The "dangerous idea" lying at the heart of Protestantism
is that the interpretation of the Bible is each individual‘s
right and responsibility. The spread of this principle has
resulted in five hundred years of remarkable innovation and
adaptability, but it has also created cultural incoherence
and social instability. Without any overarching authority
to rein in "wayward" thought, opposing sides on
controversial
issues can only appeal to the Bible—yet the Bible is open
to many diverse interpretations. Christianity‘s
Dangerous
Idea is the first book that attempts to define this
core element of Protestantism and the religious and
cultural dynamic that this dangerous idea unleashed,
culminating in the remarkable new developments of the
twentieth century.
At a time when Protestants will soon cease to be the
predominant faith tradition in the United States, McGrath‘s
landmark reassessment of the movement and its future is
well–timed. Replete with helpful modern–day examples that
explain the past, McGrath brings to life the Protestant
movements and personalities that shaped history and the
central Christian idea that continues to dramatically
influence world events today.
