JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)–An article on Baptist theologian A.H. Strong by Union University President David Dockery is included in the seven-volume German reference set Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart, regarded as one of the premier scholarly resources on religion in the Western world.
The fourth edition of the reference set published by Mohr Siebeck contains thousands of articles in an encyclopedia-style format.
In addition to Dockery’s article, the set also includes an entry on “Intelligent Design Theory” by William Dembski, associate research professor in the conceptual foundations of science at Baylor University. Dembski will join the faculty of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in June.
“The contributors’ list is literally a who’s who of religion all around the world,” Dockery said. “Even though I have only one article out of the thousands in this set, it is still an honor to be included in a reference set of this magnitude that serves the worldwide academic community.”
Translated into German for publication, Dockery’s article on Strong (1836-1921) is a brief biography that explores the theologian’s impact on Baptist thought for much of the 20th century.
“He cast a long shadow over Baptist thought for decades with his encyclopedic Systematic Theology, which went through eight editions over a 20-year period,” Dockery wrote. “Essentially traditional and orthodox in his theological conclusion, Strong was a pioneer in theological method in Baptist life engaging and interacting with the modernists of his day on methodological and philosophical issues.”
The Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart article is just one of dozens of contributions Dockery has made in recent years to a growing list of respected reference works.
His work is also included in such publications as The IVP Dictionary of the New Testament, The Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, The Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Holman Bible Dictionary, Holman Bible Handbook (for which Dockery serves as general editor), the 40-volume New America Commentary series (for which he serves as associate general editor) and others.
Dembski is one of the leading figures in the intelligent design movement which has emerged as an intellectual opponent to Darwinism and evolutionary theory.
At Southern Seminary, Dembski will serve as director of the new Center for Science and Theology.
He also serves as a senior fellow for the Discovery Institute’s Center for the Renewal of Science and Culture in Seattle, Wash., and is executive director of the International Society of Complexity, Information and Design.
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