Earthy Faith: A Theology for the People

Earthy Faith is a fresh interpretation of the Christian faith, written for the Christian people with an eye toward providing a theologically robust resource for those who may not have formal theological training. Using a minimum of theological jargon, integrating Christian claims with consensus positions in the natural sciences, and forthrightly engaging in public theology, Craig L. Nessan has crafted a book that takes seriously all Christian believers. Nessan deftly weaves the truths of the "Book of Scripture" and the "Book of Nature" into a rich tapestry of understanding. Three key terms in each chapter provide foundations upon which he layers insights drawn from a wide array of resources to explain such core theological concepts as creation, sin, the cross, suffering, formation, and liberation. With clearly written prose and concrete examples, Earthy Faith is unfailingly accessible but never oversimplified. Nessan approaches difficult topics with a pastoral sensibility, bringing readers along a journey from "alpha" to "omega" that constructs a systematic theology--comprehensibly! This is a rare book that will engage laypeople and ministers, seminarians and undergraduates alike.