The Tradition of Liberal Theology

This is a clearly written and accessible overview of liberal theology, an approach that seeks the balance between religious faith and reason. The book begins with an overview of the term that leads into an analysis of eleven typical characteristics of the liberal tradition and theology. This will be particularly helpful to those readers less seasoned in the field with its discussion of reason and revelation, free will, toleration, the combination of faith and works and a minimal number of basic teachings, in contrast with more fundamentalist approaches. Liberals are wary of an overemphasis on miracles but nevertheless engage with the resurrection, which Michael briefly discusses. The account of thirteen key figures in liberal Christian tradition makes interesting reading and contains a number of well-known as well as less well-known people including, interestingly, Elizabeth I. This gives the reader a good understanding of the tradition and its development. The final part looks at some alternatives, including materialism with its own rigid dogmatism and facile connection between evil and religious belief. Michael is a reliable and sympathetic guide to the issues he so lucidly expounds.