An Agnostic in the Fellowship of Christ

In this new work, David K. Goodin offers a much-needed reassessment of Albert Schweitzer—both the man and his ideas, most especially the ethical mysticism that lies at the heart of his proposed answer to the spiritual malaise of his time and ours. Drawing on his immense body of writings, including multiple drafts of the unfinished third and fourth chapters of his Philosophy of Civilization, the author details Schweitzer’s search for a ground for an ethical life and society that is at once scientific and universal, bringing together the heart and the mind in intuitive knowledge and rational reflection, and motivating the highest level of compassion and reverence for all living things. Interweaving biography, the observations of others (even as he leaves aside their interpretations, whether eulogistic or damning), and the autobiographical writings of Schweitzer himself, Goodin offers a nuanced portrait of this theologian, philosopher, musician, and medical doctor—a Christian who eschewed dogma and affirmed the essential value yet limits of science and reason, who would admit to an agnosticism with regard to the nature and existence of God, and yet who would model his life on that of Jesus and seek to live the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount. He integrates Schweitzer’s devotion to music and love of Bach with his historical-critical study of the life of Jesus, the mysticism of St. Paul and early Christianity, his exposition of Kant’s philosophy of religion and the key influence of Nietzsche and Schopenhauer on his thought, his decision to become a doctor and his experiences in Africa to give a comprehensive assessment of his theology and the argument that was his life. Addressing Schweitzer’s many critics, he offers particular measured insight into cultural challenges to understanding each other for both Schweitzer and his African co-workers, highlighting African voices and noting the influence of Franz Boas and Booker T. Washington on Schweitzer. With respect to his theology, the author contextualizes it within Schweitzer’s comprehensive knowledge of the history of Christian theology and philosophy as well as his experiences in Africa and his study of world religions and also compares Schweitzer’s thought to that of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Reinhold Niebuhr, and Jacques Derrida to further elucidate his position and contribution to theology and ethics. In so doing, he makes a compelling case for the contemporary relevance and practicality of Schweitzer’s call to self-realization, responsibility, and compassionate action based on a recognition of the will-to-live in oneself and all other living beings that are at the heart of his ethical mysticism—a transformation of consciousness of which all are capable and that can inspire others, offering the hope that indeed “the best” might become “the most” and a more compassionate, sustainable and ethical world might yet be achievable. For those disillusioned with the exclusivist dogma, hypocrisy and disengagement of their Christian heritage, Schweitzer and Goodin also offer an alternate way to discipleship through active love, with precedent in the apophatic theology of the early church, and for anyone, religious or not, a way to embrace life and live compassionately and responsibly with an open heart and open mind. -- Nancy M. Martin, Director of the Albert Schweitzer Institute; Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at Chapman University; Life Member of Clare Hall, Cambridge University
We often think of Schweitzer in terms of one of his many areas of activity. An Agnostic in the Fellowship of Christ demonstrates the seamlessness of all his endeavors: how each contributes to, and is sustained by, Schweitzer’s ethics of Reverence for Life, and how that philosophy is rooted in a theology of Ethical Mysticism in the Christian Church. Goodin characterizes Schweitzer’s search for middle ground between religious retrenchment and skeptical nihilism as a philosophical approach to theology, rooted in the rationalism of the late nineteenth century. Now, in a time when Schweitzer’s life work is once again astonishingly revelatory, Goodin re‐introduces the thought of this complex, charismatic and compelling man, in a way that is both accessible and inspiring. -- Seán P. Duffy, Executive Director, The Albert Schweitzer Institute, Quinnipiac University
Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965), physician, philosopher, antinuclear activist, and 1952 Nobel Peace laureate, was arguably the most widely admired person in the world in the mid-20th century. President John F. Kennedy called him “one of the transcendent moral influences of our century”. Rachel Carson dedicated her book Silent Spring, which catalyzed the modern environmental movement, to him, explaining that “Dr. Schweitzer is the one truly great individual our modern times have produced.” In this remarkable book, David Gooden brings Dr. Schweitzer to life for the 21st century, when we need him more than ever. Who was this man who left behind fame and worldly success in Europe – as a scholar and a musician -- to dedicate the last five decades of his life to direct medical service to the most vulnerable, in rural equatorial Africa? What unifying principles, vision and energy – intellectual, moral, spiritual, and yet always concrete and practical – inspired and fueled everything he did? What did he mean when he called himself a “disciple of Jesus”, and insisted that all true ethics is ultimately anchored in “mysticism”? As Goodin writes, Schweitzer “wove many seemingly disparate threads into a singular magnificent tapestry that was his life.” In this book, Goodin examines and explains each of those threads – philosophical and theological; medical and musical; moral and spiritual; and most of all biographical and practical, since Dr. Schweitzer insisted that “My life is my argument.” Most importantly, Goodin shows how each thread is connected to and reinforces the others, all contributing to the depth, strength, and potentially world-transforming power of what Dr. Schweitzer considered his most important legacy – his philosophy of Reverence for Life. In doing so, Goodin does far more than enhance our understanding of an extraordinary historical figure. He shows convincingly why rediscovering Albert Schweitzer is so important for all of us in the 21st century. -- Lachlan Forrow, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; President, The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship