THE DEATH-OF-GOD MOVEMENT

The four apostles (or evangelists) of the death-of-God movement are Gabriel Vahanian, William Hamilton, Paul van Buren, and Thomas J.J. Altizer (who is perhaps more a Pauline figure than an evangelist). The aim of Mr. Bent's book is to present, in a necessarily very abbreviated form, the central ideas of these four men and to do so in such a way as to indicate the points of agreement and disagreement among them. Each synthesis is preceded by an introduction to the thought of the subject and followed by a critical--and illuminating--evaluation of his position. Though the book, by intent and by reason of its style and presentation, is a popularization, it is not always easy reading; but considering the abstruseness of much of the material with which Bent is concerned, a careful reading will be rewarding to any but the most unsympathetic reader. This study should be popular among both Protestant and Catholic students and theologians.