Comments on: The Evangelicals aren’t really cracking up

By: Random Name

Random Name — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 02:55:24 +0000

I have been asking people why they post on worldmagblog even though their posting does not seem to change minds (by any measure I can evaluate or measure). The people who have been answering are the ones with more or less reasonable answers.

“those conservative Christians who believe it takes changing people’s hearts and minds (through faith) to bring about a change in society.”

Joel, do you believe your posts here are achieving that end? Or do you have some other purpose you feel you are accomplishing?

The three I wanted to hear from were Victoria (who had a marvellous answer), you, and Solon.

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By: Joel Mark

Joel Mark — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 15:51:09 +0000

Anlir made a false distinction at #3.

Actually, conservative Christians who take their U.S. citizenship seriously and believe that all the people should have a voice in the USA to seek to advance their agenda are usually the SAME as those conservative Christians who believe it takes changing people’s hearts and minds (through faith) to bring about a change in society.

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By: Joel Mark

Joel Mark — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 15:38:58 +0000

If evangelicals throughout America voted in a bloc to the same extent that African-Americans for for Democrats (90 percent) or self-proclaimed homosexuals vote for Democrats (80 percent, by one poll), then Democrats would by no means be in control of congress today.

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By: Anlir

Anlir — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 15:30:59 +0000

I think Kiyoshi was being serious in his observations. Some of them were dead on right, some of them are debatable, and a few were “red meat” that will make some people mad.

All in all, they are good points worth discussing.

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By: rdean

rdean — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 14:34:53 +0000

They have been for awhile now, cracking up I mean.

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By: Alan

Alan — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 13:33:24 +0000

To Kiyoshi (post 13): I’m a 52 year-old evangelical. I almost have to assume that you’re being facetious in your post. If I’m wrong, however, and you really are serious, you really ought to get out and actually talk with some flesh-and-blood examples of the older people you are trying to caricature.

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By: Random Name

Random Name — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:58:29 +0000

#14

“Feel free to ignore…”

This fish plans to swear off bait pretty soon.

(Sometimes I choose to play straight man.)

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By: Serious George

Serious George — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 07:00:57 +0000

Kiyoshi,

I’m only another bloke, but think some of your observations are perceptive and insightful. Others are garbage. If you number them, I’d be glad to do the arithmetic {:~) This is symptomatic of what happens when you try to respond to open-ended, noncommittal topic headings?

Note to WMB bloggers (not commenters): consider making a point, supporting it, and following up now and again, and not this constant “gosh, waddyathink” lead, which often smells much more like chum than an incitement to think. Just a suggestion. Feel free to ignore, since hungry fish will likely always be with us.

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By: Kiyoshi

Kiyoshi — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 06:09:35 +0000

The complexity has always been there. As a younger evangelical, I make the following observations.

On abortion: Younger evangelicals oppose abortion because they see it as a human effort to terminate life; older evangelicals oppose abortion because of its tie to sexual promiscuity.

On homosexual rights: Younger evangelicals oppose making homosexuals a protected class; older evangelicals simply want to bash homosexuals.

On creationism: Younger evangelicals object only to the philosophical materialism that dominates some articulations of evolution; older evangelicals just engage in a knee-jerk anti-intellectualism (a la Ken Ham).

On school prayer and public displays of religious symbols: Younger evangelicals could not care less; older evangelicals confuse cultural Christianity with Biblical Christianity.

On American power: Younger evangelicals see problems with American foreign policy; older evangelicals prefer American exceptionalism.

On immigration: Younger evangelicals want an orderly process that permits immigration to meet the needs of our growing economy; older evangelicals just want to keep the brown-skinned people out.

On theology: Younger evangelicals trust more in the power of God; older evangelicals trust more in the power of man.

On eschatology: Younger evangelicals are waiting for the New Jerusalem that will be ours at Christ’s return; older evangelicals are interested in preserving their own comfort in this life.

On leaders: Younger evangelicals look to guys like John Piper; older evangelicals look to guys like Dobson and Falwell.

In some ways, I believe we’re seeing the replacement of cultural Christianity (a la Branson, Missouri) with a true Biblical Christianity.

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By: Random Name

Random Name — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 02:19:34 +0000

You know what they say about girls who are “easy.”

Same is true of political/religious groups.

Keep your panties bunched.

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