The podcast explores the anti-intellectualism in Evangelicalism, discussing the impact of 'The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind'. Dr. Mark Noll, a renowned historian, critiques Evangelicalism's approach to intellectualism. The discussion includes historical perspectives, challenges in conveying academic insights, and the intersection of faith and science. They also address the evolving relationship between evangelicalism, politics, and societal perceptions.
Evangelical anti-intellectualism hinders academic pursuits and scientific inquiry within the community.
Dr. Mark Noll's book challenges Evangelical anti-intellectualism and advocates for scholarly advancement.
Balancing confessional values with intellectual exploration is crucial for promoting enriched faith perspectives.
Deep dives
The Evolution of Recovering Evangelicals Podcast
The Recovering Evangelicals podcast, created by Luke Janssen and Scott Dyer, aims to provide a platform for individuals who have shifted away from traditional evangelical beliefs due to modern challenges and seek to recover a personal identity and worldview that differs from their evangelical past. The podcast encourages recovery rather than dismissal of evangelicalism, promoting a community that assists individuals in finding a better path within and beyond religious views. It also focuses on deconstruction and reconstruction processes within evangelicalism, exploring the challenges and possibilities of reconstructing beliefs and perspectives.
Challenging Anti-Intellectualism Within Evangelicalism
The podcast episode delves into the identified danger of anti-intellectualism within evangelical circles, pointing out the conscious rejection of intellectual pursuits and the shunning of academic disciplines such as science, philosophy, and theology. It highlights the detrimental impact of dismissing intellectual inquiry, particularly evident in the denial of scientific advancements like young earth creationism and a reluctance to engage with diverse philosophical and religious perspectives. The conversation addresses the need to balance deconstruction efforts with reconstruction processes that involve fostering intellectual curiosity and openness to knowledge from various sources.
30th Anniversary of 'The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind'
The episode marks the 30th anniversary of Dr. Mark Noel's influential book, 'The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind,' recognized for challenging evangelical anti-intellectualism. Dr. Noel, a historian specializing in Christianity in the US and Canada, reflects on the book's impact and its relevance amid ongoing movements towards greater intellectual engagement within evangelical circles. The book's critical examination of evangelical intellectual shortcomings and calls for scholarly advancement continue to shape conversations and efforts to bridge faith and intellectual rigor.
Evaluating Progress and Challenges Ahead
The discussion acknowledges the strides made in enhancing intellectual engagement among Christian scholars and the presence of study centers advocating for rigorous academic exploration within faith communities. However, concerns linger over the dissemination of scholarly findings to wider audiences, especially within local congregations impacted by societal influences like social media distraction. While optimism remains for continued intellectual work, the importance of bridging intellectual pursuits with public engagement and nourishment across diverse Christian contexts is underscored.
Navigating Confessional Boundaries in Intellectual Pursuits
Exploring the tension between intellectual pursuits and adherence to confessional institutions, the podcast delves into the challenge of pursuing truth regardless of confessional boundaries. Dr. Noel emphasizes the significance of upholding confessional values while fostering intellectual exploration, highlighting the need for institutions to balance doctrinal commitments with open dialogue and critical inquiry. The conversation underscores the complex interplay between institutional safeguarding and intellectual curiosity in promoting an enriched understanding of faith and engaging with diverse perspectives.
“The scandal of the evangelical mind is that there is not much of an evangelical mind” (opening sentence of chapter one)
It’s no secret that modern Evangelicalism is not noted for its intellectualism. In fact, with groups in our midst like Young Earth Creationists, Flat Earthers, anti-vaxxers, and climate change deniers, and the constant criticism coming from within our ranks directed at cultural changes and scientific advances, Christianity in general and Evangelicalism in particular have gained a reputation for being quite anti-intellectual. We heard about this in spades when we talked to Frankie Schaeffer a year back.
Over the past four years, this podcast has often referred to a particular book — The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind — which explores that Evangelical anti-intellectualism in detail. In 1995, Christianity Today declared it the winner of the Book of the Year Award, and in 2004 they claimed that it had “arguably shaped the evangelical world (or at least its institutions) more than any other book published in the last decade.” Today, on the 30th anniversary of its printing, we brought in its author: Dr. Mark Noll, a premier historian of American and Canadian Christian history. He is an Evangelical himself, and has impeccable credentials within Evangelical academia, even though he has often been critical of Evangelicalism.
We first needed to talk about the label “Evangelical,” since that has broad dimensions demographically and theologically, and the movement has become quite wrapped up with politics and partisanship. In the process, it was important to distinguish “Evangelical” from “Fundamentalist.”
Then we talked about the anti-intellectual aspect of this movement, as seen in their shunning of philosophy, culture, science and so many other dimensions of modern society. Progress has been made: we now have world intellectual leaders like Francis Collins, Kathryn Hayhoe, and Biologos. Unfortunately, those are not household names, and yet Ken Ham and AiG are widely recognized!? There is now an ever-increasing level of sophistication in Evangelical theology and scientific literacy (again, Ken Ham and AiG notwithstanding), and yet there is also an increasing separation between a minority of university-trained Evangelicals and a majority of those who are not. Another major problem: how Evangelicalism has become so closely tied to Republicanism and Trumpism, and there is a major racial division within Evangelicalism (white Evangelicals are predominantly pro-Republican, black Evangelicals pro-Democrat).
We explored why Evangelicals tend to shun intellectualism. Historically, it began as a reaction against secular intellectuals in the late 19th century speaking against the authority of the Bible (evolution; textual criticism, etc). It didn’t help that some scriptural passages devalue “the wisdom of man” and praise “the simplicity of children”; the resistance to scholarly authority was exacerbated by an emphasis on the “personal relationship” and “the priesthood of every believer.” Churches/institutions who start to lean away from conservative thinking find their funding sources start to dry up, while leaders and thinkers who dare to push on theological boundaries are fired (Peter Enns is one example of this).
Despite this negative summary, our guest expert is optimistic about the future. We’re curious what you have to say … leave a comment at our web-site or our Facebook page.
