And the Award Goes To...

I love making lists... So recently I decided to do sort of an awards show in my head for all my favorite theologians in their respective fields (nerdy is an understatement). I made a list of my "favorite" (read most influential, most respected, go-to) theologians. I decided to keep it narrowed down to people who I've read (though I am sure that there are many who should be on the list whom I have not yet read) and people who are still currently living.


Biblical theology:
  • Walter Brueggemann 
  • Tom Wright 
  • J.D. Crossan 
  • Scott McKnight 
  • Marcus Borg 
  • F.F. Bruce
  • Bruce Metzger
  • James Dunn
Ecclesiology:
  • Leonard Sweet
  • Kenda Creasy Dean
  • Brian McLaren 
  • Scott McKnight
  • Andrew Root 
  • Tony Jones
  • Doug Pagitt
  • Phyllis Tickle 
Youth Ministry:
  • Kenda Creasy Dean
  • Andrew Root
  • Mike King 
  • Kara Powell 
  • Mark Matlock 
  • Jim Burns
  • Amy Jacober 
Political Theology:
  • Cornel West
  • Desmond Tutu
  • Tony Campolo 
  • Jim Wallis  
  • Greg Boyd 
  • Stanley Hauerwas 
  • William Cavanaugh 
  • Ron Sider
  • Julie Clawson 
For Articulation of the Gospel:
  • Tom Wright
  • Rob Bell
  • Desmond Tutu
  • Shane Claiborne 
  • Gabriel Fackre 
  • Dan Kimball
  • Erwin McManus 
Systematic Theology:
  • Daniel Migliore
  • Alister McGrath
  • Gabriel Fackre 
  • John Stott
Spiritual Formation: 

  • Dallas Willard 
  • Brian McLaren 
  • Tom Wright 
  • Richard Foster 
Eschatology: 
  • Jurgen Moltmann 
  • Tom Wright 
  • Barbara Rossing 
  • Brian McLaren 
  • Paul Boyer 
Church History: 
  • Justo Gonzalez 
  • Alister McGrath 
  • Phillip Jenkins 
  • Christopher Ocker 
Apologetics: 
  • Alister McGrath
  • William Placher
  • Tom Wright 
  • Rob Bell
  • John Stott
On nonviolence:
  • Stanley Hauerwas 
  • Walter Wink
  • Desmond Tutu
  • John Dear 


This list is somewhat off-the-top-of-my-head and I'm sure it'll be in need of an update within days of my having made it but, that being said, it's a fair representation of my influences even if not a comprehensive one.  If you think there's a theological category I'm missing or somebody you know & read who needs to be on the list, lemme know. 

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