The Making and Unmaking of an Evangelical Mind: The Case of Edward Carnell

Edward John Carnell (1919-1967), philosopher-theologian and president of the Fuller Theological Seminary, played a singularly influential role in the emergence of mid-twentieth century influential role in the emergence of mid-twentieth century Protestant evangelicalism from its fundamentalist phase. This book uses Carnell's life and works as a lens through which to examine important developments in American religious history during his Carnell's importance was acknowledged both in and outside the evangelical tradition, but he paid a severe price for public recognition--overtly as the object of harsh criticism from right-wing opponents and internally as the victim of a psychological breakdown. The first half of the book takes a biographical approach, following Carnell's early life and education, while the second half of the book looks topically at the issues that shaped Carnell's career, providing helpful clues in the effort to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the evangelical movement he represented.

The first half of this book takes a biographical approach to its subject, examining Carnell's early life and education, while the second half of the book looks topically at the issues that shaped Carnell's career and, as the author proposes, may have led to his psychological undoing. It offers a provocative view into the larger cultural tensions, unleashed by new modes of secular thought that challenged the framework of American religious life during the middle years of this century.