Christianity & liberalism - Machen - I

Required reading
Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Read the whole 'Introduction'.  I will be reading from the new edition published this year by Eerdmans.

My notes and thoughts
In his introduction Machen outlines the question that he is trying to answer: 'From every point of view, therefore, the problem in question is the most serious concern of the Church.  What is the relation between Christianity and modern culture; may Christianity be maintained in a scientific age?' 

Modern liberalism attempts to solve this question by 'Admitting that scientific objections may arise against the particularities of the Christian religion - against the Christian doctrines of the person of Christ and of redemption through His death and resurrection...' 

But Machen doesn't think this is correct: 'Two lines of criticism, then are possible with respect to the liberal attempt at reconciling science and Christianity.  Modern liberalism may be criticized (1) on the ground that it is unChristian and (2) on the ground that it is unscientific.  We shall concern ourselves here chiefly with the former line of criticism; we shall be interested in showing that despite the liberal use of traditional phraseology modern liberalism not only is a different religion from Christianity but belongs in a totally different class of religions.'

Machen's thesis is still as relevant today as it was in his time.  Liberalism is still conceding to 'science' the fundamentals of Christianity while claiming to be Christian.  I think I'm going to enjoy this book.  Bring it on Machen!

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.