Ray S. Anderson, Book Review Example

Anderson breaks new ground when it comes to relating contemporary issues challenging Christians and the way they understand meaning of human life, and pastoral counseling and care. The aspect of being human (weak and fallible) for Anderson is what attracts the unconditional grace of God which is not just another doctrine to him but the manner in which he responds to human beings (people) even when in their weakest moments.

The book expresses theologian’s commitment to a community in which there is an extent of freedom for one to be a maverick (to be himself or herself and go against the grain, to be real in a real world). He presents a very interesting portrait of this maverick theologian amidst a community as a tasking venture in identifying with the human aspect of humankind (Anderson, 2010). This book underlines what Anderson believes that good theology goes beyond mere display of erudition and involves faithfulness to Jesus Christ who was humble enough to take on the form of fallible man in order to save humanity.

There is a sense of “theology of ambiguity” as Anderson puts it. This according to him is rightly existent in the way we have limited as well as fallen understandings of who God really is. According to Anderson in “On Being Human: Essays in Theological Anthropology” the aspect of human beings having a mind (brain) to which is attributed all behavior, affections, and functions shows his incapability to fully comprehend the spiritual (God). This book gives an important lesson from Anderson to every Christian that they will never get to understand who they are apart from a theological anthropology (Anderson, 2010). Theological anthropology takes us back to the truth that all humanity is fallible and created by the Eternal Creator, God, and though our human nature may be confusing, it is in Him that we find meaning.

References

Anderson, R. (2010). On being human: essays in theological anthropology. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers