"The Coming Evangelical Collapse"

Michael Spencer, the Internet Monk, has recently had an essay published in the current Christian Science Monitor - "The coming evangelical collapse." If the title grabbed your attention, just wait until you read the article itself.

I believe that we are on the verge- within 10 years- of a major collapse of evangelical Christianity; a collapse that will follow the deterioration of the mainline Protestant world and that will fundamentally alter the religious and cultural environment in the West. I believe this evangelical collapse will happen with astonishing statistical speed; that within two generations of where we are now evangelicalism will be a house deserted of half its current occupants, leaving in its wake nothing that can revitalize evangelicals to their former “glory.”

There has been much discussion about this essay, as expected, and from a variety of sources. It's rather fun to jump around and see who has been talking about it, what points they emphasize and/or criticize, and where the discussion goes. I mean, iMonk has everybody talking! See?

• American Power
• Andrew Sullivan
• Atheist Nexus
• Caffeinated Thoughts (Shane Vander Hart)
• Crunchy Con
• Jim West
• Joshua Claybourn
• League of Ordinary Gentlemen
• Macsmind
• Outside the Beltway
• Pharyngula (PZ Myers)
• Pyromaniacs (Phil Johnson)
• Reformation21
• Slice of Laodicea (Ingrid Schleuter)
• The Other McCain
• The Pocket Mardis

I honestly don't think you could find two more different blogs out there than Ingrid's and PZ's, and they're both talking about the same thing.

And, yes, iMonk does have something to say about the ARIS study.

an interview with Joe Carter

Justin Taylor interviewed Joe Carter about the current state of Evangelical Outpost and his new venture at Culture 11.

the purpose-driven secret to becoming a better buyer

Oh, sure. You can listen to all those self-help gurus if you want to. The ones who are writing all those blockbuster books that you can get at Barnes & Nobles or Borders. The ones who, like Rick Warren, tell you that you do have a purpose in life - you just need to get out there and discover it and live it. The ones who, like Joel Osteen, tell you that this is your best life now, and that best life is all about becoming a better you - a more you-ish you. The ones who, like Rhonda Byrnes, tell you that there's this secret out there that's been hidden for many-many-many years, and it's all about wishing for good things to happen and they magically happen because you wished them to.

Enough of all that. I mean, it's all so 2007. My personal swami/guru/motivator is Representative John Boehner of Ohio, he of the flashy smile and perfect hair that makes even John Edwards enviously green. He says that we're all consumers and our purpose in life is to buy, buy, buy.

House Minority Leader Boehner, a Republican congressman from Ohio, celebrated the recent passage of the economic stimulus package by saying, "The sooner we get this relief in the hands of the American people, the sooner they can begin to do their job of being good consumers." Your title: "consumer;" your mission: "buy stuff." Echoes of the president's call, amid the crisis of 9/11, to get out and "shop."

If Oprah is your personal goddess, you now have a place to worship.

Added: In all seriousness, this kind of "consumer" talk is nothing new. We were talking like this in the mental health field ten years ago. Mentally ill persons who came to our community support program seeking services (e.g., scheduling appointments to see a psychiatrist or a therapist, applying for disability and medical benefits, securing housing) were considered to be "consumers" of those services.

"I think we'd be fools not to be aware of his contributions."

Author Phyllis Tickle discusses in this interview, among other things, Hugh Hefner's cultural impact.

of Christ & culture

Tullian Tchividjian has suggested 20 books to read pertaining to Christ, Christians and culture.

... I would like to offer some direction regarding what I would consider some must-read books that can help us think through these issues biblically. No one will agree with all of the content in these books. In fact, some of these books represent opposing perspectives on how Christians should relate to the culture around them. But all of these books will help you develop your own conclusions.

The only one I have on Tchividjian's list is Nancy Pearcey's Total Truth, which I haven't actually had the chance to read thoroughly. I think I'll find the time to do so, and maybe check out some of the other books.

(HT: Justin Taylor)

"Middle Class American culture is not the reason the Son of God spilled His own blood."

Read this post, and not just because I make a comment in the meta about how I think people don't read Rolling Stone much anymore - noting Frank's age demographic at the same time - and he puts me on a list.

A taste:

But the question is this: is it the secular culture we have to win? See: I thought that Jesus came to establish a new Heavens and a new Earth, not to try to make the one we have wrecked into one in which Victoria's Secret only sells stuff to married women, but doesn't target unmarried women because that would be profitable.

Jesus didn't come here, giving up His rightful place on the throne of Heaven and the active praise of creatures which will make you cry out in fear because they are flames of fire, and die on a cross so we can have a global America. Middle Class American culture is not the reason the Son of God spilled His own blood. He did not walk out of the tomb to hand you the keys to a new SUV or a house with a nice, flat sod yard.

13 Photographs that Changed the World

Here.

Is there a standout among those 13? To me, #4 is the most shocking because the man holding the gun appears to be extremely casual about what he's doing, but you need to read the story behind the photo. The picture may show what's happening, but it doesn't explain why.