Contents Acknowledgments xi List of Abbreviations xiii Introduction xv 1. Systematic Theology 1 The Nature of Theology 1 Systematic Theology 5 Counter Currents 14 Contemporary Theology 18 Conclusion 22 For Further Reading 24 2. Changing Cultures, New Hermeneutics 26 From Modernity to Postmodernism 26 New Hermeneutics 34 Theological Pluralism 43 Conclusion 44 For Further Reading 45 3. The Divine Mystery 47 A Transcendent God 48 Knowing the Transcendent God 50 Jesus, God''s Only Son 56 The Holy Spirit 57 The Trinity 59 God in Contemporary Thought 67 Conclusion 74 For Further Reading 75 4. Jesus the Christ 77 Discovering the Historical Jesus 78 The Reign of God 80 Death and Resurrection 84 New Testament Christologies 87 Classical Christologies 91 Contemporary Christologies 94 Conclusion 104 For Further Reading 105 5. Revelation and Faith 107 General Revelation 108 Special Revelation 110 Dei Verbum 112 Models of Revelation 117 Revelation as Symbolic Mediation 122 Faith 125 Faith and Salvation 129 Modernity and the Loss of Faith 131 Conclusion 134 For Further Reading 135 6. Sin, Grace, and the Human Person 137 The Myth of the Fall 139 Paul 140 Original Sin 141 Contents ix A Contemporary Approach 143 Grace 145 Catholic and Protestant Perspectives 146 Conclusion 161 For Further Reading 162 7. Mary and the Communion of Saints 164 The Concept of Communion 164 The Communion of Saints 166 Mary in the Church 168 The Marian Dogmas 173 Conclusion 177 For Further Reading 178 8.

Church 180 The Jesus Movement 180 Churches in the New Testament 182 The Church in History 186 The Church of Vatican II 191 Contemporary Ecclesiologies 198 Some Unresolved Issues 202 Conclusion 208 For Further Reading 210 9. Sacramentality and Christian Initiation 212 Sacramentality 213 Contemporary Sacramental Theology 217 Christian Initiation 220 Conclusion 231 For Further Reading 233 10. Sacraments of Healing and Vocation 235 Penance and Reconciliation 235 Sacrament of the Sick 238 Marriage 239 Holy Orders 247 Conclusion 256 For Further Reading 258 11. Creation and Eschatology 260 Creation in Scripture 260 Creation in the Tradition 266 Creation and Science 270 Evolution and the Drama of Life 273 Eschatology 275 The Four Last Things 277 Purgatory 283 The Fullness of Salvation 285 Conclusion 288 For Further Reading 289 Index of Names 291 Index of Subjects 298.