RELIGION: OUT OR WAY OUT

by Will Oursler ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 21, 1968

Is a new religious dimension replacing the outmoded and discarded literalisms of the past? The author believes so, and ranges widely over a large number of phenomena, from faith healing to LSD, from liturgical jazz to church architecture, in support of his conclusion. The result, however, lacks the kind of discrimination that would give conviction to his argument. Too many sweeping generalizations without data to substantiate this claim of a new church emerging; and other conclusions would be more persuasive if they were more carefully qualified. Vatican II may indeed be ""a landmark on the road to change,"" but the encyclical on birth control gives pause to those who would apply this judgment widely. In style, the treatment is journalistic --simple in statement, episodic in development, and unfortunately, often gives the impression that under the guise of reporting the facts much more has been proved than is the case. It would be encouraging to many church adherents to believe that this is ""a new day"" with a ""new faith, a changing church."" But it remains to be seen whether this is the true situation. For the present, affairs do not appear as dramatic or assured as Mr. Ourlser implies, nor should the results be reported as breathlessly.

Pub Date: Oct. 21, 1968

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Giniger/Stackpole

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1968

Categories: NONFICTION