Comments on: 2: Where Have All the Evangelicals Gone?

By: Last Call: Where Have All the Evangelicals Gone? » Evangel | A First Things Blog

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:02:16 +0000

[...] [Read Part Two] [...]

By: The Jones

The Jones — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 05:47:11 +0000

I want part three.

By: Tweets that mention 2: Where Have All the Evangelicals Gone? » Evangel | A First Things Blog -- Topsy.com

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:50:00 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Nathan Martin and Nathanael, foolishyetwise. foolishyetwise said: "You know the Religious Right has done the Lord’s work in the world’s way, in a very ugly, non-Christian way." http://tinyurl.com/yjbcubm [...]

By: Bob Sacamento

Bob Sacamento — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:15:07 +0000

C.S. Lewis is, of course, the man. If I had to pick an understudy for “the man”, I’m not sure who it would be, but Os Guiness would be on the short list. And so, I’m kind of disappointed in some of the areas in this interview where his analysis seems a bit, dare I say it, facile. As an unrepentant culture warrior, I admit to many excesses on our part since the late seventies, but I also see alot of good intentions and even some good results. He lumps too many people all together in his “religious right.” In the eyes of some, anyone who discusses public issues from a conservative Christian viewpoint (someone like Os Guiness himself) is a member of the religious right!

And the ID folks — he’s not fair to them. These poor guys can’t get a fair shake from anyone, I think.

By: BV

BV — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 19:51:23 +0000

Atheism won’t be a major belief because societies that lose structures of transcendence tend to have birthrates that go to zero. (Western) Europe is an example of this tendency as belief is in short supply, in general, in (Western) Europe. Countries in this region of the world are currently characterized by low birthrates. Thus, Dawkins can raise as many children as he wants in atheism, but chances are they won’t procreate to the point where atheism can continue as a majority belief system.

By: Albert

Albert — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:44:20 +0000

This section of the interview, besides a couple points addressed here, explains things a lot better. His short discussion of the “emergent church” is especially good.

By: Scott S.

Scott S. — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:35:40 +0000

Alison – I think you are confusing Theism with Christianity. Atheism denies the existence of any god, while Christianity affirms the trinitarian God of the Bible. Using these definitions, Guinness may be correct in saying atheism will never be a majority belief.

By: Alison

Alison — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:55:55 +0000

I have two points to make. First, for Mr. Guinness to say that atheism will never be a majority belief seems inaccurate to me. Most of the world does not believe that Christ is the Son of God. People may say they are Christians, but you really go to the core of their beliefs, they have no idea what the gospel means. And second, I am Orthodox (so perhaps I shouldn’t make this comment here), and we look at Genesis from a different perspective than Evangelical Christians do. We are not worried about dating the earth and saying it is 6,000 years old and all that kind of stuff–which is what many Evangelicals try to do. And really I am not so sure the earth is only 6,000 years old.

By: Curious

Curious — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:47:21 +0000

There is so much covered here by Os. But in answer to your post’s question: “Where have all the Evangelicals gone?” — I can only respond, of course, from my vantage point, but here’s a shot (and don’t worry – it’s not terribly scholarly):

…they (Evangelicals) have gone to work, to soccer games, to clean the car, to stop by the store and grab dinner and a six pack for the neighbors who will stop by after 6pm. They’ve gone camping with the kids, sailing with their friends, to a movie.

And on Sunday mornings, when Evangelicals wake up, if they feel so inclined (I’d call it the unction of the Spirit – but that’s just me) they’ll go to church – a church where they won’t be handed a crazy guilt trip, where the pastoral staff won’t act unstable, where – hopefully, oh merciful Savior – they’ll be able to hear a grounded, compelling portion of Scripture that will inspire and disturb (in the best way) and move them to keep keeping in step with the Spirit.

So goodbye guilt and burden and crazy and irrelevant and boring. And hopefully hello Jesus and life and kindness and stability and decency. Hello gospels, in a nutshell. Goodbye wacky darkness masquerading as light.

Where have all the Evangelicals gone? Wherever they have to go to find Jesus and truth – be that their local cathedral, church, cafe or living room.

Unless I completely misunderstand this generation (ok, Os, we’ll use your def and call it anyone in adulthood – not y’s or x’s or whatever) – then we’re just awfully tired. Tired of the gimmicks and the schticks and the trends and the exhaustion of it all.

While many might fancy themselves with the time and interest and wherewithal to dig deep and ponder the great mysteries of the Word and the Kingdom; truth is that more than many are preoccupied and busy and distracted and just simply want the woman at the well sort of interaction where they have their thirst so amazingly satiated that the neighbors simply have to come and taste, too.

So we’ve gone wherever we have to go to find Jesus and taste the water. Be that the traditional building with the traditional ways of learning theology – or be it with a small group of like minded believers over lattes at Starbucks.

It makes it almost impossible to chart and to graph and to follow. How does one track and chart the Wind?

By: Where Have All the Evangelicals Gone? » Evangel | A First Things Blog

Where Have All the Evangelicals Gone? » Evangel | A First Things Blog — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:02:17 +0000

[...] [Part Two] [...]