Wandering Around That Howling Wilderness

Last updated on: February 10, 2021 at 10:10 am by Anne Kennedy

Wandering Around That Howling Wilderness 2021-02-10T10:10:02-04:00 Anne Kennedy

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Well, we just got through another birthday successfully. Bit of a break now until April–of course, a break that includes Lent and then Easter, so we shall be very busy all the same. Also, in my little post yesterday I called that great American educational reformer, Dr. Mann, “Thomas” in one place and “Horace” in the other. Of course, his name is Horace, not Thomas. So sorry! Thomas is a novelist of some note, but both of them are dead, so does it even matter? (JK, of course it matters.)

So anyway, this is good–a very short primer about the new religion emerging out of the ashes of a dying Christianity. And also, as I’m sure you all know, John McWhorter is putting up whole chapters of his new book for free on his Substack. Here is the second part.

I have so many ideas swirling around that I need to go put down in some other place, but I have two off the handle #thoughtsandprayers I might as well fling here before I go do that.

First, when I was reading Bediako for that chapter on ATR I did that’s coming out soon, he made the interesting hypothesis that the West, as it encountered Christianity, did not really deal with its pagan soul. It didn’t fully baptize itself into true Christianity, but sort of lathered Christian faith over the top and went on its merry way, so that as the Christain part is stripped back there is the paganism lying close at hand, ready to be restored to its rightful throne. There’s no way of proving this, of course, but it’s an interesting thought that has stuck with me as I’ve watched the threads of Western Christianity unravel and fly away into the wind.

Second, back to the Jesus and John Wayne book which, in all my violent (hahaha) reactions to I hopefully will find some more coherent thoughts emerge, one of the chief things I hated–which everyone does but it is always a bad thing to do–is to sweep up all of evangelicalism into one heap and indict the whole mess by means of guilt by association. There she is standing before her pinboard, putting up pictures and then pieces of string, connecting everyone together as if she has discovered some appalling conspiracy. It is the leftist version of Q Anon and just because what she’s saying is what everyone wants to hear doesn’t make it ok. She draws lines between Albert Mohler, the Vision Forum, HSLDA, the Gospel Coalition, T4G, Doug Wilson, BJU, John McArthur–indeed basically every “conservative” Christian in the US. And then, to top it off, she lumps Jen Hatmaker in as an “evangelical” as if that hasn’t been one of the major defining fights of the last five years. If Jen Hatmaker is an Evangelical Christian, then I’m not sure what that makes me, but more to the point, by pushing and pushing against the existence of any intellectual, or even vaguely thinking, conservative voice (especially those that belong to men) she–and this is the point–silences them, or at least embarrasses everyone who listens to them. There can be no more sifting through all the competing voices of Christianity to find the truth, there can only be the tribalism of “in” or “out.” It’s sleight of hand, and Christians should resist it.

I guess I have one final thought. As you dig through the rubble with your teaspoon looking for hope, find the people who sound Christian. Don’t accept redefinitions of words. Listen to people who know the scripture at such a deep level that it flows easily out. If you disagree with them here or there, that’s fine, but don’t let them be demonized, or be thrown into that howling wilderness. After a while, the only people you’ll be able to hear are yourself and the only other person on earth who agrees with you. Don’t give in. Read provocative, intellectual, and interesting writers. Admit to reading them. Listen to lots of different people talk on the internet. Or get off and read books. But most of all, let your own self be deeply formed by the scripture so that what comes out of your mouth is your first love and not this new political ideologically dubious religion.

Demotivations with Anne

Anglicanism

Culture Watch

Previous Post

February 9, 2021

Who Is To Blame?

Next Post

February 11, 2021 We Can't Do Hard Things Because We Don't Want To

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category books Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Children in Conversation culture watch Daily Devotions Demotivations with Anne faith alone for the grandparents GAFCON In conversation with children In the News Kitchen Notes Lambeth Learning Notes Life Going On Men are Human Notes from Home Pictures Reading the Bible Saturday Links Sermons Signs of the Apocalypse The Bad Word Association The Prayer of Jonah Travel Notes Uncategorized Witless Wednesdays Work and the Christian

Select a Month June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 July 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

David Paul Moses Jesus

Books by This Author Books by Anne Kennedy

See All Titles »