The Definitive Compendium of 100 Religious Thinkers

Welcome to ‘Chronicles of Belief: The Definitive Compendium of 100 Religious Thinkers.’ This compendium offers a glimpse into the intellectual journey of some of the most influential theologians and philosophers across the centuries. Each individual featured here has contributed significantly to the fields of theology, philosophy, and religious thought. These luminaries range from early thinkers like Augustine of Hippo, through reformation figures like Martin Luther, to contemporary philosophers and theologians. The breadth of perspectives and contributions represented in this list is a testament to the ongoing, rich dialogue within theological and philosophical circles. We invite you to delve into these fascinating biographies, to better understand the minds that have shaped the discourse of faith and reason over the centuries.

1. Augustine of Hippo (354-430)
2. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
3. Martin Luther (1483-1546)
4. John Calvin (1509-1564)
5. John Wesley (1703-1791)
6. Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)
7. Friedrich Schleiermacher (1768-1834)
8. Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855)
9. Karl Barth (1886-1968)
10. Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)
11. Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945)
12. Paul Tillich (1886-1965)
13. Rudolf Bultmann (1884-1976)
14. Karl Rahner (1904-1984)
15. Jurgen Moltmann (1926-present)
16. Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905-1988)
17. John Henry Newman (1801-1890)
18. Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965)
19. Wolfhart Pannenberg (1928-2014)
20. John Hick (1922-2012)
21. Gustavo Gutiérrez (1928-present)
22. Elizabeth Johnson (1941-present)
23. Hans Küng (1928-2021)
24. John Polkinghorne (1930-2021)
25. T. Wright (1948-present)
26. Stanley Hauerwas (1940-present)
27. Walter Brueggemann (1933-present)
28. Jürgen Habermas (1929-present)
29. David Bentley Hart (1965-present)
30. Emil Brunner (1889-1966)
31. Bernard Lonergan (1904-1984)
32. Rosemary Radford Ruether (1936-present)
33. Miroslav Volf (1956-present)
34. Alister McGrath (1953-present)
35. Dorothy Day (1897-1980)
36. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955)
37. Hans von Campenhausen (1903-1989)
38. Phyllis Trible (1932-present)
39. John Howard Yoder (1927-1997)
40. Sarah Coakley (1951-present)
41. James Cone (1938-2018)
42. Desmond Tutu (1931-present)
43. Rowan Williams (1950-present)
44. William Lane Craig (1949-present)
45. Moltmann-Wendel (1927-2016)
46. Richard Dawkins (1941-present)
47. Francis Schaeffer (1912-1984)
48. T. Robertson (1863-1934)
49. Gustaf Aulen (1879-1977)
50. Paul Ricœur (1913-2005)
51. Richard Niebuhr (1894-1962)
52. Cornelius Van Til (1895-1987)
53. David Tracy (1939-present)
54. Lamin Sanneh (1942-2019)
55. John Milbank (1952-present)
56. Oliver O’Donovan (1945-present)
57. John Piper (1946-present)
58. John F. Haught (1942-present)
59. John Dominic Crossan (1934-present)
60. Elizabeth A. Johnson (1941-present)
61. Lesslie Newbigin (1909-1998)
62. James Hal Cone (1938-2018)
63. George Lindbeck (1923-2018)
64. Justo L. González (1937-present)
65. Leonardo Boff (1938-present)
66. Mark Noll (1946-present)
67. Eberhard Jüngel (1934-present)
68. Rowan Williams (1950-present)
69. Robert Jenson (1930-2017)
70. Elizabeth Schüssler Fiorenza (1938-present)
71. Martin E. Marty (1928-present)
72. Miroslav Volf (1956-present)
73. Wolfhart Pannenberg (1928-2014)
74. Stanley Hauerwas (1940-present)
75. Nicholas Wolterstorff (1932-present)
76. René Girard (1923-2015)
77. Peter Kreeft (1937-present)
78. Richard Rohr (1943-present)
79. Roger Scruton (1944-2020)
80. Charles Taylor (1931-present)
81. Alvin Plantinga (1932-present)
82. Dallas Willard (1935-2013)
83. Mary Daly (1928-2010)
84. Peter Singer (1946-present)
85. Pope Benedict XVI (1927-present)
86. Pope Francis (1936-present)
87. T. Wright (1948-present)
88. Jürgen Moltmann (1926-present)
89. Stanley Grenz (1950-2005)
90. Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza (1938-present)
91. Richard Bauckham (1946-present)
92. Luke Timothy Johnson (1943-present)
93. Marcus Borg (1942-2015)
94. Henri Nouwen (1932-1996)
95. Richard Swinburne (1934-present)
96. John Zizioulas (1931-present)
97. I. Packer (1926-2020)
98. John Macquarrie (1919-2007)
99. Francis Schaeffer (1912-1984)
100. Norman Geisler (1932-2019)

Embarking on this intellectual journey promises an enlightening exploration into the vast landscape of theology and philosophy. As you traverse through the lives and works of these remarkable individuals, from the brilliance of Augustine’s confessions to the contemporary insights of N.T. Wright, may their wisdom, courage, and intellectual rigor inspire you and provoke thoughtful reflection.

Each thinker stands as a beacon in the intellectual discourse, illuminating the path for successive generations to engage in their own pursuit of truth, meaning, and understanding. May their work challenge your assumptions, broaden your perspectives, and foster a deeper appreciation for the rich tapestry of theological and philosophical thought.

Enjoy the journey.