An evangelical believes that the Christian movement is on the verge of collapse. Why?
Evangelicals have identified their movement with the culture war and with political conservatism. This will prove to be a very costly mistake. Evangelicals will increasingly be seen as a threat to cultural progress. Public leaders will consider us bad for America, bad for education, bad for children, and bad for society.
The evangelical investment in moral, social, and political issues has depleted our resources and exposed our weaknesses. Being against gay marriage and being rhetorically pro-life will not make up for the fact that massive majorities of Evangelicals can’t articulate the Gospel with any coherence. We fell for the trap of believing in a cause more than a faith … Evangelicalism doesn’t need a bailout. Much of it needs a funeral.
Hat tip to one of my favorite websites, www.freethinker.co.uk.
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3 responses so far ↓
1 jpcook // Apr 16, 2009 at 10:55 am
I certainly hope a collapse is imminent at least in Orange County. Having lived in cities across the US and Canada I’m finding the in-your-face public reminders of local Christian evangelism very annoying and out of place. On a recent drive through downtown San Clemente (my new home as of two months ago) I noticed a huge banner hung across our main street encouraging people to attend the ‘Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast.’ I find this so unprofessional, exclusionary and off-putting that I may soon become one of the ‘angry’ atheists! I heard your excellent interview on NPR, finished your book this weekend and have already recommended it to several friends. Thanks for letting us all into your religious deconstruction.
2 L Urish // Apr 17, 2009 at 3:40 am
I hope you guys are right, but to me imminent collapse doesn’t seem to be the case. Literally millions of people in this country view the bible from a literal perspective, and they’re passionate about their misguided beliefs. Still, we’re seeing more and more atheists emerging publicly, thanks to the efforts of Bill and a host of other rational thinkers. GREAT book, by the way.
3 Tim Stroud // Apr 17, 2009 at 3:41 am
“Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast” I wonder how that really happens. Does the mayor say “Let’s have a breakfast and invite everyone. But make it a Prayer Breakfast so the atheists won’t come.” not just “Let’s have a breakfast and invite everyone.”?
What possible good would a prayer do at a government official’s morning meal?
Evangelicals embraced a political partnership so as to spread their influence. They were impatient. And perhaps even unfaithful to their god. Now they find that one partner’s failures taints the reputation of the other. And resources/capital spent on a losing political battle means less ability for their evangelism to influence.
A lesson for atheists here too.
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