Book Review: McDermott's The Great Theologians Guide

Introduction and Purpose of the Book

The purpose of the present paper is to review Gerald R. McDermott's book The Great Theologians: A Brief Guide. The first part states the author's basic thesis while analyzing the targeted audience, with the aim of determining whether the author succeeded in meeting his goal. The second part is an analytical summary focused on the book's major points. The analysis, which takes into consideration each of the chapters, is intended to help us better understand the arguments the author used to support his thesis. The final part offers an overall evaluation of the book.

The book is organized into thirteen chapters. The introduction provides a short answer to the question of why one should study theology, while the conclusion underlines what theologians teach us about the discipline. The other chapters are dedicated to those historical figures whom McDermott considered to be the most relevant in the area of theology: Origen, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, Friedrich Schleiermacher, John Henry Newman, Karl Barth, and Hans Urs von Balthasar. The purpose of the book, as declared by the author in the first chapter, is to provide the general public — those interested in theology — with brief yet relevant information regarding the people who made a difference in the study of religion.

The target audience, according to McDermott, is comprised of all individuals who believe in God and are interested in religious arguments. His purpose is to help believers understand God and their faith more deeply. He believes that theological matters are too complex to be understood without proper foundational knowledge, and that this book is intended to supply that foundation. Being a scholar in the field of theology, the author believes he has sufficient information and insight to fulfil this goal.

By theology in a broad sense, McDermott refers to the paradigm — or, put more simply, the perspective — through which one judges the facts of the Bible and anything related to religion. According to him, people develop a personal theology, while also being influenced by the theology of others through contact with their writings, opinions, and ideas. Since God and the relationship between God and human life are not simple matters, the author sets his goal as guiding believers in their attempt to better understand them.

The individual study of the Bible in the absence of any other reference point is considered, in McDermott's view, an act of pride and ignorance. Presenting the most important contributions of the most influential theological figures is therefore meant to help readers reach a superior state of wisdom.

Selection of Theologians and Methodology

One of the first aspects that generated some controversy is the selection of figures under McDermott's analysis. There have been voices questioning the criteria the writer used to arrive at his final list. Readers might ask themselves whether these are truly the greatest theologians of all time, or whether someone has been omitted, given that the list includes only eleven names — and if figures have been left out, why.

The author declares that the list of theologians he takes into consideration is not exhaustive, and that his choices were guided by his personal interests and common sense. At this point, one might ask whether the book can be considered fully reliable and whether its overall perspective is unbiased, given that the selection was made on subjective criteria.

However, it must be noted that at no point in the book does the author claim that his view is objective or definitive. Readers who are interested in the subject and have already gained some background knowledge can evaluate the book's value on their own, keeping in mind McDermott's educational and professional background. People with different religious orientations may feel that the list does not do them justice, but the book has never been presented as an encyclopaedia. The chapters analyze the main contributions of each theologian and explain their impact on the contemporary world, while also including relevant biographical context.

Early Church Fathers: Origen and Athanasius

In an educational and engaging tone, the author provides factual information about Origen's life in order to help readers better understand his importance. McDermott also addresses Origen's controversial reputation and ideas, such as his doctrine of absolute freedom of choice. According to McDermott, Origen's greatest contribution lies in his perspective on the Trinity — specifically, that the Son is generated by the Father — and in his exploration of the relationship between the human and divine natures united in Christ. Asceticism is another idea for which Origen deserves credit. Furthermore, the conception that both the Bible and the Church required a spiritual interpretation is also attributed to him.

The fourfold interpretation of scriptural passages is another contribution associated with Origen. He also advanced the conception that both Testaments are generated by God and therefore form a unified message. It is Origen, moreover, who assigns to the Church the role of guardian of truth. According to McDermott, Origen believed that false doctrine was far more dangerous than false morality, and he worked to establish a doctrine of truth while maintaining a critical and open eye toward available religious writings. At the end of the chapter, the author underlines the three main contributions Origen made and suggests further readings as well as discussion points to help readers engage with the material independently.

Athanasius, the subject of the third chapter, is described as "the black monk who saved the faith." Here again, McDermott provides biographical information and key episodes to help readers understand how Athanasius shaped both his own era and ours. One of the conceptions considered most important is the idea that God's divine nature manifested itself in human form through the person of Jesus. This divine contamination, as it were, helps people draw closer to God and therefore to truth. Besides being famous for his opposition to Arianism — which led to his exile — Athanasius is notable for his conception of God's incarnation, explaining both why it was possible and why it was necessary. He also emphasized the importance of God as a means of salvation and access to eternal life, with eternity understood as one of the essential characteristics of divinity. The chapter explains how Athanasius succeeded in refuting the arguments of the Arians, and its final section is devoted to his main contributions, particularly his demonstration of the relationship between the Holy Father and the Son.

The fourth chapter is dedicated to the figure whom the author considers the most influential theologian of all time: Augustine. McDermott explains why and how Augustine influenced Christian thought, giving examples of other famous theologians whose works had Augustinian ideas as their starting point — such as Calvin's ideas about sanctification and predestination. The author also underlines the fact that various concepts introduced by Augustine were controversial, and explains why.

One observation relevant at this point concerns the length of the chapters relative to the complexity of the topics they address. As other critics have suggested, the chapters are short, and one might ask whether the material they contain is sufficient to convey a genuine understanding of the issues presented. Augustine's thought is a relevant example in this regard. Despite the brevity of the chapters, the author succeeds in explaining the most important issues concisely. Given that he conceived the book as a guide rather than a comprehensive analysis, his approach is well-suited to the goal. As with the other theologians, readers learn relevant biographical information about Augustine, his most important contributions, their impact on the world in which they were conceived, and their relevance today. Although not all of Augustine's ideas are covered in depth, the writer conveys the essential concepts clearly enough for the reader to understand the basics of Augustinian philosophy and evaluate its importance for contemporary Christian thought.