Thanks for this post. As a mainliner, I have found the whole “Dispensationalism” content head spinning.
I haven’t been so kind. I’ve said, “I think these leaders have watched too many “Left Behind” movies and read “A Thief in the Night” too many times.
This whole philosophy originated in England. The Anglicans/Episcopalians and the Church of England quickly dismissed this stuff as a “crock”. Sadly, much of the white American Evangelical subculture picked this up and ran with it.
Researchers have noted that the white Evangelical subculture is one of the most tightly tribal subgroups in the country. Conspiracy theories and victimhood (when they are the “majority”) are defining features of the tribe.
Even those who say they are deconstructing, reconstructing, recommitting, or something else continue to exhibit these and other dysfunctional tribal thinking patterns. (Off topic a bit-but the binary [black and white ] thinking is even more concerning.
It makes this subgroup uniquely vulnerable to disinformation and propaganda (as evidenced by our current political climate).
It doesn’t seem quite right to say I loved this book because the content is quite devastating, but it is quite right to say that it was excellent and my copy is covered in underlines and brackets and asterisks and margin notes.
Thanks… I love how you invite us to explore and discover! What a gift in the world that seemingly likes… (demands??) to tell us what we should know /believe! Bless you!
Oh I had many thoughts but not enough time to process them all online, sadly. I "read" most books while walking my dog and listening to audiobooks. I did think many good documentary film ideas were in his book!
Thanks for this post. As a mainliner, I have found the whole “Dispensationalism” content head spinning.
I haven’t been so kind. I’ve said, “I think these leaders have watched too many “Left Behind” movies and read “A Thief in the Night” too many times.
This whole philosophy originated in England. The Anglicans/Episcopalians and the Church of England quickly dismissed this stuff as a “crock”. Sadly, much of the white American Evangelical subculture picked this up and ran with it.
Researchers have noted that the white Evangelical subculture is one of the most tightly tribal subgroups in the country. Conspiracy theories and victimhood (when they are the “majority”) are defining features of the tribe.
Even those who say they are deconstructing, reconstructing, recommitting, or something else continue to exhibit these and other dysfunctional tribal thinking patterns. (Off topic a bit-but the binary [black and white ] thinking is even more concerning.
It makes this subgroup uniquely vulnerable to disinformation and propaganda (as evidenced by our current political climate).
It doesn’t seem quite right to say I loved this book because the content is quite devastating, but it is quite right to say that it was excellent and my copy is covered in underlines and brackets and asterisks and margin notes.
I love the way you think things through Lore… conspiracy theories are a very complex topic…!
I admire your courage!
Beth Ragle
Thanks… I love how you invite us to explore and discover! What a gift in the world that seemingly likes… (demands??) to tell us what we should know /believe! Bless you!
I read this book earlier this year and was fascinated by it, too.
Ooooh! Did you write about it? I’d be curious for your thoughts :)
Oh I had many thoughts but not enough time to process them all online, sadly. I "read" most books while walking my dog and listening to audiobooks. I did think many good documentary film ideas were in his book!
I just finished this book!