- Fundamentalism:
- Characteristics:
- Fundamentalism was a reaction to modernism (an approach that minimized Scripture in favor of reason). Fundamentalism is militant, challenging alternative beliefs and seeking to overcome the culture. It is separatist, shunning those who do not share a fundamentalist understanding and a fundamentalist cultural purity (Smoking, drinking, dancing, movies, games, overt sexuality, etc.). It seeks separation from sin/sinners. There may be a strong identity with country or tradition. Often authoritarian
- Beliefs:
- Characteristics:
- Denominations:Wild Peach Baptist Church – Brazoria, TX New Shores Church – Sweeny, TXThe Church” at San Antonio, TXMany Independent Baptist Churches,
- Schools:
- Bob Jones University
- Texas Baptist Institute
- Proponents:
- John McArthur
- W.A. Criswell
- Jerry Falwell
- J. Gresham Machen
- Jack Hyles (Baptist)
- Schools:
- Evangelicalism
- Characteristics:
- Evangelicals take the Bible seriously and believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The evangelical faith focuses on the “good news” of salvation brought to sinners by Jesus Christ.
- Beliefs:
- Four-Point Evangelical:
- Believe they will go to Heaven because they have confessed their sins and accepted Jesus as their savior.
- They strongly agree that the Bible is accurate in all it teaches.
- Strongly agree they are responsible for sharing their faith with others.
- Strongly disagree that people can earn their way into Heaven through good works.
- Fully Evangelical: (Barna’s Criteria includes the first four and the following)
- Say their faith is essential in their life,
- Believe they have a personal responsibility to share their faith.
- Believe that Satan exists.
- Believe that Jesus Christ came to earth and lived without sin.
- Assert that the Bible is accurate in all it teaches.
- Believe that salvation comes only through grace, not works.
- Believe that God is the omniscient, omnipotent creator of the universe who still rules the world today.
- Four-Point Evangelical:
- Denominations:(40+denominations… below is representative.)
- Christian and Missionary Alliance
- Church of the Nazarene
- ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians
- Foursquare Church, The
- Vineyard USA
- Schools:
- Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
- Asbury Theological Seminary
- Fuller Theological Seminary
- Moody Bible Institute
- The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Proponents:
- F. F. Bruce
- Gordon Fee
- Wayne Grudem
- Carl Henry
- George E. Ladd
- Characteristics:
- Progressivism (gateway drug to liberalism)
- Characteristics: (from progressive source)
- Seek God, however he is understood, guided by the life of Jesus.
- Affirm that there are many ways to experience the Sacred. Recognize that following Jesus leads us to act compassionately and confront evil.
- Place hospitality at the center of our communal and worshipping life.
- Seek to build communities that accept all without insisting on conformity.
- How we behave towards others is the fullest expression of our faith.
- Gain more insights in the search for understanding than we do in certainty.
- Work together within and beyond the Church to achieve a just, peaceful, and sustainable world.
- Beliefs:
- Denials
- Deny the atonement, biblical authority, original sin, and need for redemption from sin. Downplay the resurrection and miracles.
- Lean toward pantheism or Panentheism.
- Affirmations
- Affirm LGBTQ relationships, homosexual marriage, and transgenderism while rejecting cisgender norms. Affirm universalism and pluralism. Affirm the gospel of social justice and critical theory over the need for individual salvation. Salvation is corporate.
- Pantheism, Panentheism, or Perennialism are worldviews leading to mysticism and contemplative practices.
- Denials
- Denominations:
- United Church of Christ (UCC)
- Metropolitan Community Church (LGBTQ)
- Episcopal Church
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
- Presbyterian Church USA
- Schools:
- Phillips Theological Seminary
- Claremont School of Theology
- Andover Newton Seminary at Yale Divinity School
- Chicago Theological Seminary
- The Divinity School at Wake Forest University
- Proponents:
- Marcus Joel Borg
- John Shelby “Jack” Spong
- John Dominic Crossan
- Matthew Fox
- Richard Rohr
- Characteristics: (from progressive source)
- Liberalism
- Characteristics:
- Liberal Christianity (Christian Modernism) emphasizes the importance of reason and experience over doctrinal authority.
- Believe in panentheism. We are “co-creators” with God.The Bible is not inerrant but a manufactured book. The virgin birth of Christ is a myth, and Jesus was not resurrected.Jesus wished to create social justice warriors.They are evolutionists and environmentalists.They are often open to abortion, homosexuality, prostitution, divorce, sex outside marriage, contraception, and euthanasia.Prayer is a way to commune with the divine. Open to Eastern mysticism.Most believe governments can be a force for good, upholding human rights, providing social services, and reducing the gap between the rich and the rest.They believe life is a combination of chance and divine purpose. Out of suffering, God works to bring new order and healing.Some believe in an afterlife, and some do not. They do not believe in hell or future judgment.They expect that history culminates in the expectation of the coming of the Kingdom of God on earth.They must be open to the verdicts of modern intellectual inquiry, especially the study of natural and social sciences.
- PCUSAUCCEpiscopaliansEvangelical Lutheran Church of AmericaUnitarians
- Union Theological SeminaryPrinceton Theological SeminaryAndover NewtonHarvardBaptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
- Proponents:
- Karl Barth
- Dietrich Bonhoffer
- Rudolph Bultmann
- Paul Tillich
- Hans Kung
- Characteristics:
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