Fundamentalists: How and Why
Published by Blandus June 20th, 2005 in Uncategorized
George Marsden is an excellent historian. In his increasingly classic Fundamentalism and American Culture: The Shaping of Twentieth-Century Evangelicalism: 1870-1925 he reveals a tale of biblical fidelity and cultural influence that gave rise to the movement that produced people like me – a fundamentalist, an evangelical, a conservative Christian, a crazed anti-scientific wackjob out of the mainstream of American-liberal society (that last description is in the interest of fairness to our pagan readers).
Not having been “raised” in the church, I have often wondered about the different cultural interpretations of Scripture. How does one branch of Bible-believers spend so much time defining doctrine to guide individuals and another emphasize the continual leading of the Holy Spirit as we “lose ourselves”? How can these views be held as compatible in the same church? Why does much of what I learn at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary not align with the popular-level teachings I received as a young Christian?
Marsden does not seek to answer these questions. He does, however, provide the material for you to answer them yourself. He traces the development of several streams of thought that were considered “fundamentalist” in the 1920’s. The fundamentalist camp was a diverse union of old Calvinists, new revivalists, and innovative dispensationalists who were all united in their opposition to the harmful moral effects of unchecked modernism in American culture. Marsden explores both the theological foundations of the movement and the cultural influences that gave rise to its particular expressions. He does this in a way that is balanced and dispassionate while at the same time showing the scholarly class the logic and validity of fundamentalist thought.
This book requires previous scholarly study. Marsden is interested in demonstrating the realities of the movement to people who are already familiar with the theological terms and basic Christian history of the time. I myself am going to have to do some more research into Scottish Common Sense Realism and the Baconian tradition of scientific thought to see if Marsden’s explanations hold. But those with the ability to follow the narrative will be rewarded with some explanation as to why conservative American Christians are so different and opposed to liberal American “Christians”, why conservative Christians seem to oppose “Science”, why so much of popular American Christianity seems like fluff, and why modern American Christians are so conflicted by the desires to both transform the culture and withdraw from it.
Overall, this is an engaging piece of work that helped me understand my own theological influences and place in society. This better enables me to refine my views and engage my world. That, dear friends, is what becoming educated is all about. Thanks George Marsden.
You might check out these as well:
Theodore Dwight Bozeman, Protestants in an Age of Science: The Baconian Ideal and Antebellum American Religious Thought. (Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press, 1977)
Diogenes Allen, Philosophy for Understanding Theology. (Atlanta, John Knox Press, 1985)
Google: Thomas Reid
Very interesting. Someday when I have time (ha!), theological history, particuarly American theological history, is something I want to get into. In my experience, even strong, mature Christians–including myself—are shockingly ignorant about the history and progression of Christianity in general and American Christianity in particular.
Does this book address the Restoration Movement (Stone-Campbell) at all?
Only slightly. Those involved in the movement comprised another of the diverse groups commonly emphasizing “the fundamentals.” However, not many fundamentalist leaders came from the Stone-Campbell group nor did they provide much unique influence on the concensus thought of fundamentalism. Thus, they are only passingly noted in Marsden’s book.
That’s what I thought. As I understand it, Restoration churches aren’t commonly considered “fundamentalist” (although one could argue that they are more interested in fundamentals that most fundamentalists!).
Still, as I say, I need to know more about churches outside of my own “church ancestry.” Thanks for the review and recommendation!
Just curious as to where you are going to school? Interesting reading.
I am a student at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.
Jake is a student of the world.
I was just curious since you and I have worked at the same orphanage in Morocco.
Debbie, there are two people who write at this site. Blandus is just a nerd man (he is too old to be a nerd boy anymore. . .so sad. . .) with lots of opinions.
Jake is a sophisticated world traveler. He is the one who went to Morocco. He has been working a lot and not pulling his weight at the site that bears his own name.
I will box his ears and make sure that he responds to you soon. :-)
thanks for visiting the site.