Aaron, I’d love to read your thoughts on how American Catholics built their own successful institutions. Despite anti-catholic bigotry, especially in the South, Catholics eventually gained widespread notoriety (Notre Dame, KoC) despite these challenges.
Where is the Notre Dame of the evangelical movement?
Dalton, trad Catholics are very comfortable with Catholic institutions like Notre Dame that are basically bought into the secular system but leave room for the Catholic faithful to hang their single, as it were. Evangelicals are much more doctrinally strict about what would qualify as a faithful institution.
Thanks for the reply! I wonder if the evangelical movement in the coming decades becomes like many of the Millerites offshoots — a small, but doctrinal strict cohort who are known for their zeal but lack any true cultural influence.
Agree with all of this, and Aaron, appreciate your efforts to build up the church.
When I think about the "institutional mindset", one issue that comes to mind is we can't even keep our own institutions from defecting against us. I can't remember if you addressed this directly in your book, because I know you've spoken before about how, for example, during the debate over homosexuality, the CRC denominational machinery functioned as if -- per Conquest's Laws -- it were run by a cabal of its own enemies.
I was recently speaking with my own pastor -- a man who was heavily inspired by Tim Keller in his youth -- about how much faith he has lost in parachurch organizations in the last 5 years. He's rather disheartened these days about the prospects for large-scale, formal cooperation between churches.
This is a movie I thought was boring as a child but sure does hit different as an adult.
"Is he sick?"
"No, worse, he's discouraged"
That simple exchange at the beginning of the film shows that maybe the previous generation had a better grasp on "mental health issues" than we do today, for all our advancements in pharmaceuticals.
Aaron, I’d love to read your thoughts on how American Catholics built their own successful institutions. Despite anti-catholic bigotry, especially in the South, Catholics eventually gained widespread notoriety (Notre Dame, KoC) despite these challenges.
Where is the Notre Dame of the evangelical movement?
Dalton, trad Catholics are very comfortable with Catholic institutions like Notre Dame that are basically bought into the secular system but leave room for the Catholic faithful to hang their single, as it were. Evangelicals are much more doctrinally strict about what would qualify as a faithful institution.
Thanks for the reply! I wonder if the evangelical movement in the coming decades becomes like many of the Millerites offshoots — a small, but doctrinal strict cohort who are known for their zeal but lack any true cultural influence.
Agree with all of this, and Aaron, appreciate your efforts to build up the church.
When I think about the "institutional mindset", one issue that comes to mind is we can't even keep our own institutions from defecting against us. I can't remember if you addressed this directly in your book, because I know you've spoken before about how, for example, during the debate over homosexuality, the CRC denominational machinery functioned as if -- per Conquest's Laws -- it were run by a cabal of its own enemies.
I was recently speaking with my own pastor -- a man who was heavily inspired by Tim Keller in his youth -- about how much faith he has lost in parachurch organizations in the last 5 years. He's rather disheartened these days about the prospects for large-scale, formal cooperation between churches.
Aaron's commentary reminded of Robert R. Lavelle of Pittsburgh, who did in real life in the Hill District what was shown in the film.
https://www.ncfgiving.com/stories/robert-r-lavelle-a-modern-day-george-bailey/
I watch that film every year in December, and have since the 1990s. I too have noticed how much our nation increasingly resembles Pottersville.
Hmmm... I wouldn't put too much weight on a fictional character!
When you write the script you control the story and characters, regardless of
plausibility or connection to real life.
A great reminder in our present turbulent moment that we each can make the world a better place. One of the best movies of all time.
This is a movie I thought was boring as a child but sure does hit different as an adult.
"Is he sick?"
"No, worse, he's discouraged"
That simple exchange at the beginning of the film shows that maybe the previous generation had a better grasp on "mental health issues" than we do today, for all our advancements in pharmaceuticals.