God, Christ, and the World: A Study in Contemporary Theology

In this important and distinguished book, the former archbishop of Canterbury sets out to examine some of the contemporary theological trends-the concept of secular Christianity, the existentialist treatment of Christian doctrine, and some aspects of New Testament study. His conclusion is that while the historic faith of Christianity stands and it is more than ever necessary to assert its supernatural character, it is only possible to do so convincingly if we are ready to learn much from the contemporary conflicts. In particular, if we are to convey to secularism the belief in transcendence, it must be a transcendence realized in the midst of secular life, and not apart from it. What is written here shows how deeply the archbishop has meditated on recent theological developments, with results that are most encouraging. Those who feel that the churches are not sufficiently open to questioning may see that their problems are taken seriously, and thought through profoundly; those who are still hesitant to begin the process of questioning will find that it is possible to live with question and still hold faith.