Eric Llonel. Mascall, Anglican theologian.
Career
Senior Mathematics Master. Bablake School, Coventry, 1928-1931. St Andrew's, Stockwell Green, 1932-1935.
M Matthew’s, Westminster. 1935-1937; Sub-warden, Scholac Cancelarii, Lincoln, 1937-1945. Lecturer ar>d Tutor, Christ Church, Oxford, 1945 -62.
University Lecturer in Philosophy of Religion, 1948-1962. Professor of Historical Theology, King's College. London, 1962-1973; Honorary Canon of Truro Cathedral, 1973-1984.
FBA. 1974.
Views
A mathematician by training, a priest by calling, a (heologian by profession and a humorist by nature, Mascall's defence of natural theology along Thomist lines, and his critique of those who denied the meaningfulness of theological discourse, earned him considerable respect in traditional Christian cycles. Elsewhere he argued for the reconcilability °f science and religion, expounded the doctrines °f grace, creation, the Incarnation and the Trinity, ar>d indulged in ‘critical but courteous' rebuttals °f secularizing Christian radicals. Christological reductionists and others.
In his ecumenical writln8s he typically had the Orthodox and Roman f atholics in view rather than Protestants, however orthodox and catholic. His published hum°ur includes ‘A hymn for the logical empiricists’ to be sung to ‘The Londonfreddy Air'. And his Saraband: The Memoirs of E. L. Mascall enga- 8'ngly displays his interests and blind spots.
Sources: Who’s Who; Saraband. Leominster: Gracewing. *992; obituary notices.