The Remaking of Evangelical Theology [Paperback]

Gary Dorrien (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1998

In this in-depth historical analysis of evangelical theology, Gary Dorrien describes how evangelicalism has developed and matured. Beginning at the turn of the century and the start of the fundamentalist-modernist controversies, he notes the key figures and institutions of the evangelical movement. He also shows how evangelicalism has both diversified and entered into the broader theological discussions of today.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Gary Dorrien is Reinhold Niebuhr Professor of Social Ethics at Union Theological Seminary and Professor of Religion at Columbia University in New York City. An Episcopal priest, he is the author of eleven books and over one hundred articles that range across the fields of theology, philosophy, social theory, politics, ethics, and history.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press; 1st edition (October 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0664258034
• ISBN-13: 978-0664258030
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #721,841 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant survey of 20th c. U.S. evangelical theology, November 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Remaking of Evangelical Theology (Paperback)

This is an important book, worthy of careful study byChristians wrestling with issues of biblical inspiration, authority,and reliability. Dorrien surveys how American evangelicals have responded to these issues, especially in the last century and in the context of the biblical inerrancy debate. His detailed and copious knowledge of evangelicalism is all the more remarkable since he appears to speak as an outsider to this tradition. Dorrien gives detailed summaries of the major works in changing evangelical theologies, and seems to restate varying views with fairness. His focus seems to be on evangelical scholars, and this may be why influential writers lacking earned Ph.D.s such as Francis Schaeffer and Charles Colson have been omitted in this survey. Also, pro-inerrancy Wesleyans from the Wesleyan Theological Society are deemphasized in favor of those speaking of the Bible's infallible teaching but not necessarily its inerrancy. Varying responses to the Jewish roots of Christian faith are also overlooked. But the book does cover the most important and influential evangelical scholarship of this century more thoroughly and carefully than any other book of which I am aware. This would be a fine textbook for a graduate course on theology in either an evangelical or a non-evangelical educational setting.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful historical and theological overview, September 24, 2002

By 

www.DavidLRattigan.com (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Remaking of Evangelical Theology (Paperback)

I could not recommend a more accessible, readable, and insightful survey of 20th century (American) evangelicalism. Dorrien takes the reader through the early days of fundamentalism, and traces evangelicalism from the days of Princeton seminary, through the foundation of Fuller Seminary (perhaps one of the most seminal events in evangelicalism's recent history), the disputes over inerrancy in the '60s, '70s, and '80s, and the emerging progressive elements of evangelicalism. He covers in detail the major evangelical thinkers, ranging from Warfield and Machen in the early fundamentalist era, to Henry and Ramm in the era of 'new evangelicalism,' through to Pinnock and Bloesch in more recent times.

Writing as (I think) a theological liberal, Dorrien gives a surprisingly sympathetic portrayal of evangelicalism's development. He is honest about the strengths and weaknesses of the movement, with no particular axe of his own to grind. The Remaking of Evangelical Theology represents a far more even-handed approach than some anti-fundamentalist polemics to be written in recent years, such as that written some twenty years ago by Professor James Barr. In an interview five or six years ago, Barr insisted that evangelicalism has still not progressed since he wrote his earlier critique. Barr paints a picture of evangelicalism as a monolithic movement still clinging to the indefensible inerrancy doctrine of the sort propogated by Harold Lindsell. Dorrien's more nuanced and honest look at the historical development of recent evangelical thought, however, reveals a multi-layered movement in the midst of progression.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even Handed, March 29, 2001

By 

R. Newberry "Ronnnew" (Mountain View, AR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Remaking of Evangelical Theology (Paperback)

Coming from an Evangelical background, I enjoyed Gary's even handed treatment of Evangelical Theology. He was fair in his treatment of the personalities involved. This is must reading for those who want an independent look at Evangelical Theology.