The Dictionary of Historical Theology. .

The Dictionary of Historical Theology. Trevor A. Hart, general editor. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2000. xx and 599 pages. Cloth. $50.00.

As stated by general editor Hart, the purpose of this volume is to make a "concise and reasonably comprehensive manual available to readers in the English language" (p. xix). Special attention is given in the 314 entries to particular figures, schools of thought, and formative texts in Christian tradition. A guiding question for the 173 authors has involved how this particular subject has introduced new perspectives and thereby contributed to the change and development of Christian thought. The various subjects are also located within certain trajectories of thought that help the reader identify intellectual antecedents and descendents.

While some of the lengthier articles deal with particular theological movements and perspectives (e.g., "Lutheran Confessions and Catechisms" by David Yeago, "Reformed Confessions and Catechisms" by Richard Mueller, "Thomism" by J. A. DiNoia), the vast majority deal with individual figures in the history of Christian thought (232 of the 314 entries focus on individuals). Of these, just a few are about women subjects (Margaret Mary Alacoque, Teresa of Avila, Evelyn Underhill). Moreover, only about 13 of the 173 authors are women. This indicates not so much how the major shapers of Christian thought have been men but how we continue to be selective about the voices we hear. This observation is accented when one notes how many of the articles deal with nineteenth-and especially twentieth-century figures, a large number of them from the generation who were influential in the U.S. and England on those who wrote the articles. A reader of the dictionary a hundred years from now will be surprised at how few of the mo dem names are representative of the global church and women as well as the number of names from the twentieth century that have become obscure.

The Dictionary of Historical Theology serves as a concise reference to several theological movements and historical topics. Many orthodox schools of thought and heretical movements in previous centuries receive basic and adequate treatment. It serves even more as a handbook to modern and especially twentieth-century theologians of note. James Cone, Don Cupitt, Matthew Fox, James Gustafson, John Hick, Joseph Ratzinger, and Thomas Torrance are among those included, as well as the more standard subjects (e.g., Barth, Bonhoeffer, Tillich). Some attention is paid to recent Orthodox theologians, such as Vladimir Lossky, John Meyendorff, and Dumitru Staniloae. The articles conclude with suggestions for further reading, which can assist readers who seek to move more deeply into the subject. Also, the book concludes with a very helpful index to the subjects and especially names included in the articles.

The book is for consultation by general readers with an interest in the history of theology and those seeking to obtain an introduction to certain figures in Christian theology, especially those influential in recent times.