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https://qz.com/1122117/what-does-it-mean-to-be-evangelical-how-the-right-wing-hijacked-christian-identity>
"Growing up, I was what today you’d call an evangelical Christian. As a child,
I went to Bible camps; as a young adult, I attended a Christian college. Today
I teach psychology at a science-supportive college that identifies with an
“ever-reforming” religious tradition—but also with an evangelical tradition,
albeit one free-spirited enough to defend my co-authoring a book titled
The
Christian Case for Gay Marriage.
Despite my roots in evangelical Christianity, I no longer claim that identity.
I don’t want to be associated with the prejudice and intolerance that the word
“evangelical” now, alas, so often connotes.
To understand how the meaning of evangelical Christianity has changed, it’s
useful to consider the broader evolution of religious language. In early 20th
century America, Darwin’s theory of evolution was being taught in US schools,
and historical criticism of the Bible was on the rise. Some Christians
responded to the social changes of the time by identifying as
“fundamentalists”–their term for affirming fundamental Christian beliefs such
as Christ’s virgin birth and bodily resurrection.
Over time, however, word connotations evolve. In the century’s latter half,
“fundamentalist” became a pejorative term referring to people—whether
Christian, Muslim, or secular—with extreme views, an absence of humility, rigid
literal understandings, and a tight in-group mentality. Many devout Christians
therefore shifted their identity from the hardening fundamentalism to the
gentler idea of “evangelicalism”—with its proclamation of “the good news” of
God’s accepting grace. (“Evangelical” derives from the Greek
euangelion,
meaning “good news” or the “gospel.”)
Evangelicals have always been a cultural mix. The identity has included
conservatives who campaign against abortion, gay rights, and the teaching of
evolution. It also has included progressives who, in a 1973 “Declaration of
Evangelical Social Concern,” condemned militarism, racism, and rising
inequality. Evangelicals have led the British anti-slavery movement, founded
hospitals, welcomed refugees, fed the poor, and preached environmental
stewardship. Today’s evangelicals all profess biblical roots. Nevertheless,
they encompass both anti-science “biblical counselors” and peace-loving
Mennonites. Jerry Falwell, Jr., is an evangelical; so is Jimmy Carter.
But in the Trump era, “evangelical” has come to connote not a good news message
of grace, but “cultural conservative.” In exit polls, 80% of white evangelicals
reported voting for Trump. Their approval of his presidential performance has
been double the national average.
On the surface, evangelicals’ loyalty to Trump is mind-boggling. Why would
self-described “values voters” support a biblically illiterate, thrice-married
philanderer who models the antithesis of humility and Jesus-like compassion?"
Via Muse.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
