Introduction

Abstract

This book is the result of numerous conversations as well as confrontations that I had with my bachelor’s and master’s degree students in theology throughout the academic year 2008–2009 at Emanuel University. As I grew acutely aware that many of the newcomers, but also some of the more experienced students, neither know nor understand the fundamental differences between the theology of the past and that of more recent times, writing a book about this particular issue seemed appropriate in the first days of October 2008. Having just returned from a conference in Rome where I had some mild exchanges of ideas over what contemporary theology should be and what it should do as compared to what is generally perceived as traditional theology, I realized—again, for I do not know which time in the past few years—that a book dealing with traditional and radical theology would not only help my students but also at the same time serve those with serious interests in the welfare of the church in general.