Classical Theology and Contemporary Challenges

The series Classical Theology and Contemporary Challenges (CTCC) incorporates studies that situate themselves at the interface of traditional Christian theology – that is, theology along the lines of Athanasius, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Luther and Calvin, all the way up to Barth and Bonhoeffer and beyond – and the contemporary world.

Its basic assumption is that classical theology cannot and should not just be repeated, but neither should it be neglected or seen as obsolete. Instead, classical theology can prove its enduring relevance and staying power only when it is confronted with the many challenges of our own time. These challenges are related to modern science and technology (think of the climate crisis and of AI), but also to other cultural, philosophical and societal developments, such as processes of individualization and secularization. Titles in the series highlight the sheer variety of topics that come up for scrutiny in this regard. For example, how can the classical doctrine of divine providence be fruitfully retrieved in a culture in which, due to individualism, we have to make personal choices all the time? How can 20th-century French phenomenology illuminate and help the traditional theory and practice of preaching? How should classical theology deal with the anti-realist critique of its most basic assumptions that emerged in 20th century philosophy and theology? How can the (early-)modern notion of a common priesthood help traditional Roman Catholic doctrine to take seriously the radical equality of all believers?

The series welcomes new submissions addressing classical issues and contemporary developments that need to be brought in interaction with each other in order to show what classical theology is still worth and how it can guide and transform our ways of dealing with the present-day world.

Please contact Dr. P.L. Rouwendal (plrouwendal[@]tua[dot]nl) or Dorothea Schaefter, Publisher at Routledge (dorothea.schaefter@tandf.co.uk) to submit a proposal or to find out more about the series.