Paper Conclusion

I just finished my lengthy paper on the Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy. Below is the final section from the paper. If  you want to read the whole 19 pages, let me know and I will email you a copy.

While Fundamentalism as a movement became separate and discounted at the time, the course of history has shown several growing lessons from the changes of the controversy. Fundamentalism became separate from culture and thus culture showed through its art a decline in order and meaning. Likewise, the modernist movement, with no real answer regarding truth or hermeneutic, lost impact and passion in the churches. This is reflected as previously mentioned in schools such as Princeton Seminary which lost viability as the standard bearer of truth. To this day, there is a nondescript and lacking theological statement on the website of the seminary.

With the emphasis on the social pragmatism of faith, modernism was forced, and has demonstrated over the years, an unbridled connection with the whims of the standards of the world. There is a growing disconnect between these churches and culture since they no longer offer a set of beliefs contrary to the general morality of culture.

On the contrary, the fundamentalist movement continues to stand opposed to culture and both preach and teach the need for individuals to change. The Southern Baptist Convention fought to turn away from a growth toward modernism and liberalism and now stands united with the various denominations which represent the legacy of fundamentalism. It is this legacy now which stands situated to represent and address the growing problem in modern America.

The reality at the inception of the fundamentalist-modernist controversy was a world infatuated with science and the progressive hope of mankind. That which could be achieved seemed vast and a religion emphatic on the absolute inerrancy of an archaic book seemed both preposterous and dangerous. Thus, an adaptive religion took hold which balanced the morality and community of church with the advances and hope of scientific progress.

However, as the century came to a close and the twenty-first century began, a new reality has emerged more clearly. Science and technology have indeed increased and brought the world in increasing interaction with one another. The remnants of modernism, with a potentially errant Scripture, can offer only cooperation with the religions of the world and not hope. Yet religion in general is now viewed as either worthless or harmful. The actions of September 11, 2001 helped cement that extreme devotion to a religious ideal was potentially even destructive.

These factors present the individual with a world both of confusion and devoid of meaning. Modernism promoted science but science without a God only promoted hopelessness. Technology can enhance life but it cannot extend it. Each individual’s place in the world is becoming more and more meaningless. Likewise an integrated individuality enhances the concept that each person’s belief system is personal and not communicative. With no overarching meaning or relationship, mankind is alone in all the noise and confusion of the world.

Against such a backdrop, the modernist churches no longer have real answers. They can offer only community and belonging of a temporal nature. It is now clear that fundamentalism and the basis of belief upon which it was founded continues to offer the best answer for a world in need. It is in short here delineated the core aspects of fundamentalism and how they offer a response to the world today.

Fundamentalism claimed from the beginning that the Bible is the inerrant Word of a sovereign God. Such a God is thus not constrained to the limits of time or the machinations of man. As such, the Bible becomes a source of timeless revelation when interpreted in light of it cultural writing. Its story of a personal God and the incarnation and resurrection paint a picture far different not only than any other religion (including modernism) but of significant meaning to the world.

This reality stand contra juxtaposed to both modern society and that which could be called post-modern. As the world has moved away from modernity to a more pessimistic reality, the unchanging nature of an inerrant Scripture poses a set of answers for a new generation of questions. The Bible issues both an understanding of a greater purpose for man as well as hope for a future after life. The Bible explains the meaning of singular truth and the reason that such truth is not oppressive.

These truths are found only from the fundamental basis of interpreting and understanding Scripture. It is without question then that as modernist churches die without answers, fundamentalism and the churches which cling to its core principles carry an inherent hope built upon the Bible. It remains thus for the fundamentalist movement to recognize the potential and answer the call for this generation. It is no longer a question of fighting against other churches. Fundamentalism must recognize its place and humbly offer a hurting world the timeless truths of the faithful gospel.

Interesting Book?

Below is a quote from a sports article ("TMQ" on espn.com). The quote references a book which sounds quite interesting from everything I have read. I have not yet however read the book so I am not recommending it. It does seem that the book will present some interesting points for discussion.

"Love him or hate him, on this subject you've got to read Charles Murray's new book "Coming Apart." His big point is that well-off liberals should "preach what they practice" -- that denizens of the high-income zip codes in blue states themselves have two-parent households with conventional marriages, strict work ethics and high educational achievement, yet contend no one should be judgmental about out-of-wedlock birth, bad public schools or welfare. Murray presents overwhelming evidence that although it's assumed anything goes in the sinful liberal cities while tradition rules in the Bible Belt, in the last generation it's been the other way around -- red states are plagued by divorce and teen pregnancy, blue states have conventional family values.
Coming from a radioactive conservative, this analysis is unsettling. Liberals, Murray charges, are harming the underclass by asserting that all lifestyles are equally valid -- when they know from their own experience that conventional behavior leads to the best economic and educational outcomes."

Saving Money on Proofreading

I recently was afforded the opportunity to donate money to Madison County. Even though I have decided not to contest the opportunity, I figured that the generic ticket handed to me is fair game for proofreading. Considering they made a point of asking me to "read carefully," I will assume that I can critique their poor proofreading skills. Both grammar and typing seem to be an issue.