tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post444975736267016543..comments2024-03-28T09:52:15.415-04:00Comments on Common Denominator: An Insight on what "Evangelicalism" IsKen Schenckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09745548537303356655noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-81813184730504297642012-08-10T20:03:18.240-04:002012-08-10T20:03:18.240-04:00Modern evangelicalism has its strengths and weakne...Modern evangelicalism has its strengths and weaknesses. It is different from fundamentalism and yet needs to evolve further to be consistent with the consensual Christian tradition rooted in Scripture and a 2000 year old intellectual tradition. Furthermore, evangelicalism needs to return to its roots(e.g. Wesleyanism which was anti slavery). I anticipate that all of us need to think clearly about the differences between Wesleyan, evangelical, and fundamentalist Christianity. There is also no need to tie either Wesleyan or evangelical Christianity to any one political parth or movement.John C. Gardnernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-89496387242722961102012-08-09T19:05:29.388-04:002012-08-09T19:05:29.388-04:00I left out the evangelical revivalist who preached...I left out the evangelical revivalist who preached "God has a wonderful plan for your life"....Pre-determination is not choice, or liberty, because "God ordains" instead of humans evaluating and choosing...but maybe this is nit picking as one would choose a "wonderful plan", wouldn't they? It is just that "a plan" signifies that others have chosen for you, instead of individuals taking responsibility and making decisions for themselves....Angie Van De Merwehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12617299120618867829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-336998342936761882012-08-09T13:52:39.823-04:002012-08-09T13:52:39.823-04:00When I speak of the "natural", I am spea...When I speak of the "natural", I am speaking of the social structures/institutions that are a part of civilized society, instead of a "Providential God" that directs history and personal circumstances...Angie Van De Merwehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12617299120618867829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-88232991091609763702012-08-09T13:24:25.593-04:002012-08-09T13:24:25.593-04:00"Covenant theology" is pre-modern to its..."Covenant theology" is pre-modern to its core, yet is the basis of fundamentalism and evangelicalism. Anthropologists would understand these as "religious rites" using sacrifice and blood in symbolic/represetational form. It is "Life for Life", or "Eye for Eye". It is Reformed because it believes in a God that needs appeasement, satisfaction, or glorification.<br /><br />Identification is a matter of choosing to be a part of "the people of God". But, group behavior is not understood to be conducive to individuality, as social controls are necessarily important to maintain group cohesion. These are the ways that "in group behavior" and "out group behavior" identifies a member. But, group behavior can be an "evil" because of how groups correlate their self image on the group's image and become enmeshed in the group's identity. Then, those struggling with certain behavioral standards (or other ways to gauge "members") will be ostercized, shunned, and a "social death" is promoted as a "discipline" for the "common good".<br /><br />Jonathan Edwards "Hell and Brimstone" preaching was a means to shame, humiliate and "correct" under the cause of "God's Supremacy". This is a supernaturalist view, because "God" is the beginning and end of "faith". <br /><br />The revivalists were intent on preaching against the "sin in society" so that people would "Repent" and turn to God, as the "Rightful Ruler" of one's life. Such thinking seems to me to annihlate "the human" for "the holy" (holy spirit)....<br /><br />Bifucation of understanding is the fundamentalists and evangelical view because it depends on structuring things after a "supernatural", instead of the natural....Angie Van De Merwehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12617299120618867829noreply@blogger.com