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AR 21:19 - Understanding the "spiritual, but not religious"
In this issue:
AMERICAN RELIGION - "the 'spiritual but not religious' have largely been misunderstood"
APOLOGETICS - "a bird's-eye view of the apologetic landscape"
LOST GOSPELS - the "entirely mythic" approach of Bart Ehrman
Apologia Report 21:19 (1,292)
May 26, 2016
AMERICAN RELIGION
Belief without Borders: Inside the Minds of the Spiritual but Not Religious, by Linda A. Mercadante (Professor of Theology, Methodist Theological School in Ohio) [1] -- Paul McClure's review begins: "Despite the steady ascent of the religiously unaffiliated segment of the American population, those who identify as 'spiritual but not religious' (SBNRs) have largely been misunderstood. Hoping to shed light on this different stripe of believers, Linda A. Mercadante uses a qualitative approach to identify and explain the main articles of their beliefs. ... Mercadante offers an even-handed perspective useful for those in the SBNR camp, scholars who weigh in on the secularization hypothesis, and anyone generally interested in the future of American religion. ...
"Though SBNRs lay claim to spirituality while rejecting religious associations, Mercadante argues that religion and spirituality still overlap in many key respects. In fact, the majority of Americans still consider themselves both religious and spiritual, which raises the question: why do SBNRs favor spirituality and reject religion? ...
"Mercadante offers a typology of the SBNRs she interviewed. First, there are those she classifies as *Dissenters,* or those who claim SBNR status for theological reasons or other problems they have with organized religion. Second, Mercadante identifies SBNR *Casuals.* For these individuals, spiritual practices offer a functional, therapeutic resource from which they can lean on in times of trouble or pursue individually at their leisure. Third, there are *Explorers* who enjoy exploring the diversity of the religious marketplace even though they have no intention of full commitment. Fourth, Mercadante labels a portion of her sample *Seekers,* which she understands to mean those who actively pursue a spiritual home and hope to find one eventually. Finally, thre are those whom Mercadante calls *Immigrants,* or those who have contentedly found a place to worship but are still adjusting to their new religious environs. ...
"Mercadante explains, '[t]hey all had certain ideas in common which prompted them to castigate, disdain, or simply ignore organized religion' and 'perhaps as much as 80 or 90% ... felt that they and other SBNRs were in the unique position of realizing the essence of true spirituality.' Further, despite the popularity of Eastern religious beliefs and practices among SBNRs, Mercadante shows that SBNR status implies not so much a turn to the East as much as a 'de-traditioning' and 'Americanization' of Eastern religious ideas. ...
"Mercadante artfully uncovers [that] the SBNR ethos is marked by pantheistic tendencies that should dispel any notions that SBNRs are merely unchurched believers. ...
"[M]uch of this book focuses on Nones even though Mercadante's main subject is SBNRs. ... "[T]here are key demographic and theological differences that Mercadante fails to mention. ... Curiously, a primary aim of Mercadante's project is to outline what these theological borders are, but her title wrongly suggests that SBNR beliefs are an amorphous hodgepodge." Review of Religious Research, 57:4 - 2015, pp591-2. [9]
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APOLOGETICS
Mapping Apologetics: Comparing Contemporary Approaches, by Brian K. Morley (professor of philosophy and apologetics, The Master's College) [2] -- Raymond J. Laird finds this "a very careful and knowledgeable survey. ... One of the beauties of [Morley's] approach is that he not only describes and critiques each methodology, but also compares it with others by indicating critical points of difference.
"In the introduction, Morley gives an overview in the form of a very useful two-page chart that identifies ten models. ... Part 2 of the book ... discusses critically each of the ten....
"The main part of the book groups the methodologies ... with the main proponents of each including the variations classed under them. Morley has brought together their wealth of focused thought, placed the proponents side by side, explained their positions, and noted their strengths and weaknesses." He also gives his thoughts on what he sees are "crucial areas of disagreement." Evangelical Review of Theology, 39:4 - 2015, pp374-6. [7]
Paul Copan calls it "a bird's-eye view of the apologetic landscape" and only wishes it had "chapters on C.S. Lewis, J.P. Moreland, and Alister McGrath.... Morley is pretty much spot-on in his assessments. And in addition to the book's indices, each chapter has a short glossary and study/reflection questions. In sum, those interested in understanding the distinctive approaches of our era's leading apologists won't be disappointed in this book." Christian Research Journal, 39:1 - 2016, pp55-6. [6]
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LOST GOSPELS
The Many Faces of Christ: The Thousand-Year Story of the Survival and Influence of the Lost Gospels, by Philip Jenkins [3] -- "This is an excellent book by a popular and engaging writer. The prolific Jenkins (history, Institute for Studies of Religion, Baylor Univ.) has written 26 books.... His academic credentials are impeccable, and he writes from a Christian perspective. He begins the present book by reviewing 'apocryphal' Christian texts (i.e., those not included in the biblical canon); in subsequent chapters, he illustrates how these texts continued to be influential in mainstream Christianity in subsequent historical eras. The most prominent book on this topic is Lost Scriptures: Books That Did Not Make It into the New Testament, Bart Ehrman, ed. [4], to which the present title provides a helpful foil. Jenkins's style and approach are scholarly enough to make the book useful to scholars yet accessible enough to make the book useful to nonspecialists. Summing Up: Highly recommended." Choice, Mar '16, n.p. [5]
Kirkus (Sep '15, #2) reports that Jenkins "attacks the current mainstream view of church history, which posits the disappearance of competing Christian literature due to early repression by the established orthodoxy. ... The author pointedly argues that this view of competing documents is entirely mythic. Quite the contrary, many circulated well into the Middle Ages and beyond, often influencing otherwise thoroughly orthodox Christians. ... More than a well-argued rebuttal against prevailing academic viewpoints, the author also presents a worthwhile companion reference for lay students of Christian history. A worthy broadside aimed at revisionist Christian historians that provides a sorely needed counterpoint to the prevailing and largely unquestioned conventional wisdom regarding early Christian history." [8]
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SOURCES: Monographs
1 - Belief without Borders: Inside the Minds of the Spiritual but Not Religious, by Linda A. Mercadante (Oxford Univ Prs, 2014, hardcover, 352 pages) <www.goo.gl/1APtm5>
2 - Mapping Apologetics: Comparing Contemporary Approaches, by Brian K. Morley (IVP, 2015, paperback, 384 pages) <www.goo.gl/X7Lkyk>
3 - The Many Faces of Christ: The Thousand-Year Story of the Survival and Influence of the Lost Gospels, by Philip Jenkins (Basic Books, October 2015, hardcover, 336 pages) <www.goo.gl/CRVRRR>
4 - Lost Scriptures: Books that Did Not Make It into the New Testament, Bart Ehrman, ed. (Oxford Univ Prs, 2003, hardcover, 352 pages) <www.goo.gl/mUqUpx>
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