ABSTRACT
In Chapters 1 and 2,1 have explored Macquarrie's 'existentialist phase' while at Glasgow (1953-62), in terms of his use of Heidegger's Being and Time and Bultmann's existentialist theology, and in terms of the modifications and limitations which Macquarrie imposes to broaden his own work beyond narrow existentialism. I have shown that Macquarrie finds aspects of existentialist thought useful for his theological task. I have also shown that he imposes certain limits on the appropriateness of existentialist thought for theology. In particular, he is concerned to safeguard (1) the kerygma against exaggerated humanising and subjectivising tendencies; (2) the ontological reference of religious language against one-sided conative interpretations, and its meaning as fundamentally concerned with the kinship of being rather than the confrontation of will, and (3) the corporate character of human being and faith against exaggerated individualising tendencies. These three themes (kerygma, ontology and the corporate character of human being) are developed under particular influences during Macquarrie's years in America (1962-70) and become key elements of Macquarrie's distinctive theology.
