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Liberal theology refers not to a limited and now outmoded phase of modern theology; rather it is the distinctive feature of modern theology itself, starting with the Enlightenment and continuing to the present time. Criticisms of it by postliberal and radically orthodox theologies can be both appreciated and responded to by arguing for a radical liberalism that goes to the liberality at the root of the Christian gospel, which is simply God—the God who is freedom and gives freedom. Freedom applies to the sources of liberal theology. There is not a single, infallible, immutable source, but a plurality of sources: scripture, tradition, reason, experience, and culture. Interpretation arises from the conflict and interplay of these sources. The norm of all Christian interpretation is the redemption revealed and accomplished in Christ. The article identifies six marks of a liberal theology for today: a free and open theology, a critically constructive theology, an experiential theology, a visionary, spiritual, holistic theology, a prophetic, culturally transformative theology, and a mediating, correlational theology. With these marks, theology is made relevant to the contemporary world and provides resources for church renewal.

The author makes a case for the contributions of liberal theology to the transformative pedagogy that is essential for the flourishing of human beings in the twenty-first century. First he advocates the retention of liberal theology, but in a postmodern form that is open, critical, experiential, visionary, and culturally transformative. Then he demonstrates points of contact between this revisioned theology and liberal education, particularly those connections manifested in five elements of transformative pedagogy: education and life-formation, the rhythm of education, constructive and interactive knowledge, connected and imaginative teaching, and education as the practice of freedom. The author concludes that a revisioned liberal theology can contribute significantly to the recovery and explication of the religious dimension of education and its incumbent power of transformation.

L'A. decrit son projet d'etude d'une interpretation theologique contemporaine de la foi chretienne par une definition de la theologie chretienne specifiant la methode, le sujet et le contexte. Chacun de ces points est developpe dans l'article