Its also interesting that the very people who claim that they are for a
plain sense, non-critical, literalistic interpretation of the Bible are
often the same folks who lap this stuff up, political agenda and all. It
again shows the need for a modern reading of the Bible as many of these
people truly do not realize that they are reading their political and
cultural biases right into the text when they applaud these guys for their
"biblical" interpretation of the end times
-----Original Message-----
From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu]On
Behalf Of Robert Schneider
Sent: Monday, July 08, 2002 2:36 PM
To: Michael Roberts; george murphy; asa@calvin.edu
Subject: Re: Understanding Prophecy (was Re: Daniel)
Let me add to Michael's and George's comments that I tried to read the first
of this collection of "Christian horror fiction," the original _Left
Behind_. Though I tried valiently to stay with it, I quit about page 150.
Besides bad writing, cardboard characters, and a preachy narrator, I was
catching on to the subtle clues to LaHaye's anti-UN, anti-ecumenical, and
anti-Catholic leanings, and recognizing that there is a theo-political
agenda buried in the novel. But it was the *awful* image of God in the
novel that most turned me off.
In the "First Things" articles on Noll's _The Scandal of the Evangelical
Mind_(Shuan's link), the observation was made that the present generation of
evangelicals has become theologically and biblically illiterate (the same
could be said for "liberal" and "mainline" Christians). I have certainly
seen this in the students I taught at Berea College and in the popular
arguments for YEC. I think it also may account for part of the popularity
of the "Left Behind" series. Christians attracted to this literature may
have no theological or biblical resources to recognize the political as well
as theological agenda behind these novels and subject it to the critique it
deserves. Certain spokespersons of the "Christian right" have theologized
their politics and politicized their theologies, and have been creating for
their followers their own creed, an "I don't believe" creed ("I don't
believe in environmentalism, I don't believe in feminism, I don't believe in
multi-culturalism, I don't believe in homosexuality, I don't believe in
one-world government, etc.")--and this from Christian groups that don't
believe in creeds!
It is truly appalling to me (as I learned from my Southern Baptist minister
brother-in-law) that many churchs have "Left Behind" study groups. Is there
any critiquing going on in them? I fear the answer is No.
Bob Schneider
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Roberts" <michael.andrea.r@ukonline.co.uk>
To: "Robert Schneider" <rjschn39@bellsouth.net>; "george murphy"
<gmurphy@raex.com>; <asa@calvin.edu>
Sent: Monday, July 08, 2002 8:10 AM
Subject: Re: Understanding Prophecy (was Re: Daniel)
> I would just like to say I am in basic agrreement with Bob and george.
> Frankly the whole Left Behind fairy tales and Hal Lindsey Late Great
Planet
> Earth are simply nonsense and an insult to God and his word. It needs to
be
> seen that Noll regards this as part of the The Scandal of the evangelical
> Mind - or rather the lack of it. I am appalled when I go into Christian
> bookshops and see alll the books of the left behind stable. It is quite
> clear that these type of writers do not submit themselves to the
authority
> of Christ and the bible as they calmly ignore what Jesus said at the
> beginning of Acts. They are no better than the Jesus Seminar.
>
> I think the main argument for denying any value to the bible is the
nonsense
> of creationism and misunderstandings of prophecy. All we know is that
Christ
> will return and literally God knows how and when. That's good enough for
me
> as a simple Christian.
>
> I loved Lucy's comment that Noll is only read at scholarly seminaries!
>
> I recommend everyone to read Noll The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind
>
> I will keep growling
>
> Michael
>
>
>
>
>
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