The Journey of Modern Theology: From Reconstruction to Deconstruction Hardcover – November 1, 2013

This is a great read, an "almost entirely" revised edition (2013) of "20th Century Theology" (1992) by Grenz and Olson (which was also very good), on the history of Christian modern theological and philosophical thought from Descartes to John Caputo. Olson seems to thoroughly handle each theologian or philosophers ideas on a level easily understandable to the lay reader (like me) and in a manner that really engaging. While all the persons, subjects, and issues are very interesting, the last person, Caputo the deconstructionist, is to me the most intriguing; and Olson's manner of writing about Caputo shows how much he enjoyed critiquing him (while, nevertheless, not agreeing at all with him).This is an excellent introduction to Christian thought in modern times.

Olson is incredibly at taking the complex and making it digestible for those who are seeking to learn about the story of modern theology. His writing allows for one to truly learn and understand, while not discrediting anyone along the way. Incredibly Grateful for this book.

The most accessible book to modern theology that I've read. It's hard to believe that a book on this subject could be a page-turner, but the author writes in a way that makes the topic very interesting.

I am thoroughly enjoying Roger Olson's recent book, The Journey of Modern Theology. It has a strong narrative that binds together in a stream of development the many disparate branches of modern theological thought. I think this strong narrative is what is missing in evangelical reflections on modern theology. This book also does a good job of setting up the questions and concerns which are being responded to by the different theological systems. The readability is high and the footnotes are full.

Roger Olson does a nice job summarizing the changes to theological thinking over the last 2-3 centuries as it confronts Enlightenment and Modernity.There is an underlying story to Roger's summary and is that God seems to disappear in most of the great thinkers as the confront the "acids of modernity". Roger Olson does a nice job of treating each theologian fairly. The book is lengthy but I believe worth reading.

Roger Olson does not do as much damage here as he does in Christian Theology, but e still gives uncomplete anti-Calvinist slants to all he does. In an attempt to cover so much material he skips over and does not give adequate space to what should be an Enlightment/Modernity/ Postmodern survey. It was a textbook so perhaps I read it begrudgingly but he concentrates too little on some things (often offering only a line or two to important details) and many pages to side notes. On the bright side, a review means I am done with it.

Very informative about how and why theology developed like it did during the enlightenment and post-enlightenment period. A must have if you want to be grounded on modern theology. Very readable!

Excellent exploration ,not only the Theology it self ,but also the motives,context and the background account which frame it raise of modern Theology

The author does an excellent job of gathering together the ‘movers and shakers’ of theology since the enlightenment, describing their personal backgrounds and their contribution to the theological landscape. He then contributes his own insights and thoughts regarding their influence on Christianity.If you want to know how Christianity got to where it is now then this is the book to read.

This is an excellent introduction and overview of modern theology. The first few chapters set up the background and origins of modernity and the rest of the book provides an excellent discussion of how different thinkers have responded to its challenges and opportunities. Really well worth reading if you are interested in the ways in which theologians have tried to understand God. Gaps in a book like this are inevitable; authors must make hard choices. I would thus like to see a Volume 2 that introduces Pentecostal theology and also marginalised voices such as female theologians and theologians from Africa. But this is no criticism of Roger Olsen, just a cry for more....