Religion in America (through the eyes of a Baptist University) ...
So I'm in Panera this morning, buying my morning coffee, when I happen to look over and catch the lead article on the front page of USA Today: "View of God can Reveal your Values and Politics."
Over the last several years, Baylor University has been making a move to reposition itself as the leading evangelical institution of higher education by refashioning itself as a research university (along the lines of Catholic Notre Dame). Already in the news for being on the cutting edge of "Intelligent Design" research (through the efforts of William Dembski), this is their newest big-ticket project.
Anyway, I picked up the paper and read through the article. Quite a few interesting early finds. For instance, "most people said they believe in prophetic dreams." I found that statement to be facinating. Or how about this: "four in 10 say there were once 'ancient advanced civilizations' such as Atlantis." Seriously, four out every ten believing in things like Atlantis! Is it wrong of me to blame the X-files, Matt?! :-)
Here's what I thought was really interesting though. According to this vast survey (which was conducted by Gallop), 61% of evangelcial Protestants say "only Christians will get into Heaven" will 66.9% of Catholics say "all or most non-Christians will." Which brings us back to the whole Billy Graham/Peter Kreeft who's in and who's out conversation. From what I can tell, this survey suggests that 39% of evangelicals and nearly 70% of Catholics believe that non-Christians will be in Heaven. What I wonder is whether this position is grounded in the respondant's beliefs that God's grace will not condemn those that have not heard, or whether it is further evidence that relativism is slowly creeping into the church as a subversive and destructive force. In other words, are these respondants more likely to agree with Matt, or are they merely becoming more like the world as they loose their sense of "in, but not of?"
Matt: I've been thinking a lot about your comments regarding your reading of Kreeft, a Catholic apologist. And then I found myself thinking about your gift to me at the Wedding - a copy of Thomas Merton's writings. And I found myself wondering: is this a trend or just two random examples. I guess I ask because Wheaton recently had a minor controvery when they let go of a professor because of his conversion to Catholacism. Apparently, his journey to faith had come through his doctoral studies in philosophy, and ultimately, that journey lead him to a place where he believed that the Roman Catholic Church valued the intellectual pursuit of God more highly than did the Evangelical church. I'm guess I'm just curious. You were always one of the "smartests cats in the room," even at Wheaton; and I wondered whether you have found much of Evangelical thinking to be too simplistic?
So I'm in Panera this morning, buying my morning coffee, when I happen to look over and catch the lead article on the front page of USA Today: "View of God can Reveal your Values and Politics."
Over the last several years, Baylor University has been making a move to reposition itself as the leading evangelical institution of higher education by refashioning itself as a research university (along the lines of Catholic Notre Dame). Already in the news for being on the cutting edge of "Intelligent Design" research (through the efforts of William Dembski), this is their newest big-ticket project.
Anyway, I picked up the paper and read through the article. Quite a few interesting early finds. For instance, "most people said they believe in prophetic dreams." I found that statement to be facinating. Or how about this: "four in 10 say there were once 'ancient advanced civilizations' such as Atlantis." Seriously, four out every ten believing in things like Atlantis! Is it wrong of me to blame the X-files, Matt?! :-)
Here's what I thought was really interesting though. According to this vast survey (which was conducted by Gallop), 61% of evangelcial Protestants say "only Christians will get into Heaven" will 66.9% of Catholics say "all or most non-Christians will." Which brings us back to the whole Billy Graham/Peter Kreeft who's in and who's out conversation. From what I can tell, this survey suggests that 39% of evangelicals and nearly 70% of Catholics believe that non-Christians will be in Heaven. What I wonder is whether this position is grounded in the respondant's beliefs that God's grace will not condemn those that have not heard, or whether it is further evidence that relativism is slowly creeping into the church as a subversive and destructive force. In other words, are these respondants more likely to agree with Matt, or are they merely becoming more like the world as they loose their sense of "in, but not of?"
Matt: I've been thinking a lot about your comments regarding your reading of Kreeft, a Catholic apologist. And then I found myself thinking about your gift to me at the Wedding - a copy of Thomas Merton's writings. And I found myself wondering: is this a trend or just two random examples. I guess I ask because Wheaton recently had a minor controvery when they let go of a professor because of his conversion to Catholacism. Apparently, his journey to faith had come through his doctoral studies in philosophy, and ultimately, that journey lead him to a place where he believed that the Roman Catholic Church valued the intellectual pursuit of God more highly than did the Evangelical church. I'm guess I'm just curious. You were always one of the "smartests cats in the room," even at Wheaton; and I wondered whether you have found much of Evangelical thinking to be too simplistic?
posted by Just a Few Things about Scott ... | 9:31 AM
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