In the symbolic world of Christianity, which millions have
inhabited for centuries, is there room for modern and postmodern
life--for today's real world of cultural relativism and religious
pluralism, of scientific knowledge and historical understanding?
"In Face of Mystery" draws these two worlds together in a
full-scale reconception of Christian theology.
Theology, Gordon Kaufman suggests, is an imaginative
construction, the creation of a symbolic world for ordering life.
As it has been constructed, so it can be reconstructed, and Kaufman
does so in a way that clarifies both the historic roots and the
present-day applications of Christian symbolism. He works with a
"biohistorical" interpretation of human life, one that portrays
humanity as a product of biological evolution and historical
development. While taking account of cultural and religious
pluralism, and while providing criteria for making comparative
assessments and judgements, this interpretation of human historical
exitence also situates human begins--with their capacities for
freedom and creativity--within the ecological wed that sustains all
life. Human beings, Kaufman argues, have created religious
symbolism as a necessary part of their attempt to orient themselves
in the world. He shows how Christianity, as a system of symbols,
has figured in this effort, and he carefully examines the separate
elements of the Christian perspective-- foremost among them, God.
How does the concept of God, as an ultimate point of reference,
enhance our understanding of today's world; and how does the symbol
"Christ" qualify this concept? The answer Kaufman proposes clarify
the changing relevance of the symbolic world of Christianity.
Firmly embeddd in physical and social science and in the
tradition of American pragmatism, this thorough reconception of a
Christian worldview offers insight into the most basic questions
confronting humanity today--questions of value, meaning, and
self-identity.
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