Jason Clark

Trying to make safe spaces for diverse and healthy conversations about church, culture, mission, theology and motorbikes

The evangelical mind? #dminlgp

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The Doctor of Ministry students in the Leadership and Global Perspectives cohort that I lead, have moved into some reading about the place the mind/intellect in Faith.

We are doing that through reading and discussing two books by Mark Noll, The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind (1994) and his latest book Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind (2011).  You are welcome to read along with their discussions and join in conversation with them on their posts.

In The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind, Noll wrote that "The scandal of the evangelical mind is that there is not much of an evangelical mind".  Noll highlights all the good Evangelicals might be engaged in but then shines a light on why there was and still is an anti-intellectual atmosphere amongst Evangelicals.

I remember reading Noll 10 years ago and finding within, some help in understanding why so many of my Evangelical friends were resistant to thinking about faith, and for any place for disciplined thinking as a part of faith.  I also found in Noll some comfort for why thinking about my faith, and theology were vital to my own spirituality.

Noll's latest book, Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind, provides an update nearly 20 years later, to that assessment.  You need to jump to after the last chapter, for the Postscript: How Fares the "Evangelical Mind"? (Amazon will let you take a peek at that section with their take a look facility).

In that Noll highlights how things remain very much the same for Evangelicals, whilst at the same time there have been large developments by Evangelicals addressing this problem.

But the book is not just an update of The Scandal, and is not a direct follow up or updating.  Instead it offers an outline of how through an understanding of Jesus (Christology) how we might understand and practice an intellectual life for and with faith.  In other words what might an Evangelical life of the mind look like and why?

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6 in 10 young people will leave the church permanently or for an extended period starting at age 15 #dminlgp

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Good summary of David Kinnaman in You Lost Me: Why Young Christians are Leaving Church … and Rethinking Faith.  Apparently Six in 10 young people in the US will leave the church permanently or for an extended period starting at age 15 (according to new research by the Barna Group).

That caught my eye, after having read data and commentary on the even bleaker state of religion and faith in the UK from the British Social Attitudes Survey. With most young people in the UK having no church contact at all, 94% of them will never find their way into any faith, let alone Christianity.

My church community is stuffed with young children at an intense ratio of 1 child for every 2 adults in the church.  We've been focusing again recently on the challenges they face as they enter the 13-15 year tweenage years.  Seems these surveys confirm what we already new anecdotally.
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Isolationism. One-fourth of 18- to 29-year-olds say church demonizes everything outside church, including the music, movies, culture, and technology that define their generation.

Shallowness. One-third call church boring, about one-fourth say faith is irrelevant and Bible teaching is unclear. One-fifth say God is absent from their church experience.

Anti-science. Up to one-third say the church is out of step on scientific developments and debate.

Sex. The church is perceived as simplistic and judgmental. For a fifth or more, a "just say no" philosophy is insufficient in a techno-porno world. Young Christian singles are as sexually active as their non-churched friends, and many say they feel judged.

Exclusivity. Three in 10 young people feel the church is too exclusive in this pluralistic and multi-cultural age. And the same number feel forced to choose between their faith and their friends.

Doubters. The church is not a safe place to express doubts say over one-third of young people, and one-fourth have serious doubts they'd like to discuss.

—Adapted from a list by David Kinnaman in You Lost Me: Why Young Christians are Leaving Church … and Rethinking Faith

Alain de Botton: Atheism 2.0. A kinder more religious atheism?

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A fascinating Ted.com video with Alain Botton here.  He seems to pushing ahead with his request that atheists might consider understanding they are religious and what they might learn from religion.  The video blurb asks, 'What aspects of religion should atheists (respectfully) adopt? Alain de Botton suggests a "religion for atheists" -- call it Atheism 2.0 -- that incorporates religious forms and traditions to satisfy our human need for connection, ritual and transcendence.'

Watching it a few things struck me:

1.  It seems to make for kinder less arrogant and exclusive atheism.  Atheists with humility.
2.  He misses that religions already have ways for people to engage with them without holding to any beliefs, i.e very liberal anglicanism.  There are lots of religions full of atheists culturally, already.
3.  He misses that the culture he wants to fund this atheism 2.0 arises from religious convictions and beliefs.  Western culture alone is full of Christianity, although most people think it isn't. For example Shakespeare.
4.  Then he seems to think you can separate beliefs from practices.  The process of commodification might make that possible, but some of the things he is reaching for are embedded in belief.  The beliefs give rise to the practices, or rather they can't be separated.  What happens when you strip mine religions for cultural artefacts?  Then again if atheists adopt this, they might find these are a gateway drug into theism ;-)
5.  Catechism and education in religions does show how we are formed 'religiously'.  But there are already religious practices, habituated practices atheists already have, they can't just take them up, they already have them around their beliefs.  There is a religious calendar that we already live by in consumerism for example.
6. Sermons: he gets that sermons at their best are about changes lives, not information/lectures
7.  I think he would say that there is something about religion that is part of how human beings work, that atheists can't ignore.  I'd say he's bumping into something more about religion, that is more than just an artefact of human life, it is a real part of human life.

Make sure you listen to lecture before commenting, otherwise my comments below will be very out of context!

David Fitch on: The Mark Driscoll Fiasco: What the Latest Flap Teaches Us About The Neo-Reformed Movement #dminlgp

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A very comprehensive post by David Fitch (as you'd expect), on understanding theologically some of what is at stake in the latest Mark Driscoll debate.  There are very important theological distinctives and concerns that David gets to, that provide an alternative to some of the more recent emotional hyperbole and "gaslighting" on all sides.  

Something to help take a look at issues, instead of just the personalities.

Your invitation to Vince Cable on 'Responsible Capitalism' #dminlgp

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The on-going global economic crisis has led to calls from many that the system needs to change.

Join Rt Hon Vince Cable MP along with Richard Paton, a member of Occupy LSX and Sir Stuart Etherington CEO of National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), as we explore what steps need be taken to ensure that capitalism begins to contribute to mending, instead of breaking, our society.

In his keynote speech Dr Cable will set out his vision for the future. Richard Paton and Sir Stuart Etherington will respond and then it’s your chance to put your questions and express your point of view as Steve Chalke chairs the debate.

So take your seat for what will be a thoroughly engaging and highly provocative evening.

Making Capitalism Responsible
What kind of capitalism will mend our broken society?

Wednesday 22 February 2012
7.00pm – 8.30pm (Doors open 6:30pm)
The Oasis Centre, 75 Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 7HS
Book now for your free place 

Please forward to a friend or another charity

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Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee

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When I think of my early childhood Muhammed Ali is one of those magical characters in the background, along with Hong Kong Phooey, Elvis and Evil Knieval.  

I have memories of my dad talking about Ali's fight's, but always reminding me that Henry Cooper had that one perfect punch that had taken Ali to the floor and the ropes.  I also remember aged 5 trying to get my head around a man with two names; the Cassius Clay Henry Cooper hit so well, and the Muhammad Ali of the Rumble in the Jungle.

Happy 70th birthday Muhammad Ali.

Love Is an Orientation: Elevating the Conversation with the Gay Community? #dminlgp

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Last week I had the D.Min students I lead, read an academic theological text on sexuality and gender issues; God, Sex, and Gender: An Introduction, by Adrian Thatcher.  This week I have them reading something less academic and more about sexuality as lived and experienced in church contexts; Love Is an Orientation: Elevating the Conversation with the Gay Community, by Andrew Marin.

I was going to offer a summary of Marin's work.  But one of my students, Tim Buechsel, a young german pastor ministering in Hong Kong has written such a good post about the book, I thought I'd direct you there.

And if you want to read along and discuss with any of the students in the program, you can do so at our main Leadership and Global Perspectives site.

Mark Driscoll takes aim at the ‘cowards’ in the British church #dminlgp

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Mark Driscoll;

“Let’s just say this: right now, name for me the one young, good Bible teacher that is known across Great Britain. You don’t have one – that’s the problem. There are a bunch of cowards who aren’t telling the truth.” (source)

I have to infer that either my bible teaching friends are too old, or are just a bunch of 'cowards'. Part of me just sighs and thinks move on and ignore this, don't give air time to what seems such crass pusillanimity.  But I think my friend Krish Kandia is right when he says, 'if we don’t engage in conversation nothing will change.  I'll let the rest of his careful post be my more detailed response.

Some of what Mark says on his 'blog post for Brits' is more constructive.  Krish does seem to have done his research, and Mark's words are as above.  And Mark claims that someone who is egalitarian and has any issue with penal substitution is likely to edit him out of context, which seems rather crude and ad hominen.  Justin Brierly who interviewed Mark has responded to this claim by Mark. 

I've given my life to Church planting in the UK, gladly.  But this kind of thing is so enervating.  Mark you can do better than this, and us 'Brits' deserve better as brothers and sisters in Christ.

To look at the claim above, and realise how and why it might be offensive and unhelpful, and to simply apologise without reservation, equivocation or qualification, would take some 'courage'.

Otherwise people who dislike Mark have more fuel for that fire, and those who want to listen to him, will find it harder to do so.

(16th January update)
Chris Massey, a 30 year old trial lawyer, abd blogger has taken the time to pull out some of the interview with Mark by Justin. It is staggeringly stupefying.

'Who you are speaks so loudly I can't hear what you're saying', Ralph Waldo Emerson

p.s for those commenting, please be polite and do not compound one round of impoliteness and rudeness with another.