Langdon Gilkey Theologian for a Culture in Decline

Langdon Gilkey's theological method distinguishes three stages of the theological enterprise, namely, prolegomenon, constructive theology and theology of culture. In this book the author employs this threefold division as an organizing principle for the exposition and evaluation of Gilkey's thought. Walsh proposes further, however, that the whole project is best understood if seen primarily in terms of the third stage. Consequently the book focuses on Gilkey's theology of culture and interprets his prolegomenon and constructive theology in terms of their foundational relevance to his theology of modernity in decline. Interpreted in this way the project as a whole displays a coherent interrelatedness. That coherence also means, however, that ambiguity and weak arguments in both the prolegomenon and constructive theology are reflected in the theology of culture. These deficiencies notwithstanding, Gilkey's theology of culture provides us with an analysis and diagnosis of modernity that plumbs to the religious depths of that culture. Such analysis is necessary for all cultures but especially for cultures in decline. Co-published with the Institute for Christian Studies.