Create Your Own Theology, It’s American!
January 16, 2009
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In a couple of recent surveys of American religion some not so radical conclusions were drawn. Wow, Americans like to come up with their own religious ideas! Some Christian people in America have internalized social individualism into their personal theology. I am not sure how surprising this is or exactly how recent this is. It seems to me only naive ministers think their congregation is towing their version of orthodoxy. But none the less, this article does seem to assume some beliefs are not orthodox that have a place in may orthodox theologians thought (at least in my understanding of the history of Christian theology).
You are not a heretic and individualistic American Christian forsaking your faith just because you think…
- “Some non-Christians go to heaven”
- Other faith traditions can contribute to one’s own understanding in redemptive ways
- Satan doesn’t exist
- You broadly reject religious exclusivity
Then there are questions that assume a common understanding of words and concepts that have hugely diverse meanings. I bet if you asked people to define them you would get more heresy to report…
- “eternal life”
- “route to salvation”
This is just one more reason we need to have a grass roots level theology conversation. What people are responding to and rejecting is out of date and well in many cases shallow versions of beautiful statements from the past. It is time for theology to actually assist people in living a gracefilled life in their world. Our theology needs to evolve and transform. A good survey of Church History will point out that it always has been reforming, but now we need to let the “theologians-in-residents” in on the conversation. Then maybe people won’t feel obligated to ask such stupid questions for religion surveys.
Drew diagnosies the causes for this theological confusion well.
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January 16th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Theology is evolving and transforming whether we know it or like it. God is with us and teaching us therefore in my opinion the “Word” is out there and will continue to be because God is putting it there. It is simply up to us to find it. It is out there in many forms for us to experience and then to run it around in our heart and mind and spit out the Words God is placing in us and around us. As we listen to other “thinkers” whether face to face or reading their words, we can catch more of what God has to say than we can if we go it alone. Two heads are better than one. We then must, each one, decide what is true for us and hang on to it and live it. Part of our living it is to first be gracefilled and loved ourselves and then share that with everyone we come in contact with not just a select few. Most people I know have not found their own theology as they never think about it as such. They may memorize scripture, etc. and live by some rules but they have no idea what or who God is. They simply except what someone has taught them. There are no stupid questions. All questions should be examined and responded to and welcomed.
January 17th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Beautiful Jo Ann. Beautiful.