{"id":56,"date":"2025-08-18T00:04:32","date_gmt":"2025-08-17T12:04:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bookreports.cc\/?p=56"},"modified":"2025-08-20T21:05:25","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T09:05:25","slug":"pilgrim-theology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookreports.cc\/?p=56","title":{"rendered":"Pilgrim Theology"},"content":{"rendered":"

Michael Bauman, Pilgrim Theology: Taking the Path of Theological Discovery<\/em>. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Someone suggests that this book, like Helmut Thielicke\u2019s A Little Exercise for Young Theologians<\/em>, is a must-read. Well, I bought and read Thielicke\u2019s book, but I forgot about it, having read it decades ago. My impression is that Bauman\u2019s book is more understandable and quite amusing.<\/p>\n

In the first part, he argues against \u201cFortress Theology.\u201d In other words, he criticizes indoctrination and argues for education, that is, a journey of discovery which evaluates ideas with intense scrutiny and critique. \u201cIn short, we ought to be biblical, skeptical, objective, and tolerant.\u201d (p. 28)<\/p>\n

In the second part, he argues for contextualization. He criticizes people who make Christ in their image. He says Thomas \u00e0 Kempis reduced Christ into \u201ca medieval monk.\u201d (p. 83)<\/p>\n

In the third and final parts, he criticizes Freudian, Marxist, Reader\u2019s response, and Feminist theology. The most helpful part, in my opinion, is his critique of the unhealthy zeal for eschatology.<\/p>\n