 |
|
     |
|
|
|
In his book Contested Christianity (Baylor, 2004), Wheaton historian Timothy Larsen examines the reception of DF Strauss's Life of Jesus in England. He suggests that only Darwin's Origin of Species rivals Strauss's book as a challenge to orthodoxy in Victorian England. Yet, the book's impact had less to do with its radicalism than its piety. Charles Hennell, friend to Strauss's English translator George Eliot and author of his own non-miraculous account of Christianity, suggested that Strauss's abandonment of miracles was not "equivalent to an entire renunciation of the Christian religion." Strauss on the contrary want his book "employed in the real service of Christianity, rather than as an attack upon it." Thomas Cooper, a shoemaker and radical political leader who lectured on Strauss, drew similar conclusions: "I seek to multiply, not to lessen, the number of [Jesus'] true disciples . . . his religion no longer commends itself to me by mysterious or miraculous sanctions. I hold it to be the most perfect version of the Religion of Humanity; and for that reason, desire to see it divested of all legendary incrustations that may prevent its reception with sincere and earnest thinkers. The great work of Strauss assisted me in coming to a clear and determined conclusion respecting the source of the corruptions in the real history of Christ."
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Thursday, May 18, 2006 at 06:48 AM
Permission is given to use material on this site, provided the source is cited, blog entries are republished in full, and the author is notified in advance.
1 & 2 Kings
Brazos Theological Commentary
The Promise Of His Appearing: An Exposition Of Second Peter
A Great Mystery: Fourteen Wedding Sermons
Deep Comedy: Trinity, Tragedy, And Hope In Western Literature
Miniatures & Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen
The Priesthood of the Plebs: A Theology of Baptism
A Son To Me: An Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel
From Silence to Song: The Davidic Liturgical Revolution
Ascent to Love: A Guide to Dante's Divine Comedy
Blessed Are the Hungry: Meditations on the Lord's Supper
A House For My Name: A Survey of the Old Testament
Heroes of the City of Man: A Christian Guide to Select Ancient Literature
Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide To Six Shakespeare Plays
Wise Words: Family Stories That Bring the Proverbs to Life
The Kingdom and the Power: Rediscovering the Centrality of the Church
