David Harrington Watt's Antifundamentalism in Modern America gives us a pathbreaking account of the role that the fear of fundamentalism has played―and continues to play―in American culture. Fundamentalism has never been a neutral category of analysis; and Watt scrutinizes the various political purposes that the concept has been made to serve. In 1920; the conservative Baptist writer Curtis Lee Laws coined the word "fundamentalists." Watt examines the antifundamentalist polemics of Harry Emerson Fosdick; Talcott Parsons; Stanley Kramer; and Richard Hofstadter; which convinced many Americans that religious fundamentalists were almost by definition backward; intolerant; and anti-intellectual and that fundamentalism was a dangerous form of religion that had no legitimate place in the modern world. For almost fifty years; the concept of fundamentalism was linked almost exclusively to Protestant Christians. The overthrow of the Shah of Iran and the establishment of an Islamic republic led to a more elastic understanding of the nature of fundamentalism. In the late 1970s and early 1980s; Americans became accustomed to using fundamentalism as a way of talking about Muslims; Jews; Hindus; Sikhs; and Buddhists; as well as Christians. Many Americans came to see Protestant fundamentalism as an expression of a larger phenomenon that was wreaking havoc all over the world. Antifundamentalism in Modern America is the first book to provide an overview of the way that the fear of fundamentalism has shaped U.S. culture; and it will lead readers to rethink their understanding of what fundamentalism is and what it does.
#772486 in Books Frost Michael Hirsch Alan 2008-11-01 2008-11-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.02 x .50 x 5.98l; .77 #File Name: 0801046319216 pagesRejesus A Wild Messiah for a Missional Church
Review
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. A Much Needed BookBy Mark MooreThe church is much like a jet airplane. There is an enigmatic power about a jet as it roars across the sky using its power to accomplish its mission; to reach its destination. Now imagine that jet; with all of its power; suddenly void of its instruments; void of its compass. In that scenario; not only does the jet become useless; it becomes dangerous. The church minus Jesus is like the jet minus its instruments. Sadly; this is the state of much of the church today--useless and dangerous. The church; as strange as it may sound; is in need of Jesus. In ReJesus; Michael Frost Alan Hirsch provide the church with exactly what it needs...Jesus.In a quick two hundred pages; Frost Hirsch weave together theory; stories; examples; and diagrams that cause you to think; listen; dream; and pray. Above all; they cause you to question the place of Jesus in your ministry. Is Jesus the center of all that you do? Is he the source of mission? Is he the life of your community; or has Jesus been pushed to the margins in favor of other lords; such as religion or Christ-less theology? Having read previous books by both authors; I'm convinced that this book is the most important because it is about the most important topic of all. For those interested in missional church; this book serves as a welcome reminder that apart from Jesus there is no mission nor church. I will be using this book for years to come as we train leaders and church planters for mission.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Seriously; ReJesus is a must read for every follower of Christ; and that includes the clergy.By David BennettGreat book that helps you redirect your life again and again around the person of Jesus Christ and His Lordship in the life of every believer. ReJesus requires you to return to the Gospel and see where you might have started from what Jesus intended for His followers to live. This book will help you to develop the healthy practice of returning to the designer of the Christian faith rather than trying to discover some trendy empty form that may produce excitement and draw people; but lacks in transformational power. To ReJesus is to be transformed over and over agin through your life by Jesus Christ and the Gospel He brought us.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Moving to Missional Through the Restoration of a Wild JesusBy Matthew MorineThis book is from the authors of "The Shaping of Things to Come." "The Shaping" dealt with the practical methodology of missional outreach. "ReJesus" builds on this foundation with more of a theological framework. The major premise of the book was the need to "reJesus" the community or the world. The authors mean by this that a restoration of the true image of Christ must be presented to people. The authors feel that culture has made Jesus into a weak figure; and the missional church must reclaim the forceful Jesus of the Gospel. The chapters are interesting; especially the section about the development of artwork portraying Jesus throughout the centuries. There was also great insight into the nature of Jesus in regards to the nature of man. A person's concept of Christ is often tied to baggage from the past or misconceptions of the nature of God. A great quote is "Tell me about your Jesus; and I can tell you about yourself." There is a lot of truth to this. We too often make Jesus in support of whatever we deem important. This book might not give more ideas on doing missional evangelism; but it will provide great material and support for some of the missional projects within the congregation. An interesting read.
