The Inside of the Cup — Volume 06

A clergyman at an urban parish undergoes a crisis of faith that leads him to reject inherited dogma and embrace a socially engaged Christianity; he plans to preach a return to Christ's teachings stressing spiritual rebirth and practical justice, anticipating conflict with his congregation and ecclesiastical authorities. He struggles with his assistant's uncertain support, worries about the material dependence of parish families, and resolves to challenge charitable practices he regards as preserving injustice. The narrative follows his inward reconstruction, preparations to proclaim these convictions from the pulpit, and the entwining of doctrinal and economic questions within the church community.