Sir Malcolm Knox delivered his Gifford Lectures in 1966–1968 at the University of Aberdeen. The series was published in two separate volumes under the titles Action and A Layman’s Quest. Knox takes up Lord Gifford’s requirements in the first series of lectures (Action, published in 1968) through a treatment of action (as the core element in ethics) and its connection with religious belief. Establishing the reasonableness of religious belief from an examination of ethical concerns allows Knox (in A Layman’s Quest, 1969) to address the question as to which (Christian) religious beliefs can reasonably be accepted in light of historical problems raised by a tradition of great thinkers (in the West) and facing the Christian religion. His ultimate concern is with the paradox of immanence and transcendence that pervades and is unique to Christianity, and with its sensible characterisation. Knox is heavily influenced by the works of G. W. F. Hegel.

KEY WORDS: Action, Ethics, Free will, Obligation, Duty, Morality and religion, Faith, Christianity, Historical religious criticism, Reimarus, Hegel, Strauss, Schweitzer, Tanscendence, Immanence