American Apostasy: The Triumph of "Other" Gospels

by Peter L. Berger (Editor)

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First published February 1, 1989

About the author

Peter L. Berger was an internationally renowned sociologist, and the founder of Boston University's Institute on Culture, Religion, and World Affairs. He was born in Vienna and came to the U.S. in his late teens. He had a master's degree and a doctorate from the New School for Social Research in New York. After two years in the United States Army, he taught at the University of Georgia and the University of North Carolina before going to the Hartford Seminary Foundation as an Assistant Professor in Social Ethics.

In 1992, Peter Berger was awarded the Manes Sperber Prize, presented by the Austrian government for significant contributions to culture. He was the author of many books, among them The Social Construction of Reality, The Homeless Mind, and Questions of Faith.

Reviews

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of essays from a 1989 conference sponsored by the Rockford Institute Center on Religion and Society. The first essay is by Peter Berger giving a sociological analysis of the (then) current situation in American Christianity. This is followed by an historical explanation by James Turner. Avery Dulles then provides a Roman Catholic perspective. Robert Jenson gives a theological explanation blaming the situation on the inadequacy of Western Trinitarianism. The final essay, by Paul Stallworth, summarizes the discussion that took place among the attendees after the presentation of the papers. In all, I thought it was quite good, and even more appropriate today. I would like to have the perspective of someone who specializes in the Trinity give me an evaluation of Jenson's essay.