Martin Emil Marty (1928–2025) was an American historian of religion, theologian, and author, known for his extensive writings on Christianity and religious trends in the U.S. His scholarship shaped discussions on faith, culture, and public theology.
Born in West Point, Nebraska, he studied at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, earning a B.A. in theology (1949) and an M.A. in divinity (1952.) Ordained in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, he served as a pastor in Illinois while pursuing a PhD in American religious history at the University of Chicago (1956.)
Marty taught at the University of Chicago Divinity School (1963–98,) mentoring over 130 doctoral students. His works on Protestantism, Catholicism, and religious pluralism made him a leading voice in American religious studies. He received the National Humanities Medal (1997) and the Order of Lincoln (1998.)
His notable books include Righteous Empire: The Protestant Experience in America (1971,) which won the National Book Award; A Short History of Christianity (1959;) Pilgrims in Their Own Land: Five Hundred Years of Religion in America (1984;) and Modern American Religion (1986–96,) a three-volume work. His later writings, such as Politics, Religion, and the Common Good (2000,) examined faith’s role in public life.
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Even the cry from the depths is an affirmation: why cry if there is no hint of hope of hearing?
—Martin E. Marty
Topics: Hope, Hedonism, Self-Pity
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