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. |
Contents
THE FRUITION OF THE SEMINARY IDEAL 17201830 | 1 |
SCHOLARSHIP AND THE CULTURE OF PROTESTANTISM | 42 |
THE CASE FOR THEOLOGY IN THE UNIVERSITY 18801930 | 81 |
INTELLECTUAL CENTER OF THE CHURCHS LIFE 19301960 | 113 |
THE BACKGROUND OF POSSIBILITIES | 148 |
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Common terms and phrases
academic aims American appeal argued authority become beliefs biblical Brown called century challenge Christian church civilization common consequences contemporary context course critical culture debate denominational directed disciplines distinctive divine doctrine Edwards established ethical existence experience expressed fact faith function human Ibid ideal ideas important individual influence inquiry institutions intellectual interests interpretation issues John knowledge language learning liberal living logical Mather meaning method ministers ministry moral nature Niebuhr object organic particular pluralism political possibilities practical present Press principle problem proposed Protestant questions reading reflection reform relation religion religious responsibility role scholars schools seminary sense shared simply situation Smith social society sought spirit systematic task theo theologians Theological Education theological scholarship theological schools theological study theory thought tion tradition true truth ultimate understanding unity whole York
Bibliographic information
| Title | A Preface to Theology Chicago Lectures in Mathematics |
| Author | W. Clark Gilpin |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | University of Chicago Press, 1996 |
| ISBN | 0226293998, 9780226293998 |
| Length | 211 pages |
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