The Christian View of God and the World

The superb analyses of Charles Orr into the essential nature of Christianity and God in the world are underappreciated classics. This edition includes Orr’s notes, appended at the end of each chapter.

Based off a series of lectures delivered in the late 19th century, this work delves into the essential truths of the Christian character. What it means to be a follower of Christ, and how the Christian views the world around him, is but the initial foray of an author determined to unveil the meanings behind the spirituality. The place of Jesus as an exemplar to all Christians is investigated, with Orr giving us a variety of scholarly views on how the life and deeds of Christ can and are viewed by believers.

Orr then broadens his examination into theism in general: the human being holding a theistic outlook upon the world is sure to derive comfort and meaning from his beliefs. The loss of this is, in the opinion of Orr and the scholars he cites, equivalent to a great misfortune. The modern trends of thought toward atheism, which deny the presence of a Creator, are investigated – Orr’s inquiries reveal the negativistic elements of these views.

Later lectures in this volume include a deep and penetrating analysis of sin and its occurrence in the world, beginning with a note of its persistence – moral evils and wrongdoing continue apace in the world, in spite of Christian efforts to thwart it. The author compares and contrasts the traditional methods whereby Christians view and combat sinfulness, but also finds much common ground between the judicial and philosophical attitudes to human sin. Notably, Orr observes how sin has multiplied in modern times, with knowledge of many examples travelling far and wide rather than being confined to a locality.

Concluding with a look into the character of Christ and his centrality to Christianity, Orr finishes by examining the relation of the savior with humanity’s destiny. The appendix appended concerns the Kingdom of God, and how the Bible defines and describes its occurrence. Finally, this volume concludes with further, long-form annotations to each lecture.