Contemporary theology and the meaning of life

Abstract

“In the research which follows an examination is undertaken of selected writings from six leading contemporary theologians to discover what help they give in answering the question of the meaning of life. The six theologians have been chosen (1) because of the varied positions which they represent, and (2) because of their obvious influence within the present-day church. No suggestion is intended that Karl Barth, Rudolf Bultmann, Karl Heim, Reinhold Niebuhr, Henry Wieman, and Paul Tillich exhaust the term “contemporary theology.” Rather conspicuously absent are considerations of Emil Brunner, G.C. Berkouwer, Nels Ferre, the “Lundensian” school (Gustav Aulen and Anders Nygren), and the newly developing “post-Bultmann” school (particularly Fritz Buri and Gerhard Ebeling). The six men chosen do, however, give some index of the broad and varied spectrum which is “contemporary theology.”

The purpose of the following research is: (1) to establish a more precise definition of the question of the meaning of life; (2) to survey the answers to the question as developed within the thoughts of six leading contemporary theologians; and (3) to suggest, by observing strengths and weaknesses, the kind of answer which, in the light of the more precisely defined question, is most truly a helpful answer." -- from the Introduction.