Influential Theological Books and Their Impact on Thinking

The speaker shares influential books that shaped their theological thinking and teaching approach.

### Influential Books That Shape Theological Thinking
* 📚 The new video series will explore books that have **significantly influenced the speaker's thought process** and approach to various topics, emphasizing their **lasting impact on teaching and writing**.
* 🧠 The speaker refers to these books as part of their "**mental furniture**," indicating how **deeply ingrained** the themes from these works are in their intellectual framework.
* 📖 The first book discussed is "**Through New Eyes**" by James B. Jordan, which has been pivotal in shaping the speaker's **understanding and perspective** as a theologian.
* 🔍 The speaker will also cover John Frame's Tri-perspectival method, particularly focusing on "**The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God**," which has influenced their theological approach.
* ⛪ Hry Dubac's writings, especially on medieval hermeneutics and Eucharistic doctrine, are noted for their **significant impact**, with his book "Catholicism" being highlighted for its **insights into the Church**.
* 🌍 John Milbank's "Theology and Social Theory," which the speaker naturally references in discussions about **social science and politics**, will also be summarized for its **habitual influence**.
* 🍞 Alexander Schmeman's "For the Life of the World" is described as a **beautiful meditation on the Eucharist**, shaping the speaker's **sacramental and liturgical theology**.
* 📖 Other influential figures such as **John Zulus, Robert Jensen, Augustine, and Calvin** will also be mentioned, alongside the possibility of discussing some of the speaker's own **impactful works**.

[Music] There are a new series of videos, and I'm going to be talking about books that stick in my brain. These are books that have had a particularly deep influence on the way that I think, not just about the topic of the book, but the way I approach lots of different things. The themes that I pick up from these books are recurring in my teaching, recurring in my writing, and so these are going to be those books that have become part of my mental furniture. And in talking about these, I'm not necessarily recommending that they become part of your mental furniture, those who are watching this video. I do commend these books. These are books that I would commend particularly for theologians. Some of them are less for theologians than for pastors, but all of them I commend for various reasons. I think that these books should have some role in your head, even if they don't become part of the basic furniture of your brain. I'm going to be

starting with a series of summary videos on James Jordan through new eyes, which has been the book that I've consulted most over the course of my life of teaching and writing. It's the book that most solidified and shaped the way I think about everything. Every other thing I'm going to be talking about is I see through the lens of that book by James B. Jordan. I talk about this a lot, but that book has been a crucial thing, and Jim's teaching has been crucial to my own thinking and study as a theologian. I'm also going to talk about John Frame and John Frame's Tri-perspectival method of approaching theology. The book of his that I'm most familiar with is a book I taught on for a number of years, The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God. So, I'll probably focus on that book, but Frame uses the same kind of framework, and the perspectives come out in everything that he writes. They come out also in everything that Vern Porris writes. Vern

porris being a colleague of John frame over many years so that's that's gotten stuck in my head and plays a a looming role in the way that I approach any kind of issue uh hry dubac a a mid- 20th century Catholic Theologian uh his work sticks in my head in some very significant ways. He wrote on lots of different things. He wrote on medieval hermeneutics. He wrote on the development of Eucharistic Doctrine. He wrote on the issue of the natural and the supernatural. Uh his book called Catholicism is a book about Christ and the common Destiny of humanity. That's the subtitle, but it's really a book about the church that I think has a lot to teach us even if we aren't Catholic. So I think dubec is another writer that I'll talk about. John milbank's Theology and social theory. John Milbank was my doctoral supervisor, and his book Theology and social theory is a book that I just naturally fall into some uh

milbankian habits when I approach particular topics. When I'm thinking about social science, when I'm thinking about economics, when I think about politics, there's certain moves that Milbank makes that have become just habitual to me. So, I want to summarize that book, and I want to talk too about Alexander Schmeman for the life of the world. I used to sign this book for students when I was teaching at New St. Andrews College, and for a lot of the students, it was their favorite book that we read all year. It's a beautiful meditation on the Eucharist, not just on the Eucharist, but the Eucharist as a kind of foundation for the world, for a stance in life, and the view of the world, a view of God's kingdom. A lot of my sacramental and liturgical theology has been deeply shaped by what Schmeman does in that book. There are other writers that occupy various corners of my brain that I'll probably talk about at

least in one episode or two. John Zulus is one. Robert Jensen has had an important influence on the way I think. Augustin has influenced me in countless ways. Calvin, particularly the fourth book of Calvin's institutes, shaped my interest in ecclesiology and sacramental theology early on. And I'll probably come up with a few others and maybe even talk about a couple of my own books that I'm particularly proud of that stick in my brain and shape the way I approach various topics. I hope you'll find this interesting, not so much to figure out what I think, but interesting summaries of the books, and I hope they'll be edifying as you try to set out the metal furniture in your own brain.

Books that Stick in My Brain

Theopolis Institute

The speaker is sharing a series of videos about books that have deeply influenced their thinking and approach to various topics.

They emphasize the importance of these books for theologians and pastors, commending them for their role in shaping one's mental framework.

The first book discussed is "Through New Eyes" by James B.

Jordan, which has had a significant impact on the speaker's teaching and writing, followed by John Frame's "The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God" and its tri-perspectival method.

Porris has been a long-time colleague of John Frame, influencing the author's approach to various issues.

Hry Dubac, a mid-20th century Catholic theologian, wrote on topics like medieval hermeneutics and Eucharistic doctrine, and his book "Catholicism" offers valuable insights about the church.

John Milbank, the author's doctoral supervisor, has also made a significant impact through his book "Theology and Social Theory.

The speaker has developed habitual thinking patterns influenced by Milbank's approach to social science, economics, and politics.

Alexander Schmeman's "For the Life of the World" has been a favorite book among students, offering a profound meditation on the Eucharist as a foundation for life and a view of God's kingdom.

The speaker's sacramental and liturgical theology has been deeply shaped by Schmeman's work, along with other writers who occupy various corners of their mind.

John Zulus and Robert Jensen have significantly influenced the speaker's thinking.

Augustin's impact has been profound and varied.

Calvin's fourth book has shaped the speaker's interest in ecclesiology and sacramental theology, and they plan to discuss other influential books and their own works.