Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
The Myth of Certainty: The Reflective Christian and Church

The Myth of Certainty: The Reflective Christian and Church

Last updated on: January 12, 2026 at 11:29 am by Roger E. Olson

0 Comments

The Myth of Certainty: The Reflective Christian and Church 2026-01-12T11:29:42-05:00 Roger E. Olson

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.

Here I continue discussion of Daniel Taylor’s book The Myth of Certainty: The Reflective Christian and the Myth of Certainty (InterVarsity Press). If you have read Chapter 2 you may comment here. If not, feel free to ask a question. In any case, follow the rules at the end here.

Chapter 2 is entitled The Reflective Christian and the Church. Here Dan reveals what he thinks about many American churches, especially (but not only) ones he and I consider fundamentalist or at least strongly conservative.

“Questioning the institution [the church’s leaders] is synonymous, for many, with attacking God.” (30) Dan tells a story that probably reflects something that happened to him at a Christian college. I have always assumed that “Alex” is Dan. Alex/Dan dared to challenge something something written by an esteemed colleague in the student newspaper. The college dean came to Alex’s/Dan’s office to warn him against such.

This, or something like it, happened to me on several occasions, within Christian institutions, when I was right and the ideas I challenged were clearly wrong. But I won’t tell my own stories of that here. I have sometimes before.

Dan then rightly says “The danger toward which the appropriate exercise of authority always tends is authoritarianism—the exercise of authority for its own sake and to ensure its own perpetuation.” (34) Also, “Legalistic authoritarianism shows itself in the confusion of the Christian principle of unity with a human insistence on unanimity.” (35)

I found this to be the central truth of the chapter: “Not only is Christendom not synonymous with a life in Christ, following Christ may well require rejecting parts of Christendom. The church is continually tempted to confuse its mission to spread and embody the ‘good news’ with the need every organization feels to perpetuate and enhance itself.” (43)

Is this problem unique to fundamentalist and conservative churches and institutions? I know it is not. I have been a member of several liberal-leaning churches and Christian or theological organizations. Must I tell? Well, unless I do I know someone will express doubts.

I was working on my doctoral dissertation for a major secular American national research university. I had chosen to research and write about one of the world’s foremost Protestant theologians. I went overseas to study with him. Back here (in America) I finished my dissertation, satisfied that I understood his theology in a way others had not. He read much of it and expressed approval. I submitted my mostly positive dissertation to my committee. My advisor and chair of the committee was satisfied, but with real regret told me that one of the committee members said he would not put his stamp of approval on it unless I re-wrote it to be mostly critical of the theologian’s ideas. I knew the two of them, the European theologian and the American theologian on my dissertation committee, had an adverse relationship. They knew each other. There was some personal animosity between them that stemmed from an encounter at the divinity school where the committee member had previously taught. I had no choice but to revise my dissertation so that it was mostly negative toward the German theologian’s thoughts. I didn’t write anything false; I only brought to the fore critics’ qualms about his theology. Ultimately the committee member was satisfied and I was afforded “honor” for my finally accepted dissertation. But word about it got back to the German theologian who after that was not pleased with me. I never told him why the “drift” of the dissertation had changed since he read a first draft of it.

The committee member did not find any factual fault with my dissertation. He did not disagree with my analysis or conclusions about what the German theologian meant (something missed by all previous commentators and critics). I illuminated his theology in a new and insightful way. However, for my committee member’s satisfaction I had not been sufficiently critical, negative, toward the German theologian’s overall contribution.

The committee member was a well-known, influential liberal Protestant theologian, not a fundamentalist or conservative one. He was smug about his belief that the German theologian, a fairly conservative Lutheran, was an overall pernicious influence in contemporary theology.

The issue Dan Taylor is talking about is “smugness” — in addition to defensiveness about institutional traditions and beliefs. Liberals can be just as close-minded as conservatives. They can be just as smug and even punitive toward those who disagree as conservatives can be. The issue Dan and I have is not about intolerance toward intolerance. It is about religious leaders’ tendency to disallow dissent within the ranks.

Of course, I especially identify with Dan’s stories about “Alex.” I found myself in “Alex’s” shoes many times in conservative Christian institutions. Also in liberal-leaning and secular ones.

I still wrestle with whether I count as one of Dan’s reflective Christians. I think I was earlier in life. Now, I’m not sure. I think I am still in my own private world, my mind. But over the years I have learned to be extremely cautious about questioning leaders when that could come back to “haunt” me. Once burned, always cautious. Many times burned, it becomes part of your defense mechanism subconsciously to shy away from conflict with defensive institutional leaders.

*Note: If you choose to comment, make sure your comment is relatively brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, addressed to me, civil and respectful (not hostile or argumentative), and devoid of pictures or links.*

Uncategorized

Previous Post

January 9, 2026

Is America Becoming Police State?

Next Post

January 14, 2026 Only Trump’s “Morality” Holds Him Back?

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"No doubt Lewis was inspired by earlier thinkers. Ironically (or perhaps serendipitously) I am now ..."

Roger Olson

The Abolition of Man: Chapter 3: ..."

"I am sure Lewis would agree. After all, as a Christian he believed in original ..."

Roger Olson

The Abolition of Man: Chapter 3: ..."

"If I’m not mistaken, the quote from Lewis is his interpretation of the “Conditioners’” own ..."

Roger Olson

The Abolition of Man: Chapter 3: ..."

"Thank you! It's been a great re-read of a thought provoking, but somewhat dense, little ..."

Øyvind J. Karstad

The Abolition of Man: Chapter 3: ..."

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Against Liberal Theology Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 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 August 2022 July 2022 June 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

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I wanted a vineyard so badly that my wife arranged the owner's death through false witnesses. Who am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

David Ahab Jezebel Naboth