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Vol. VI

CONTENTS FOR MARCH 1926

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF RELIGION IN AMERICA DURING THE PAST QUAR-
TER CENTURY

By EDWARD L. SCHAUB, Northwestern University

A QUARTER-CENTURY OF AMERICAN PREACHING
By OZORA S. DAVIS, Chicago Theological Seminary

No. 2

113

135

THE PROBLEM OF TEACHING THE BIBLE TO UNDERGRADUATES
BY SHIRLEY JACKSON CASE, University of Chicago

154

THE PRESENT RELIGIOUS SITUATION IN INDIA
By R. C. ADHIKARY, Calcutta, India

THE THEOLOGY OF EUGÈNE MÉNÉGOZ.

163

174

By WALTER M. HORTON, Oberlin Graduate School of Theology

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WOBBERMIN'S DEFINITION OF CHRISTIANITY
By GERALD BIRNEY SMITH, University of Chicago

PSYCHOLOGY AND THE CHURCH

By EDWARD L. SCHAUB, Northwestern University

BOOKS RECEIVED

211

214

217

BOOKS REVIEWED IN THIS NUMBER

Hardman (ed.), Psychology and the Church

214

Lidzbarski (trans.), Ginzā, Der Schatz oder das grosse Buch der Mandäer

207

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The Editor's Page

'HE scientific standing of religion today is due in considerable measure to the large amount of investigation undertaken by psychologists within the past quarter-century. As long as theology attempted to base beliefs and practices on a revelation exclusively committed to the church, it was difficult for science to have anything to say. The very general turning of theology from the method of authority to the method of interpreting religious experience has made it possible for the psychologist to make an important contribution to the understanding of religion. The study of religion is scientifically respectable today, largely because a freely critical method of investigating religious experience is possible.

The appeal to psychology has not always been made with scientific caution. At the one extreme were those who took over ready-made whatever psychological considerations would serve to bolster up preconceived notions of religion, leaving behind the more important matter of accurate method. At the other extreme were ambitious psychologists who contended that since the realities of religion are all found in religious experience, and since psychology alone is competent to deal with experience, psychology has the final word on all theological theories. In no realm of inquiry concerning religion is there need for more discriminating knowledge. Professor Schaub has furnished in this issue a careful survey which is of unusual value to those who are interested to know the actual contributions of this new science.

Is preaching holding its own? One may hear on every side pessimistic

statements concerning the modern pulpit. It is easy to fancy that things were better in the "good old days." President Davis' survey of the past quarter-century of preaching in this country gives us much food for thought. There have been notable changes in content and some changes in style. But these changes seem for the most part to be due to a positive creative effort at more effective exposition of religious ideals. If preaching is losing its power, how shall we account for the immensely increased publication of volumes of sermons?

What does a college student get out of a course of Bible study? As long as the study is conducted against the background of the older idea of biblical authority, perplexing questions are sure to arise. Fundamentalists forthwith protest against the use of critical methods in biblical study. But will a college student, accustomed to such methods everywhere else, respect biblical courses unless here, too, scientific thoroughness is demanded? Professor Case suggests that when critical method is used to recover the life out of which the biblical writings arose, attention is centered on problems of religious experience rather than on questions of the authenticity of given writings. In this way a wholesome attitude is created toward problems of experience in any age.

The missionary enterprise is almost always interpreted in terms of the idealism of Christian propaganda. It is a wholesome thing for us occasionally to see our own religion as others see it. The article in this issue, written by a well-informed native of India, attempts a comparative valuation of the faiths which are struggling

The Editor's Page

for control in that land. The candor with which the author recognizes the defects of the religion which he prefers commends to our thoughtful attention what he has to say about Christianity.

Liberal Protestantism in France shaped a distinct kind of theology, which has had considerable influence. Two great minds contributed to this end. The work of Auguste Sabatier is well known to Americans. The equally important work of his friend Eugène Ménégoz is almost unknown. Professor Horton gives us a lucid interpretation of this important figure in recent theology.

Archaeological discoveries are likely to be exploited in sensational fashion by the newspapers, and to be employed uncritically by conservative apologists. Much publicity has been given to a recently discovered inscription which was alleged to have verified the accuracy of the Old Testament account of the origin of the Decalogue. Those who desire to know just what the facts are will welcome the discriminating account of the inscription and its interpretation by Professor J. M. Powis Smith.

WHO'S WHO

in this issue of the Journal?

Edward L. Schaub is professor of philosophy in Northwestern University. Ozora S. Davis is president of the Chicago Theological Seminary, and author of several books on preaching. Shirley Jackson Case is professor of New Testament and early church.

history in the Divinity School of the University of Chicago.-R: C. Adhikary is a well-informed native of India.Walter M. Horton is professor of Christian theology in Oberlin Graduate School of Theology.-J. M. Powis Smith is professor of Old Testament languages and literature in the Divinity School of the University of Chicago.

IN OUR NEXT ISSUE What Constitutes a Scientific Interpretation of Religion? This question will be discussed by four eminent authorities: Professor George A. Coe, of Columbia University; Professor Edgar S. Brightman, of Boston University; Professor Ellsworth Faris, and Professor A. Eustace Haydon, of the University of Chicago.

Twenty-five Years of Interpretation of the Missionary Enterprise. The very interesting development of thought concerning the scope and function of missions will be set forth by Professor Archibald Gillies Baker, of the Divinity School of the University of Chicago.

Twenty-five Years of the Interpretation of Early Christianity. Recent points of view and historical conclusions in this field will be surveyed by Dr. Harold R. Willoughby, of the University of Chicago.

A Century of Theological Education and After, is an address by Professor William Adams Brown delivered at the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church at Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

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