1. The Many Faces of Pluralism in Modern America Chapter 16

2. Postmodernism G Though nebulous in definition, postmodernism can be described as “an abandonment of absolute authority, particularly any authority outside personal experience” (234) G Postmodernist critique involves questioning all authority that is not local and autonomous G Though nebulous in definition, postmodernism can be described as “an abandonment of absolute authority, particularly any authority outside personal experience” (234) G Postmodernist critique involves questioning all authority that is not local and autonomous

3. The Decline of the Mainline G Postmodernism is one reason behind a perceived decline in Church membership in mainline Protestant denominations G When the focus turns from the denominational to the home as the place of spiritual resource, denominations have felt the effect in the pews and the pocketbook G The drop in the birth-rate also affected the numbers (given the advent of birth control) G New immigration, low birth-rates and a growing postmodern hermeneutic led to a “reconfiguration” of Protestant churches in America G Postmodernism is one reason behind a perceived decline in Church membership in mainline Protestant denominations G When the focus turns from the denominational to the home as the place of spiritual resource, denominations have felt the effect in the pews and the pocketbook G The drop in the birth-rate also affected the numbers (given the advent of birth control) G New immigration, low birth-rates and a growing postmodern hermeneutic led to a “reconfiguration” of Protestant churches in America

4. Evangelical Renaissance G Being “born again” (referring to the singular experience of saving conversion), a term now commonly known, became the de facto motto of evangelicals in America G The election of President Carter in 1976 put evangelicalism on both the religious and political map G Evangelicalism was postmodern in its individualism, but traditional in its willingness to hold onto certain absolutes, namely those known through personal conversion G Being “born again” (referring to the singular experience of saving conversion), a term now commonly known, became the de facto motto of evangelicals in America G The election of President Carter in 1976 put evangelicalism on both the religious and political map G Evangelicalism was postmodern in its individualism, but traditional in its willingness to hold onto certain absolutes, namely those known through personal conversion

5. Evangelical Permutations G Increasingly put off by the elevation of reason and science, evangelicals found the need to engage in political action to redirect America’s course away from spiritual bankruptcy G Often this manifested itself in line with Fundamentalism G Jerry Falwell, founder of the Moral Majority and Southern Baptist preacher, and Pat Robertson of the Christian Coalition saw the necessity of conflating a conservative evangelicalism with “non- denominational political action” (237) in order to battle abortion and gay rights G Others responded to postmodernism with an espousal of the “seeker movement” G Bill Hybels, founder of the Willow Creek Community Church, founded his ministry on discerning what it was adults needed out of their church experience G Increasingly put off by the elevation of reason and science, evangelicals found the need to engage in political action to redirect America’s course away from spiritual bankruptcy G Often this manifested itself in line with Fundamentalism G Jerry Falwell, founder of the Moral Majority and Southern Baptist preacher, and Pat Robertson of the Christian Coalition saw the necessity of conflating a conservative evangelicalism with “non- denominational political action” (237) in order to battle abortion and gay rights G Others responded to postmodernism with an espousal of the “seeker movement” G Bill Hybels, founder of the Willow Creek Community Church, founded his ministry on discerning what it was adults needed out of their church experience

6. Pentecostalism in the 20th Century G Henry Pitney Van Dusen believed Pentecostalism had the capacity to overtake other religious forces, given its focus on charismatic experience and individualized gifts of the spirit G Within this impulse, Kathryn Kuhlman and Oral Roberts began faith healing ministries G However, charismatic trends were by no means confined to traditional Protestant Pentecostal traditions, but began to cut across denominational lines G Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches began seeing charismatic expressions appear G New denominations or “fellowships” (which classically link “like-minded congregations” (239)) also formed such as the Calvary Chapel and Vineyard Christian Fellowship G Henry Pitney Van Dusen believed Pentecostalism had the capacity to overtake other religious forces, given its focus on charismatic experience and individualized gifts of the spirit G Within this impulse, Kathryn Kuhlman and Oral Roberts began faith healing ministries G However, charismatic trends were by no means confined to traditional Protestant Pentecostal traditions, but began to cut across denominational lines G Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches began seeing charismatic expressions appear G New denominations or “fellowships” (which classically link “like-minded congregations” (239)) also formed such as the Calvary Chapel and Vineyard Christian Fellowship

7. Evangelicalism in Pop Culture G The Left Behind series has popularized the premillennial dispensationalist position of the 19th and early 20th century; Authors Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins have focused on the Rapture as the crucial Christian moment and also as a great literary plot device

8. Religion in the Public Eye G As the evangelical movement came increasingly into prominence and recognition, so did the idea that morality and religious issues were a matter of public and political policy G Opinions on hot-bed issues were by no means uniform G Abortion and homosexuality are the two issues that receive the most attention by religious pundits G For abortion, sides have formed, perceived to occur along religious lines given that much of the pro-life rhetoric is religious in nature G Gay rights (including the right to marry, avoid discrimination in the workplace) has also proved contentious, though both sides use religious and secular reasoning and language (see p. 243 for more); gay clergy is also an issue of specific religious import being debated in churches G As the evangelical movement came increasingly into prominence and recognition, so did the idea that morality and religious issues were a matter of public and political policy G Opinions on hot-bed issues were by no means uniform G Abortion and homosexuality are the two issues that receive the most attention by religious pundits G For abortion, sides have formed, perceived to occur along religious lines given that much of the pro-life rhetoric is religious in nature G Gay rights (including the right to marry, avoid discrimination in the workplace) has also proved contentious, though both sides use religious and secular reasoning and language (see p. 243 for more); gay clergy is also an issue of specific religious import being debated in churches