The History of Scottish Theology, Volume III: The Long Twentieth Century

This three-volume work comprises over eighty essays surveying the history of Scottish theology from the early middle ages onwards. Written by an international team of scholars, the collection provides the most comprehensive review yet of the theological movements, figures, and themes that have shaped Scottish culture and exercised a significant influence in other parts of the world. Attention is given to different traditions and to the dispersion of Scottish theology through exile, migration, and missionary activity. The volumes present in diachronic perspective the theologies that have flourished in Scotland from early monasticism until the end of the twentieth century. The History of Scottish Theology, Volume I covers the period from the appearance of Christianity around the time of Columba to the era of Reformed Orthodoxy in the seventeenth century. Volume II begins with the early Enlightenment and concludes in late Victorian Scotland. Volume III explores the 'long twentieth century'. Recurrent themes and challenges are assessed, but also new currents and theological movements that arose through Renaissance humanism, Reformation teaching, federal theology, the Scottish Enlightenment, evangelicalism, mission, biblical criticism, idealist philosophy, dialectical theology, and existentialism. Chapters also consider the Scots Catholic colleges in Europe, Gaelic women writers, philosophical scepticism, the dialogue with science, and the reception of theology in liturgy, hymnody, art, literature, architecture, and stained glass. Contributors also discuss the treatment of theological themes in Scottish literature.

About the Author

David Fergusson is Professor of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and a Fellow of the British Academy. His publications include The Providence of God: A Polyphonic Approach (2018) and Faith and Its Critics: A Conversation (2009). Mark W. Elliott is Professor of Divinity and Biblical Criticism at the University of Glasgow. Glaswegian by birth, he was further educated at Oxford, Aberdeen and Cambridge, where he wrote a PhD on The Song of Songs and Christology in the Early Church. Before Glasgow, he taught at St Andrews, Nottingham University and Liverpool Hope. His main focus is the relationship between biblical exegesis and Christian doctrine, both ancient and modern, but has a particular interest in Scottish theology in its international context.