"The Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century changed the shape and character of the church for all time. The Enlightenment and its nineteenth-century aftermath did the same for the modern world. We cannot understand contemporary culture, values and ways of thinking and their impact on Christianity without an appreciation of what has gone before. Steve Wilkens and Alan Padgett have performed an important service in exploring the interface between the driving ideas of the nineteenth century and Christian thought. They are uniquely qualified for this task. Steve is a trained theologian with an interest in philosophy. Alan is a trained philosopher with an interest in theology. Between them they have produced a judicious, balanced and well-documented survey of European and North American thought that will serve students and teachers alike. Their work has no rivals in this field."
— Colin Brown, Fuller Theological Seminary