Theology and Society in Three Cities: Berlin, Oxford, and Chicago, 1800-1914.
Adair-Toteff, Christopher
Theology and Society in Three Cities: Berlin, Oxford, and Chicago,
1800-1914. By Mark D. Chapman. Cambridge, UK: James Clarke, 2014. Pp.
viii + 152. $50.
In this volume Chapman does much more than simply discuss a
particular time in Christian scholarship; he also explores how different
circumstances in different places impacted theology. Theology may be
regarded as the study of the eternal and transcendent God, but its study
is undertaken by individuals who have been influenced by various social
and political considerations. For instance, the university in Berlin was
just being founded when Schleiermacher began teaching there, and C.
notes how changes in Germany's political directions affected
Schleiermacher's understanding of the role of Christian theology.
Oxford was a well-established university by the mid- 1800s when some of
its scholars realized that its traditional method of imparting Christian
values needed to be replaced by a modern approach. The university in
Chicago was a new school on a newly developing continent, and it devised
a new theological approach in which Christianity could be useful in
finding remedies for modern social problems.
C.'s main point is this: Christian theology is constantly
involved in contemporary conflicts and invariably needs to find
compromises. As a theological ideal, Christianity may be regarded as an
absolute; but, as a human endeavor, it demands particular solutions to
these various conflicts. The book is based on C.'s university
lectures, so it was never intended for specialists. Nonetheless, this
slender volume contains a wealth of information that even advanced
scholars will find worthwhile. C.'s focus is primarily historical,
yet he urges modern theologians to discover new ways to confront
theological challenges. Those interested in the history of theology will
find this book rewarding, but so will anyone who thinks seriously about
the many challenges that Christianity faces in the modern world.
DOI: 10.1177/0040563915593487
Christopher Adair-Toteff
University of South Florida, Tampa
