Top Highlights

• first purpose: as a bon voyage greeting to a person venturing for the first season into theological studies.
• this book: it is a lesson in theological self-discipline.
• Despite the lessened tension, a tragic breach remains between theological ventures and activist programs, between the communities and persons who support them. Seldom does the lay congregation recognize or trust the worth of academic theology. Seldom do the academic theologians empathize with the workaday parsons.
• I have tried to think what are the enemies of theology in America. First is the pervasive unbelief that makes its way into ecclesiastical circles. It motivates the counsel to avoid theology, counsel which says: the Christian faith cannot pass intellectual tests; therefore keep busy, do not subject Christian affirmationto analysis and scrutiny, and ...
• church tower, the confines of my parish, I do not often care. Still another enemy is the idolization of the "doer" as opposed to the "thinker." The Big-time Operator or the Good Joe somehow builds more buildings, raises more budgets, preaches louder sermons than does the craftsman who pores over his Greek New Testament. It is of little consequence ...