The Unrelieved Paradox: Studies in the Theology of Franz Bibfeldt

by Martin E. Marty

A humorous and somewhat irreverent look at theology, with a particular poke directed toward Lutheran theologians.

Genres: Cultural, Humor

231 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1994

About the author

Martin E. Marty was an American religious scholar and historian known for his extensive work on religion in the United States. A Lutheran pastor before transitioning into academia, he became a leading voice in religious studies, particularly in the areas of American Protestantism, fundamentalism, and public religion. He was a longtime professor at the University of Chicago Divinity School, where he mentored numerous doctoral students and held the prestigious Fairfax M. Cone Distinguished Service Professorship.
Marty wrote or edited a book for nearly every year of his academic career, producing influential works such as Righteous Empire: The Protestant Experience in America, which won the National Book Award, and the five-volume Fundamentalism Project, co-edited with R. Scott Appleby. He was a prolific columnist for The Christian Century and wrote extensively on religion's role in American public life.
A recipient of numerous honors, including the National Humanities Medal and over 80 honorary doctorates, Marty also served as president of several academic societies and participated in U.S. presidential commissions. The Martin Marty Center for the Advanced Study of Religion at the University of Chicago was named in his honor.

Reviews

[Nate Claiborne]

A tour de force covering one of the seminal thinkers in modern theology. This book will change your life!

[Pastor Ben]

This can be a very funny book for theology nerds. It's in the nature of the book to be repetitive, however. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to pastors with a sense of humor.