Mascall, E. L. 1905-1993.

The secularization of Christianity: an analysis and a critique / [by] E. L. Mascall. - New York, Holt, Rinehart and Winston [1966, c1965] - xiii, 286 p. 23 cm.

Bibliographical footnotes.

The changeless and the changing --
The secularisation of Christianity : a critique of Dr van Buren --
Emotion recollected in tranquility : a reconsideration of Honest to God --
Science, the secular and the supernatural --
Fact and the Gospels.

Must Christian belief be completely recast? Are creed and tradition to be discarded as myth and dogmatism? Should Christianity be reduced to simply an endorsement of whatever secular contemporary thinkers can extract from ancient beliefs? The secularization of Christianity is the first major book which says a firm and reasoned "No"to many of the more fashionable theological trends which came popular attention with the publication of Honest to God. Mr. Mascall is convinced that a radical and destructive movement has obtained a wide following in English-speaking academic circles, and he has made a detailed analisys of Honest to God and Paul van Buren's The Secular Meaning of the Gospel in order to expose inadequacy. Put briefly, Mascall sees the whole radical movement as an attempt to make Christianity agree with the modern world rather than a bringing of the secular world to the Christian faith. Even those who disagree with Mascall will realize that he is laying down a challenge that must be taken seriously. All will admire his careful logic and lucid style. If The Secularization of Christianity is polemical writing, it is in the great theological tradition that produced Aquinas' Contra Gentiles and Augustine's Contra Donatistas. Most importantly, Mascall uncovers the various influences at work behind the reductionist process—Bultmann's demythologizing, existentialism, the autonomy of science, linguistic analysis, and an uncontrolled Form-Criticism ; in this way he provides a well-documented and critical survey of the latest developments in the theology of the English-speaking world.

66015656


Robinson, John A. T. 1919-1983. Honest to God.
Van Buren, Paul Matthews, 1924- Secular meaning of the Gospel.


Christianity--20th century.
Death of God theology.

BT 28 / .M28 1966

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