Langdon Gilkey

Langdon Gilkey (1919-2004) was an American Protestant theologian who made significant contributions to modern theology and the dialogue between religion and culture. Educated at Harvard and Columbia, he spent most of his career at the University of Chicago Divinity School (1963-1989). His early work "Shantung Compound" (1966) reflected on his internment experience in China during World War II, exploring human nature and religious meaning under extreme conditions. Gilkey developed a theology of culture that engaged seriously with secular thought while maintaining Christian commitments. His major works include "Naming the Whirlwind" (1969), which addressed the challenge of speaking about God in secular contexts, and "Message and Existence" (1979). He wrote extensively on the relationship between religion and science, particularly regarding evolution and creation. Gilkey's theology emphasized the importance of symbols and myth in religious language while advocating for Christianity's public relevance in addressing social and political issues.