Honest to God
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| Author | John A.T. Robinson Bishop of Woolwich |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Christian theology, Apologetics |
| Publisher | SCM Press |
| Released | 1963 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| ISBN | 0-664-24465-3 |
'Honest to God' aroused a storm of controversy on its original publication by SCM Press in 1963. It was written by John A.T. Robinson the Anglican Bishop of Woolwich, who had already achieved notoriety by his defence of the publication of Lady Chatterly's Lover.
Robinson's own evaluation of Honest to God, found in the subsequent Exploration into God stated that the chief contribution of this work was its successful synthesis of the work of seemingly opposed theologians Paul Tillich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Rudolf Bultmann.
Contents |
[edit] Major Themes in 'Honest to God'
The overwhelming theory of 'Honest to God' is the idea that having rejected the idea of 'God up there', modern secular man also needs to recognise that the idea of God out there is also an outdated simplification of the nature of divinity. Rather, Christians should take their cue from the existentialist theology of Paul Tillich and consider God to be 'the ground of our being'.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer's notion of religionless Christianity is also a major theme in the book. Robinson's interpretation of this phrase is - inevitably - controversial. He claims that secular man requires a secular theology.
The book also introduced the idea of Situationethik to an English speaking audience. This New Morality was basically a forerunner of relativism, based on the idea that morals codes are not set in stone, but may be subject to circumstances.
[edit] Controversy and Criticism
The book was controversial even before its publication, as an interview about it with Robinson in the Observer bore the provocative headline 'Our Image of God Must Go'[1]. Some of the letters and articles for and against Robinson's views were published by the end of the year in The Honest to God Debate[2]. A flurry of books on the subject appeared by everyone from the Ceylon Rationalist Association to Patience Strong [3].
The book was almost universally condemned by traditionalists, but was hailed as a breath of fresh air by many liberals. However, not all liberals were in favour: many, including Michael Ramsey, Archbishop of Canterbury thought that Robinson's theology was weak, and that he had only a vague understanding of many of the issues he attempted to bring into the mainstream.
[edit] Honest to God's Ongoing Influence
As with so many 'modern' things, forty years later, the book is often accused of feeling dated. It is unclear why the bishop felt that the invention of the jet engine and television made traditional forms of religion irrelevant.
Nevertheless, this is an important book. Many of the ideas contained within it have quietly permeated the church: his 'New Morality' is generally accepted by liberal Christians, but many Christians would still argue that the idea that 'God out there' is not just a simple image to express the nature of God, but the actual nature of God.
[edit] Sources
- ^ Observer, 17 March 1963
- ^ Edwards, David L. "Honest to God" Debate, 1963, SCM Press, London
- ^ Strong, Patience, God's in his heaven, 1964, Frederick Muller, London
[edit] Further Reading
The Economist interviews: the Archbishop of Canterbury June 13, 1964
Robinson, J A T Honest to God, 1963, John Knox Press. reprint edition: ISBN 0-664-24465-3, 40th anniv. edition 2003: ISBN 0-664-22422-9
[edit] External Sources
[1] Lambeth Palace Library (home to John A.T. Robinson's collection of books relating to 'Honest to God')
