Some Christian Convictions

Coffin, Henry Sloane, 1877-1954Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

Rating 3.2

Word count: 248K words
Chapters: 25

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Some Christian Convictions by Henry Sloane CoffinAuthor: Coffin, Henry Sloane, 1877-1954,Language: English, Class: BR: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Christianity, Release Date: Aug 3, 2005

Editor's review

Henry Sloane Coffin's Some Christian Convictions is a popular discursive work in the Christian category, discussing several core beliefs of the Christian faith. Unlike a systematic theology textbook, it is closer to an explanation of faith for ordinary readers: the author seeks to state clearly the convictions he holds and to answer common questions. The prose is dignified without being showy, and the chapters are relatively independent, suited to reading in installments. For Chinese readers, its value lies partly in seeing how a church figure in the early twentieth-century English-speaking world articulated Christian convictions, and partly in serving as a sample of popular religious writing. Read without rushing to judge the position; first sort out the questions the author raises, the grounds he offers, and his conclusions, then compare them with your own knowledge. It is better read slowly with questions in mind than straight through in one sitting.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in Christian convictions and popular theological expression
Students of literature and history studying early twentieth-century English religious essays
Readers seeking public-domain English religious texts for thematic reading
Reflective readers willing to read slowly with questions and take notes

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking systematic theology textbooks or rigorous academic scholarship
Readers hoping for personal biography or church history narratives
Readers with no interest in religious argument who want light reading

Reading tips

Begin with the table of contents, pick the convictions that interest you most, and read by topic in installments rather than forcing the order.
After each chapter, summarize the author's position in one sentence, then note where you agree or have doubts.
When an argument seems to jump, mark it and return to the surrounding chapters rather than misreading a single chapter in isolation.
Compare with similar popular Christian discursive works to observe how different authors handle the same questions.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Do I need a theology background to read this book?

From the materials, it is a Christian discursive work for ordinary readers, not a professional textbook. You can read it without a theology background, but basic interest in religious topics and a willingness to read slowly and look up related concepts will make the experience smoother.

Do the views in the book represent a particular denomination?

The materials only identify it as belonging to the Christian category and do not specify a denominational affiliation. Read the author's statements as a personal account of conviction, attending to his manner of argument and the context of the time; do not simply equate them with the official position of a denomination.

Is it suitable as English reading material?

This is a public-domain English work with dignified language and long sentences in a discursive style. It suits readers with intermediate English or above who are willing to look up words and sort out arguments; if language learning is the goal, read chapter by chapter slowly and make summaries.

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Coffin, Henry Sloane, 1877-1954 Author · American · 1877–1954

Henry Sloane Coffin (1877–1954) was an American Presbyterian minister who served as president of Union Theological Seminary in New York, leaving his mark in both theological education and church ministry. One of his works is held in this collection, Some Christian Convictions. Public information about his life available here is limited, so a detailed account of his career is not possible; the title itself, however, indicates that the book addresses the basic tenets of Christian faith for readers seeking to understand its core beliefs, and may be described as a theological discussion with a pastoral tone. Writing of this kind typically explains doctrine in clear, plain language, combining intellectual substance with readability, and had some influence among church readers of its time. Coffin's writings reflect his roles as pastor and seminary president, showing an approach that joins academic training with the practice of faith, and may be of use to readers studying twentieth-century American Presbyterian thought and theological education.