Adams describes the task he undertakes in this book in the Preface: "The present work is a study of the nature and grounds of religion and its function in life and culture; how the religion of a culture may be logically challenged by developments in other sectors of the culture, such as science, historical inquiry, morality and ethical thought, and metaphysics; and how such a religion can achieve cultural coherence and intellectual respectability in a free culture--in a culture that is (...) held accountable only to ongoing experience and critical thought". Although Adams considers a variety of world religions throughout the book, it is clear that his main focus is upon religion in contemporary Western culture. (shrink)