APOLOGETICS AND EVANGELISM

by V. Langmead Casserly ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 8, 1962

How is the Christian faith communicated both to the intellectual ""elite"", and the unsophisticated ""mass""? This intriguing question is dealt with by Dr. Casserly, who is Professor of Philosophical Theology at Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, Evanston, ill. (Episcopal), in a very engaging and thought-provoking way. Describing first the characteristics of these two groups as they act and react on each other in the historical process and cultural development, he then demonstrates the bearing of this on the development of theological thought. There can be no proper growth if the elite (the intellectuals) loss touch with the masses, nor if they distrust the wisdom of the masses which is never self conscious, as no one thinks mass thought. it is merely there and unfolds its consequences and implications the actual history of social and cultural forms that emerge out of the mass life. But this in all important to the elite thinker, who must understand both the process at work and the need for him to help the strengths and virtues become conscious, intellectual and critical. Casserly champions Christian orthodoxy as the characteristic of the masses within the Church, and the various kinds of liberal theology as elite activities, which he characterizes as apologetically inadequate because they are not enough aware of their proper relation to main-stream traditional Christianity. All clergy will understand themselves and their task better after they have read this book.

Pub Date: Oct. 8, 1962

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Westminster Press

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1962

Categories: NONFICTION