Ernst Troeltsch

In this seminal work, pioneering theologian Ernst Troeltsch raises the question, how can we pass beyond the diversity with which history presents us to norms for our faith and for our judgments about life? He trenchantly probes the issue of how one religion--when viewed historically in the context of other world religions--can be universally and absolutely true. Though many others since have explored the issue of historical relativism and religious truth, few have done so with Troeltsch's determination and incisiveness, and for this he has made a lasting contribution to Christian theology and the philosophy of religion. The questions Troeltsch poses in this book remain utterly significant for the thoughtful Christian today.

These lectures may be considered as the last organization of the author's views. They may also be said to mark a new development in his mind. The Baron von Hugel in his Introduction describes this change as a movement away from the "reality, helpfulness, indeed necessity of at least some tradition." That is to say, Troeltsch was becoming more individualistic and less willing to "recognize church and sacraments as legitimate continuations or developments of our Lord's mind." The three lectures constituting this volume do not constitute exactly a unity, and can best be regarded as more or less converging approaches to a common position. History, he holds, cannot be regarded as a process in which a universal and everywhere similar principle is confined and obscured. It is rather an imperishable and incomparable confusion of the always-new, unique, and hence individual tendencies. -- From JSTOR (Dec.3 10, 2012).