A History of Union Theological Seminary in New York

ISBN: 0231064551

Author: Handy, Robert

Condition: New

The history of Union Theological Seminary in NY, which was established in 1836 to train primarily Presbyterian ministerial students in the area, is reported. The institution has since evolved into a nondenominational graduate school of theology in the Christian tradition & in recent decades has also trained students of other religions. Attention is directed to the seminary's growth, influence & struggles during its century & a half, along with the careers of many of the important persons at the college, including Edward Robinson, Philip Schaff, Charles A. Briggs, Paul Tillich, Reinhold Niebuhr & Henry Sloane Coffin. Also considered are a number of controversies that have arisen because of the position the seminary has taken on certain theological & social issues. These issues include support of Briggs during his trials for heresy between 1891 & 1893 & the seminary's relations with Columbia University, its Morningside Heights neighbor, during the university's turbulent 1968 rebellions. It's noted that Union Theological Seminary played an important role in the rise of the ecumenical movement, beginning with the Briggs trials. It also has been important to religious & educational history.