Gary Dorrien

Readers familiar with Dorrien's work will not be surprised to find here a meticulous, articulate historical account of evangelical theology. Apart from its significance as a contribution to the historical record, this work is particularly important for its nuanced reading of evangelicalism and its careful disentanglement of the relationship between evangelicalism and fundamentalism. Dorrien distinguishes three strands of evangelicalism--classical, pietistic, and fundamentalist--then argues show more for the possibility of a fourth, progressive, kind. This fourth kind is tied to Hans Frei's call for a new orthodoxy in which (in Clark Pinnock's words) "each perspective can make a contribution, but none can tell the whole story. Each will enrich our understanding and need not be seen as necessarily in contradiction to the others." Dorrien's perspective is that of an informed and sympathetic outsider. That the view from outside is one in which "the confrontational spirit of evangelical fundamentalism is giving way to the discourse of a generous orthodoxy" bodes well for the civility of theological conversation. Dorrien's account is a significant contribution to both the tone and content of that conversation. show less

Volume II of III. Describes the rise (and fall) of liberation theology between 1900-1950 as the "dominant tradition" of divinity schools and mainline seminaries.

Clearly Dorrien is a gentle champion of liberal theology from its modern roots (Unitarians, and also the Germans--Kant, Schleiermacher and Hegel) to its current importance (and crisis).

Volume I of III. Dorrien is an Episcopal priest. He is the Niebuhr Professor of Social Ethics at Union, and Professor of Religion at Columbia. He champions liberal theology as "the most creative and influential tradition" of theological reflection since the Reformation. [Intro]. Unitarianism plays a formative role in this 200-year tradition.

Dorrien defines liberal theology as "a Christian perspective based on reason and experience, not external authority".

Even touches upon Religion as a show more secular experience! {Explains the crisis of Liberal theology as too academic for church and too religious for University.}

There is enough depth in the trilogy of volumes to count as a theological education. Many complex ideas, fairly ventilated. show less

Not exactly light reading, but quite readable despite its somewhat heavy subject matter.