The world of today is full of knowledge, but largely empty of wisdom. The skilfulness of man has been remarkably sharpened, but his sensitivities in respect of many effects of his skills have been strangely blunted. The capacity to save life has greatly increased at a time when violence and brutality has been intensified and the wholesale destruction of living things from plants up to humans has become a commonplace, while abundant means exist to raise character and behaviour to their highest level the spectacle presented to the young is that of a society governed by self-interest and power-seeking, cunning and duplicity. Both the eggheads and the boneheads are made the creatures of the wolfheads. Where peace and harmony might reign there is noise and strife, the spread of noxious fumes and substances and noxious thoughts and policies, the poisoning of mind and body and environment. Where heaven on earth is practicable mankind seems bent on contriving a hell.
Hugh J. Schonfield
In this book I am arguing the case for a more confident interpretation of our contemporary circumstances, not on any basis of superior learning, but in the light of insights which have affected my whole life, and which have been confirmed by study and experience.
My theme is the message of Messianism for modern man. It is not one which is widely apprehended and canvassed; for although it has been prominent in past periods, especially at a particular epoch, it has been so much misunderstood that it has been brought into disrepute and neglect. Yet, as I shall endeavour to show, what has largely been despised and rejected of men alone affords the means of our salvation.
