A Preface to TheologyUniversity of Chicago Press, 1996 M11 15 - 211 pages At a time of widespread perplexity about the social role of humanistic scholarship, few disciplines are as anxious about their nature and purposes as academic theology. In this important work, W. Clark Gilpin, dean of the University of Chicago Divinity School, proposes that American theological scholarship become responsible to a threefold public: the churches, the academic community, and civil society. Gilpin approaches this goal indirectly, by investigating the historic social roles of Protestant theologians and the educational institutions in which they have pursued their scholarship and teaching. Ranging from analyses of the New England Puritan Cotton Mather to contemporary theologians as "public intellectuals," Gilpin proposes that we find out what theology is by asking what theologians do. By showing how particular cultural problems have always shaped the work of theologians, Gilpin's work profoundly illuminates the foundations of American academic theology, providing insights that will help guide its future. |
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Adams Brown American argued Bible biblical Bibliotheca Sacra Bushnell catechetical century Christian church history coherence contemporary context critical culture curriculum debate denominational disciplines distinctive divinity schools doctrine educa Edwards Amasa Park Emerson ethical evangelical faith Harper Henry Boynton Smith human Ibid ideas institutions intellectual interpretation John Williamson Nevin Jonathan Edwards knowledge liberal logical Education loyalties Mather ministers ministry modern nation nature Nevin organic particular piety pluralism political practical theology Preface to Morals principle Protestant Protestantism Puritan purposes questions reading divinity reflection reform relation religion religious experience responsibility Richard Niebuhr role Schaff scholarly scholars seminary ideal sense Shailer Mathews Smith social society spirit systematic theology task theo theol theologians Theological Education theological encyclopedia theological inquiry theological scholarship theological schools Theological Seminary theological study Tholuck thought tion tradition truth ture tutors unity University Press Walter Lippmann Walter Rauschenbusch William Adams William Adams Brown York