ABSTRACT
Today the term “liberal” is often applied to one’s opponents who are thought not to properly endorse the traditional values and beliefs of a community. Even in theological discussions, “liberal” often has a negative connotation. But among academic theologians, “liberal theology” typically refers to a specific historical period and group of theologians in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. During this time period, several prominent Protestant theologians adopted the term “liberal” for their own approach to theology. They freely admitted that they were reappropriating theological terms and concepts so as to fit within the context of the modern world as they understood it. Perhaps most distinctive in their approach is an emphasis on the practical implications of Christian faith as flowing out of the moral teachings of Jesus and the role of the Church in helping to effect the realization of this morality in culture. The massive wars of the twentieth century largely undermined their ideal of cultural progress, but the “liberal” approach to Christian
thought remains an active strand of theology today. In this chapter we’ll see the roots and development of that approach.
