What Is Christian Humanism?
Recovering a Human Society
- Theology
- Publisher: IVP Academic (InterVarsity Press)
- Published: 2026
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Publisher's Description
Rediscover Humanity’s Worth Through Christ’s Incarnation In our rapidly changing world, we face a rising tide of threats to our humanity. From artificial intelligence and the erosion of free speech to bioengineering and euthanasia, the humanistic values we cherish, like intrinsic human rights and the dignity of all persons, are increasingly at risk. We are in danger of losing our humanity without even realizing it. In response to such challenges in the past, Christian thinkers like Irenaeus, Luther, Bonhoeffer, Merton, and more rallied around the ideas of Christian humanism. But what is Christian humanism and why does it matter in this day and age? What Is Christian Humanism? is an inviting introduction to how humanistic values rooted in the incarnation of Jesus Christ can help us reclaim our humanity in all of life. Theologian Jens Zimmermann shows why “Christian” and “humanist” not only belong together, but argues that true humanism flows directly from the gospel and is impossible without Christianity. In What Is Christian Humanism? Zimmermann: defines Christian humanism as the greater Christian tradition’s interpretation of the gospel as God’s promise that we will achieve our full humanity in Christ; provides an inviting introduction to the ideas and history of the Christian humanist tradition and why it matters today; argues that the incarnation of Christ is central to understanding what it means to be human, offering an alternative to secular humanism; and demonstrates how Christian humanism can address the challenges in different areas of society, like art, technology, politics,and more. Perfect for those seeking a fresh way to engage the challenges of our day, this book demonstrates that our identity is found not in secular philosophies, but in Christ's revolutionary act of the Incarnation. Christian humanism can help us recover the vision of what it means to be and become fully human in Christ, more important now than ever.
Endorsements (3)
“An engaging panoramic vision of the humanism of the incarnation from the life of Christ down to our times. Jens Zimmermann weaves Scripture together with the best of Christian scholarship on this subject from Reformed traditions, Catholic circles, and luminaries of Eastern Orthodoxy. This work has important implications for Christian educators at all levels.”
“There could not be a more important question than the one addressed in the title of this book or a timelier ambition than that of its subtitle. Jens Zimmermann's beautifully written, lucidly argued, authoritative, and wide-ranging text should be read by humanists on either side of the religious-secular divide. It will promote the mutual respect without which, as Zimmermann says, 'critical dialogue will remain out of reach.'”
“Only someone with Jens Zimmermann's breadth of reading and grasp of Western culture could have presented Christian humanism with such lucidity, forthrightness, and passion. What Is Christian Humanism? reminds us that the liberal values of our culture depend upon Christian ideals, especially that of becoming truly human through transformation into Christlikeness. Timely, bold, and extraordinarily insightful, this book offers a most compelling vision for cultural renewal.”
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