Customer Reviews for Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Between Relativism and Fundamentalism: Religious Resources for a Middle Position

Our contemporary culture is dominated by two extremes - relativism and fundamentalism. Neither is desirable: relativism claims that all questions of truth are irrelevant, whereas fundamentalism insists on sole possession of absolute truth. Internationally renowned sociology of religion scholar Peter Berger has gathered a group of scholars to consider how, from out of different traditions, one can define a middle position between both extremes.

In Between Relativism and Fundamentalism Peter Berger introduces and gives a comprehensive overview to the complex issues involved by in sorting out a middle ground between Relativism and Fundamentalism. His work is followed by three essays or "sociological descriptions", giving an objective picture of how relativism and fundamentalism play out in today's world.

Next, "theological directions" are given by authors from several different Christian traditions, and one conservative Jewish tradition and flesh out a normative middle ground that is neither relativist (thus the authors affirm specific truth claims), nor fundamentalist, their affirmations include tolerance of others' claims.

It is obvious that such an approach not only has much relevance to the contemporary world, but also has the potential to affect disputes raging with Evangelical circles about the nature of truth, and to what degree Christianity can become conversant with postmodernism. This book, edited by the leading religion sociologist of the 20th Century will be of immense benefit to all who study ecclesiology, and philosophical theology.

Contributors:

• Peter L. Berger
• Grace Davie
• Ingeborg Gabriel
• Craig M. Gay
• David M. Gordis
• Os Guinness
• James Davison Hunter
• Michael Plekon