Includes bibliographical references.

The intellectual and cultural climate of the second half of the twentieth century. The gulf is fixed ; The first step in the line of despair : philosophy ; The second step : art ; The third and fourth steps : music and the general culture ; The unifying factor in the steps of despair -- The relationship of the new theology to the intellectual climate. The fifth step : theology ; Modern mysticism : despair beyond despair ; Modern mysticism in action : art and language ; Modern mysticism in action : music and literature ; A new phase of modern theology -- How historic Christianity differs from the new theology. Personality or a devilish din ; Verifiable facts and knowing ; The dilemma of man ; God's answer to man's dilemma ; How do we know it is true? -- Speaking historic Christianity into the twentieth century climate. Finding the point of tension ; From the point of tension to the gospel ; Applying the gospel -- Pre-evangelism is no soft option. Commending the Christian faith to our generation ; The importance of truth -- Personal and corporate living into the twentieth-century climate. Demonstrating the character of God ; The legal, but not only the legal.