The Presbyterian Controversy: Fundamentalists, Modernists, and Moderates (Religion in America)

Rating:
Summary: Key insights for Mainline decline.
Review: An insightful and enjoyable survey of the people and ideas which split the Presbyterian Church in the 1930s. Through careful research and a captivating style, Longfield studies indepth the main characters of the Fundamentalist/Moderist controversary in the Presbyterian Church. Sympathetic to both sides, he shows how relaxing theological standards began to blunt the church's ability to speak to its members and society. Important reading for anyone trying to discover the roots of decline in mainline churches in America today.

Rating:
Summary: Key insights for Mainline decline.
Review: An insightful and enjoyable survey of the people and ideas which split the Presbyterian Church in the 1930s. Through careful research and a captivating style, Longfield studies indepth the main characters of the Fundamentalist/Moderist controversary in the Presbyterian Church. Sympathetic to both sides, he shows how relaxing theological standards began to blunt the church's ability to speak to its members and society. Important reading for anyone trying to discover the roots of decline in mainline churches in America today.

Rating:
Summary: A Diplomatic Attempt
Review: Longfield attempts to fairly and finely balance the most pivotal denominational split of 20th century America. He does so by briefly biographing and documenting the interaction of the PCUSA's main players at that time. The documentation is excellent. The problems enter when Longfield interprets and implies motives. The main problem is Longfield succumbing to the whole problem Machen was fighting against in the modernist contrversy: historical consciousness. As a result the reader is not given an objective account. Machen is categorized as a fundementalist in the same category with William Jennings Bryan. Anyone familiar with Machen's intense new testement scholarship and political stances know otherwise. And to someone like myself who greatly admires Machen, such a depiction is borderline blasphemy. Machen was a brilliant and faithful standard bearer, not a demagogue or reactionary (as implied by fundementalist label). I recommend this book with serious reservations to discerning readers. 'Toward a Sure Faith' by Chrisope serves as an excellent account setting the stage for Machen's latter battles.

Rating:
Summary: A Diplomatic Attempt
Review: Longfield attempts to fairly and finely balance the most pivotal denominational split of 20th century America. He does so by briefly biographing and documenting the interaction of the PCUSA's main players at that time. The documentation is excellent. The problems enter when Longfield interprets and implies motives. The main problem is Longfield succumbing to the whole problem Machen was fighting against in the modernist contrversy: historical consciousness. As a result the reader is not given an objective account. Machen is categorized as a fundementalist in the same category with William Jennings Bryan. Anyone familiar with Machen's intense new testement scholarship and political stances know otherwise. And to someone like myself who greatly admires Machen, such a depiction is borderline blasphemy. Machen was a brilliant and faithful standard bearer, not a demagogue or reactionary (as implied by fundementalist label). I recommend this book with serious reservations to discerning readers. 'Toward a Sure Faith' by Chrisope serves as an excellent account setting the stage for Machen's latter battles.