It should be noted, however, that the question raised is not the historical one, How, as a matter of fact, has the social consciousness modified the conception of religion or the statement of theological doctrine? but the theoretical one, How should the social consciousness naturally affect religion and doctrine? In this sense, the result might be called, in President Hyde's phrase, a "social theology"; but, as I believe that the social consciousness is at bottom only a true sense of the fully personal, I prefer myself to think of the present book as only carrying out in more detail the contention of my _Reconstruction in Theology_--that theology should aim at a restatement of doctrine in strictly personal terms. So conceived, in spite of its casual origin, this book follows very naturally upon the previous book. Some of the same topics necessarily recur here; and references to the _Reconstruction_ have been freely made, in order to avoid all unnecessary repetition. That this social sense of the fully personal has finally a real and definite contribution to make to theology, I cannot doubt. I can only hope that the present discussion may be found at least suggestive, particularly in the analysis of the social consciousness, and in the treatment of mysticism and of the ethical in religion, as well as in the consideration of the special influence of the elements of the social consciousness upon the restatement of doctrine. Of the doctrinal applications, the application to the problem of redemption may be considered, perhaps, of most significance. HENRY CHURCHILL KING. OBERLIN COLLEGE, June, 1902. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION PAGE THE THEME 1 THE REAL MEANING OF THE SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS FOR THEOLOGY INTRODUCTION THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE THEOLOGIAN 5 CHAPTER I THE DEFINITION OF THE SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS 9 I. The Sense of the Like-Mindedness of Men 9 II. The Sense of the Mutual Influence of Men 11 1. Contributing Lines of Thought 11 2. The Threefold Form of the Conviction 13 III. The Sense of the Value and Sacredness of the Person 16 IV. The Sense of Obligation 18 V. The Sense of Love 20 CHAPTER II