From: Michael Roberts (michael.andrea.r@ukonline.co.uk)
Date: Thu May 22 2003 - 16:46:16 EDT
Howard has raised many issues, both theological and how one's faith
develops.
At the risk of being personal I wonder whether the pressure he has received
from fundamentalists has not helped. I do think that typical fundamentalist
viciousness does push people away from an evangelical position, as the
behaviour does not match faith claims.
I first suffered it in 1971 when studying under Schaeffer at L'abri. As I
had just finished a spell as a geologist in Africa and was going to seminary
his son-in-law was insistent that Iread all the YEC stuff then available.
Within a day I told him that TGF was dishonest nonsense or words to that
effect. (In case lawyers are watching , this is what I said and may not be
what I hold today.) After that I got the treatment being accused of going
liberal etc etc etc. They definitely made me question all my good
evangelical training!!
In 1974 I was ordained to 2 successive narrow evangelical parishes and in
the second the Vicar (chief minister = rector) decided I was not a Christian
because I was not always telling people the day and time of my conversion. I
was given a lot of help by a good liberal Rector from a nearby church. I
went on to another church determined not to be an evangelical, though I was
and am one doctrinally. Sometime later I got to know some evangelical
clergy who did not have that vicious streak so I slowly began to identify
myself as an evangelical again, though many would consider me rather wayward
and even liberal!!
Fortunately since 1980 I have been "my own boss" in middle of the road
Anglican parishes - i.e. one without a strong evangelical past - so I dont
have to worry about heresy hunts, even if my previous bishop in Wales
thought I was fundamentalist. My present who is somewhat liberal was
surprised when I said I was evangelical as things are relaxed around here.
Now having followed the creationist debacle since 1971 I am appalled by the
repulsive satanic attitude of certain creationists in trying to pillory
scientific evangelicals as is shown by the attacks on Wonderley , Terry and
Howard and they are not alone. The behaviour towards them has been
unchristian in the extreme and is enough to put many people of the Christian
Faith.
I have to admit I prefer to be in the Anglican church with its Spongs than
with a lost of Creationists who will excommunicate me if I suggest Adam had
a navel (which of course he got because he was attached to his mother's
womb.)
I thought a more subjective approach was better at present rather than
looking at the theology as our faith is a matter of head and heart.
I hope Howard does not mind me replying like this, but it does illustrate
the sheer damage that the bigotry associated with YEA does. My own
conclusion is that this bigotry is integral to YEA and why
Creation/evolution questions cause so much friction and hurt and division.
On this last point "division" YEA must be considered a heresy, because that
is what the word means.
Michael
----- Original Message -----
From: "Howard J. Van Till" <hvantill@chartermi.net>
To: <asa@calvin.edu>
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2003 6:32 PM
Subject: Re: Response to Howard on Tillich & Bultmann
>
> - 16:53:22 EDT