Reenchanting Humanity: A Theology of Mankind

Perhaps there has never been a more crucial moment to understand humanity than now. The lines about what it means to be human have been blurred significantly in recent times, touching issues such as gender, transhumanism, justice, and image. In other words, humanity is a hot-button issue.

Dr. Owen Strachan, Associate Professor of Christian Theology and Director of The Center for Public Theology at Midwestern Seminary, has written in Reenchanting Humanity: A Theology of Mankind a seminal work on biblical anthropology. Strachan’s goal in writing this book is to present “a humble attempt to see humanity afresh through biblical eyes” (2). Strachan asserts that “the major issue of our time is that of anthropology” (3). The question guiding this discussion is: “Does the human person live in an order cosmos and have an appointed identity, or does he make his own identity in a world without God?” (3). With that question in mind, Strachan begins his exploration of this much-ignored systematic doctrine.

Throughout the book, Strachan explores topics such as Work, Race and Ethnicity, and Technology. The foundation for the arguments presented is found in the first chapter, which discusses the imago Dei. Strachan argues that mankind is a “God-stamped creature,” unique from any other created being. As such, Strachan argues that humans are made in the image of God, “an ontological reality that leads into function” (29). In this view, the image of God is concerned with who we are, which bears fruit in what we do. In the Fall, mankind became disenchanted, but did not lose the image Dei. The goal, then, of the Christian life is to reenchant humanity, to live as God designed us to live.

With this foundation laid, Strachan delves into difficult topics, handling each of them with great detail and care. The book seeks to offer a way to look at each topic as reechanted, as God would have it and as the topic is addressed in Scripture. The book culminates with the final chapter: “Christ.” Strachan presents Christ as the “True Human,” the perfect image of God in man. The ontological nature of the imago Dei was perfect in Christ alongside perfect execution of the functions of that ontological nature. Strachan’s argument reaches a crescendo with this: “In Adam we are fully human, but we are not truly human. In Christ we become truly human, for we are remade in the image of the true man” (378). Christ is the Reenchanter of our disenchanted humanity.

To sum up, this book answers hard questions that have been largely ignored on the academic level of theology. Strachan explores the depths of the human nature and current issues with a biblical worldview and with helpful language.

I would recommend this book especially to pastors seeking to grow in their understanding of the difficult doctrine of mankind. Strachan presents a clear, focused, Christ-centered theology that answers tough questions many are facing.

Order the book here.