A Dangerous Mind

A Dangerous Mind is a celebration of the ideas and influence of Delbert L. Wiens. It contains tributes to him, essays inspired by him, and some of his unpublished works. This effort has been brought together by his students, colleagues, and friends at the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of his ""New Wineskins for Old Wine,"" which hoped to guide the Mennonite Brethren as they faced the challenges of modernity--it has proven useful for other denominations facing similar transitions. This year also marks the sixtieth anniversary of Delbert's foundation of the Mennonite mission in Vietnam. In addition to celebrating his ideas and influence through our writing, we have also endeavored to capture the spirit of his work through art illustrating each section of this volume.

""A Dangerous Mind is a fascinating collection of essays. Wiens' prophetic witness endures, an affront to modernist complicity in the contemporary church. The book rehabilitates Mennonite Brethren particularity--a story of discipleship, community, and peacemaking for Christ and his kingdom. Wiens' new wine comes from old vines rooted in the radical reformation of Simons.""
--Kevin S. Reimer, PhD, School of Education, University of California, Irvine

""Delbert Wiens's 'New Wineskins for Old Wine' made a deep impression on Mennonite Brethren in Canada. It was the sixties and a 'Yale heretic' became a prominent Mennonite voice, challenging MB's bland adherence to generic evangelicalism, and pushing for a vital religious identity. Wiens took his arguments further during his 1967 Canadian lecture tour with The Old Wine, Will It Sour? Now, with this excellent Festschrift, we get a full portrait of the life and thought of this playful but serious iconoclast.""
--Paul Tiessen, Professor Emeritus, English/Film Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University


Delbert L. Wiens was Professor of Humanities at Fresno Pacific University for almost thirty years. He published ""New Wineskins for Old Wine"" in 1965.