one represents a message of hope and salvation, while the other signifies the negation of that message by white supremacy. Despite the obvious similarities between Jesus’ death on a cross and the death of thousands of black men and women strung up to die on a lamppost or tree, relatively few people, apart from black poets, novelists, and other reality-seeing artists, have explored the symbolic connections. Yet, I believe that this is a challenge we must face. What is at stake is the credibility and promise of the Christian gospel and the hope that we may heal the wounds of racial violence that continue to divide our churches and our society.”