Bell, B. I. (1931). Unfashionable Convictions. New York and London: Harper & Brothers Publishers.
Bernard Iddings Bell (1886–1958)
Bernard Iddings Bell was a prominent Anglo-Catholic priest, educator, and social critic. At the time this book was published (1931), he was the Warden of St. Stephen’s College (which later became Bard College). Under his leadership, St. Stephen’s was integrated into Columbia University as a premier site for classical and religious education.
Bell was known for his sharp wit and his refusal to bow to the “fashionable” secular trends of his day. He often critiqued the drift of American education toward mere vocational training and the abandonment of the “permanent things”—the theological and moral foundations of Western civilization.
Summary of Unfashionable Convictions
In this collection of essays, Bell mounts a spirited defense of traditional Christian orthodoxy against the rising tide of scientific materialism and secular humanism. The title itself is a jab at the “modern” intellectuals of the 1930s who viewed faith as an outmoded relic.
Key themes include:
- The Critique of Scientism: Bell argues that while science is useful for measuring the physical world, it is utterly “bankrupt” when it comes to providing meaning, purpose, or moral guidance.
- The Necessity of the Supernatural: He contends that for religion to be relevant, it must remain stubbornly supernatural. A “rationalized” or purely social-gospel religion, he argues, loses its power to transform the soul.
- Education and Wisdom: Bell laments that modern universities are producing “clever specialists” rather than “wise men,” advocating for a return to a curriculum centered on the relationship between Man and God.
- Anglo-Catholic Identity: The work reflects his conviction that the “Middle Way” of Anglicanism—retaining Catholic liturgy and sacramental theology—is the best defense against the chaos of modern life.
