TOWARD AN AMERICAN THEOLOGY

by Herbert W. Richardson ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 2, 1967

In this essay in the philosophy of religion the author begins by analyzing the pervasive cultural atheism which he believes to underlie the ""death of God"" theology. ""Secular theology""--which includes all theology that regards modern man as the norm of religious truth--makes the false historical assumption that only in our time has atheism become ""public."" The recovery of a transcendant dimension in religion will come through a recovery of the myth as the bearer of meaning --""the myth is the message,"" to paraphrase McLuhan. The final issue of the essay is concerned with a description of the ""Idea of an American Theology."" The prospectus given, however, comes nearer to a reaffirmation of Chalcedon theology, with a strong emphasis upon the Trinity and a reaffirmation of the Virgin Dirt and of Mary as the Mother of God. Apart from the question of the intrinsic merit of these doctrines, it is not easy to accept the author's conviction that they represent the direction in which indigenous American theology would seem to move. The book is, however, well informed, not only in theological and philosophical literature, but in scientific thought. Its technical, or at least academic, style will not make it congenial reading for many except students and scholars in the field.

Pub Date: Aug. 2, 1967

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harper & Row

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1967

Categories: NONFICTION