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The Perils of Human Exceptionalism

Elements of a Nineteenth-Century Theological Anthropology
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Over the course of the nineteenth century, transatlantic intellectuals slowly revised theological anthropology, or the doctrine of humanity seen in light of the divine. Gradually, elite discourse deposed humanity from its lofty estate and centering it within a naturalistic account wherein likeness to animal fauna became the central evaluative lens. Durst argues that theological anthropologies across the disciplines increasingly shifted focus away from classic confessional themes such as the soul and the image of God, and toward the methods of natural theology and intuitionism. This occurred in the form of challenges to theology in biology, phrenology, transcendentalism, anti-theology, Christian socialism, intuitionism, and religious experience. The human soul and human sinfulness also found a revised articulation in terms increasingly shaped by the cultural authority of science. An ascendant subjective approach to human nature emerged whereby religious experiences, not theological claims to truth, assumed prominence as the central measures of religious life.
Dennis L. Durst is associate professor of theology at Kentucky Christian University.
Introduction Chapter 1: Historical Prologue: What is Man that Thou art Mindful of Him? Chapter 2: The Human Design in Natural Theology Chapter 3: Friedrich Schleiermacher and a Theology of Intuition Chapter 4: Darwin's Decentering of Humanity Chapter 5: The Anti-theologians Chapter 6: The Hard-headed Science of Humanity: Phrenology and Religion Chapter 7: Social Christianity and Social Humanity in an Inhumane World Chapter 8: The Natural World and the Human: The Transcendentalists Chapter 9: Perils of the Soul in Nineteenth-Century Thought: Metaphysics and Morals Chapter 10: Original Sin, Degeneration, Theology, and Science Chapter 11: William James Seeks to Save Religious Experience Conclusion Bibliography Index About the Author
This book shows clearly how important thinkers in the nineteenth century wrestled with the problem of human uniqueness. With thorough research and patient exploration of the era's bold new ideas, Durst explores strengths and weaknesses of the many attempts to replace traditional Christian understandings of the human person. Careful attention to science, theology, philosophy, and psychology aid Durst in articulating traditional Christian positions while at the same time crediting insights from Friedrich Schleiermacher, F. D. Maurice, William James, and other major thinkers. -- Mark Noll, author of America's Book: The Rise and Decline of a Bible Civilization, 1794-1911
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