social gospel of E. Nicholas Comfort, The
Book Description
In the heart of the American Southwest, one Presbyterian minister embodied the transformative power of faith in action during some of the nation's most turbulent decades. This compelling biography reveals how Rev. E. Nicholas Comfort navigated the complex terrain between traditional religious values and progressive social change from the 1920s through the 1950s.
Robert C. Cottrell presents the remarkable story of a spiritual leader who refused to compromise his core beliefs in human brotherhood and divine fatherhood, even when confronted by economic collapse, political persecution, racial segregation, and the pressures of war. Comfort's pioneering work as founder of the Oklahoma School of Religion demonstrates how one person's vision can create lasting change in religious education and interfaith cooperation.
What emerges is the portrait of an authentic spiritual practitioner who lived his values daily. While shaping university policies and state politics, Comfort maintained his connection to the earth by constructing his own homes and cultivating his own crops. His story illustrates how genuine spirituality integrates contemplation with concrete action, personal integrity with public service.
Through Comfort's own writings and intimate glimpses of his family life on their Oklahoma farm, readers discover how spiritual principles can guide us through uncertainty and opposition. This biography offers inspiration for anyone seeking to align their deepest convictions with meaningful service in a complex world.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~9 hours)
📄 Length: 338 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Biography
- ✓ Explore Liberalism (Religion)
- ✓ Explore Church history
- ✓ Explore Clergy
- ✓ Explore Presbyterian Church
- ✓ Explore Oklahoma School of Religion
- ✓ Explore Social gospel
- ✓ Explore Presbyterian church, clergy
