Crazy Talk

Crazy Talk

A Not-So-Stuffy Dictionary of Theological Terms

Revised and Expanded Edition

Rolf A. Jacobson, ed.
Fortress Press, 2017
ISBN 9781506418469

Softcover, 272 pp.
5.75 x 0.75 x 9 inches | 1 pound

So much theology is confusing and intimidating. The concepts themselves are given weighty-sounding names, such as incarnation and justification, and the explanations of the concepts sometimes can be more confusing than the names.

Captivating, entertaining, and highly informative, Crazy Talk helps readers navigate their way through that complexity and offers a vocabulary that dares (and equips!) its readers to embrace their own faith in a new, well-informed way.

The purpose of Crazy Talk, says editor Rolf A. Jacobson, is to render the heart of our Christian theology in a form that is accessible and appealing to everyone. The format of the book is similar to that of a dictionary of theological terms, but with a twist of humor! Each entry includes the name of the theological term, an ironic definition of the term, and a short humorous essay offering a fuller explanation of the term. In making the term understandable, Jacobson concentrates on the big theological issue that is at stake in the term and why it matters.

This revised and expanded edition includes new and expanded entries and all new images.

Rolf A. Jacobson is Professor of Old Testament and the Alvin N. Rogness Chair of Scripture, Theology, and Ministry at Luther Seminary. He is the author or co-author of The Book of Psalms, Invitation to the Psalms, Crazy Book: A Not-So-Stuffy Dictionary of Biblical Terms and The Homebrewed Christianity Guide to the Old Testament: Israel's In-Your-Face, Holy God. He is on two weekly preaching podcasts, "Sermon Brainwave" and "Narrative Lectionary," both are available at workingpreacher.org