Book Description

Horace Bushnell on Christian Character Development examines the issue of character development in the speculative works and sermons of Horace Bushnell, in relation to Orthodox Calvinist, Unitarian, and contemporary Catholic considerations of the same. The author emphasizes the practical purpose of theological investigation to promote the universal cause of personal growth and development. He systematically presents Bushnell's thought on that popular issue by way of a critical analysis of his language theory, his rhetoric, and his understanding of theology as a kind of persuasive art. Bushnell proposed a 'theological alternative' to the typical understanding of character development (conversion) espoused by Orthodox Calvinism, Unitarianism, and secular humanism. His 'alternative' incorporated the strengths of those historically influential bodies of thought and compensated for what he thought to be deficient in them. In this book, the reader is introduced to a theology that is remarkable for its insights into human interiority, its soundness as a proposal for wholesome human living, and its ecumenical spirit.