THE POTTED GUIDE TO THEOLOGY
By Tony Gray & Steve English
Paternoster. 164 pages. £7.99
ISBN 978-0-85364-916-8
Tony Gray’s The Potted Guide to Theology is certainly a novel publication to read and review.
At first glance it resembles Terry Deary’s popular ‘Horrible Histories’ series of books (which is not surprising, as illustrator Steve English has worked on that series).
An introductory section looks at the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ of theology and is followed by a two-page summary of the symbols used throughout. The main body of the book is then divided into the familiar historical periods: Patristic, Medieval, Reformation, and Modern. In that sense, it would be more accurate (but less ‘punchy’) to call it a ‘Potted Guide to historical theology’.
In each period there is an emphasis on the work of individuals, rather than abstract movements. This makes it a more interesting read. And, in what is a whistle-stop tour, the author attempts to show why people adopted the approaches they did.
So who would most benefit from this book? The obvious answer might be: those who have no formal background in theological study. However, this raises a few issues. First, unless someone had a particular ‘historical bent’ they might find the chronological approach lacked immediate relevance (as opposed to something with a topical layout, like J.I. Packer’s Concise Theology).
Second, despite its brevity, there is an inevitable use of lengthy theological words which, if encountered for the first time, would, for some, make the book less accessible than might at first appear. Third, although the writer does ask questions of the reader along the way, there is, not surprisingly, little in the way of critical reflection; in fact, the tone throughout is quite irenic.
As such, it might best serve the first-year theological student as a useful notebook aide-memoir of individuals encountered.
