John McDowell, Scott Kirkland, and Ashley Moyse should be thanked for their initiative in making sure that these texts-which exist somewhat at the edges of his most disseminated work-are given their theological centrality. They press home the fact, once more, that MacKinnon was a figure who very much inhabited “the borderlands,” whether these were the technicalities of moral philosophy or the sometime depressing suasions of Anglican Realpolitik.

Modern Theology

Donald MacKinnon had a huge influence on generations of young theologians. Within a construct of “therapeutic moral realism,” rigorous analysis of sources and writings, reinforced by interviews, Andrew Bowyer makes a new and important contribution to the critical appreciation of MacKinnon, intellectual and spiritual.

George Newlands, Professor Emeritus of Divinity, University of Glasgow, UK.

In this lucid analysis of Donald MacKinnon's work, Andrew Bowyer has broken new ground by showing how the thematic consistency of a seemingly disparate oeuvre is shaped by an underlying set of convictions about the task of the Christian theologian. This is a major contribution to our understanding of one of the leading British theologians of the twentieth century.

David Fergusson, Professor of Divinity, New College, University of Edinburgh, UK

In the 25 years since his death, Donald MacKinnon's work has continued to intrigue philosophically minded theologians in British universities; now, with this lucidly composed and thoroughly documented study, Andrew Bowyer displays the originality of MacKinnon's methods and results, relating it all to questions currently on the agenda about central and permanent issues in Christian doctrine - a splendid book, as invitingly written for newcomers as for veterans.

Fergus Kerr, Honorary Fellow, Divinity, University of Edinburgh, UK

Andrew Bowyer provides a splendid study of a range of issues and influences on Donald MacKinnon's significantly purgative reflections on the conditions for making moral judgments, and particularly his therapeutic refusal to take facile and sentimental refuge from the demands of thinking rigorously in the borderlands of theology.

John McDowell, Director of Research, University of Divinity, Australia