Introduction

This book illustrates how Christianity in the modern era has been shaped in the direction of subjectivity.

Enlightenment and Reason

In the Enlightenment, after Locke required faith to submit to reason's judgment, Kant argued that religion should remain within the bounds of reason only.

Shift to Devotion and Feeling

Schleiermacher shifted attention away from belief to devotion to Christ and a feeling of absolute dependence on God.

Subjective Approach to Justification

Rejecting Hegel's system, Kierkegaard summoned his readers to a unique subjective approach to justification by faith.

Revivalist Evangelicalism

Revivalist Evangelicalism has been perceived, and portrayed itself, as a rejection of modernism. This study argues instead that the Evangelical-revivalist movement is unmistakably modern in its assumptions regarding the nature of faith.

Pietist Impulse and Modern Influences

The Pietist impulse, fueled in part by modern anthropocentrism and subjectivism in religious belief, was appropriated by the Evangelical revivalists, such as John Wesley, George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, and, later, Charles Finney.

Conclusion

In short, Christianity today is a religion of the heart.