Last week I began to introduce myself and my understanding of the Christian scholar's vocation by briefly outlining the controversy which marked my time as a student at Westminster Theological Seminary. (You can read last week's post here.) This week I would like to share what I think were some of things I learned about the challenge of Christian scholarship from my time at Westminster. I should make it clear that my interest is not specifically in the challenge of doing serious scholarship within a confessional … [Read more...] about Why You Must Be Dying to be a Christian Scholar (2/2)
Evangelicalism
Why You Must Be Dying to be a Christian Scholar: David Williams Intro (1/2)
What am I, a nice campus minister, doing on a blog like this? I am neither a scholar nor the son of a scholar. I occupy no endowed chairs. I will be presented with no festschriften upon my retirement. Why, then, have I been asked to be a regular contributor here on the Emerging Scholars Network Blog? The short answer is that I am doing what I can to help Christian scholars to integrate their faith with their scholarship. I am an InterVarsity Graduate & Faculty Ministries staff person serving the students and … [Read more...] about Why You Must Be Dying to be a Christian Scholar: David Williams Intro (1/2)
Is Bible Belt Christianity Relevant to Christians in Academia?
Last week, as I began my review of Omri Elisha's Moral Ambition, I quoted a line that resonated strongly with me: Here in the Bible Belt, going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to McDonald's makes you a hamburger. In the comments to my post, however, not everyone agreed about the strength of this sound bite. As I've reflected on the conversation, I've wondered if the difference in understanding is related to a difference in context —specifically, the difference between hearing the line in the … [Read more...] about Is Bible Belt Christianity Relevant to Christians in Academia?
Omri Elisha: The Moral Ambition of Evangelical Christians
Last year, I began a series reviewing academic perspectives on evangelical Christians, beginning with James Bielo's Words Upon the Word and T.M. Luhrmann's When God Talks Back. I'm picking up this series again with Moral Ambition: Mobilization and Social Outreach in Evangelical Megachurches by Queens College anthropologist Omri Elisha. Elisha's work came highly recommended by two trusted sources. First, friend-of-ESN and occasional guest blogger Kevin Birth suggested I review Moral Ambition when I asked for … [Read more...] about Omri Elisha: The Moral Ambition of Evangelical Christians
Talking with Non-Evangelicals (When God Talks Back)
A couple of weeks ago, I finished reading T.M. Luhrmann's When God Talks Back: Understanding the American Evangelical Relationship with God. As I mentioned then, please read Mark Noll's review, which is much better than what I could have written. This week, I'd like to share a few things that I learned from Luhrmann about engaging and talking with non-evangelicals. Next week, I'll have a few thoughts about how we evangelicals can talk amongst ourselves. 1. Encourage good scholars and thinkers, whatever their beliefs. … [Read more...] about Talking with Non-Evangelicals (When God Talks Back)