Thank you for drawing attention to the shame-based Fundamentalist behavior. I am now wondering where, in Rabbi Friedman's system theory, the behavior of the elite folk fit. Those who used mockery and a trenchant tone - what drove that behavior? And how might they have addressed fundamentalism differently? This has obvious meaning for us today as we recognize the grievance-based behavior of White Christian Nationalists and wish not to throw gasoline on the fire, so to speak.
The comparative scarcity of academic attention given Prairie Bible Institute located at Three Hills, Alberta, Canada, serves as the primary motivation behind this book. This work should therefore be regarded as an attempt to contribute to and refine the very small amount of research available regarding how Prairie Bible Institute's first half-century should be understood and interpreted by students of North American church history.
Drawing on an insider's perspective of PBI, former PBI "staff kid" Tim W. Callaway challenges the adequacy and accuracy of Canadian scholar Dr. John G. Stackhouse, Jr.'s inference that the kind of "sectish evangelicalism" that typified PBI in the twentieth century was substantially different from the characteristics that define the traditional understanding of American fundamentalism.
The undertaking contained in these pages advances the perspective that Prairie Bible Institute during the L.E. Maxwell era did in fact reflect the influence and attributes of American fundamentalism to a far greater extent than what Stackhouse allowed for in his research.
Check out a Twitter thread by Ken Armstrong that quotes Alito's draft opinion. The "reasoning" in the draft is based on the opinions of Sir Matthew Hale, Lord Chief Justice of England in--wait for it--1671. Hale was also into hanging "witches." Whoever leaked this is a saint.
When you’re taught the doctrine of original sin; that “the heart is desperately wicked;” that all people sin, so work on removing the log from your own eye; that the body’s desires are to be denied so that the soul can avoid temptation; that those in authority over you must be submitted to; and that only Jesus’ crucifixion (which was necessitated by YOUR sin) appeased an angry father, how can you feel anything other than shame?
As a young woman, I read several articles written by Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick. He influenced my life long faith , religious beliefs and political tendencies. Here is a quote, “ The world faces suicide if it does not stop wars.” After reading your references to Fosdick, Diane, I am moved to read as many writings by him as I can find. I strongly recommend readdressing Fosdick’s legacy during this time of turmoil. Thank you, Diane. Peace and grace to all of your followers.
Shame's God dominated my life until April 1966, when Time Magazine's cover blared the headline: Is God Dead? That mean, vengeful God was always trying to catch me doing wrong, so if that God was dead, well good riddance. I began to wonder why anyone would worship a God who shamed the very people He'd made. No theologian, I was 14 at the time, and wrote a little poem:
If God is there then I should love Him, but if there is no God, then what is there to love except my mother's fallen chocolate birthday cake, glued together with frosting? The tears in her eyes outshone all the candles and God smiled as I blew them out.
The God I worship loves imperfection best of all. Thank you for this illuminating series.
Psychologizing always leads to simplistic and often wildly inaccurate conclusions. It really moves one away from historical data and leads towards the writer's own presuppositions. I will say that Ms. Bass is creative. But, creativity often leads to speculation rather than truth. Placing 'shame' at the root of Fundamentalism delegitimizes any possible theological claim that might be made by them. It is a 'strawman' approach that reveals more about the author's preconceived notions than it does about Fundamentalism. I began as a Fundamentalist and am no longer such. And the Fundamentalism I once knew was fundamentally concerned about theology. Educated fundamentalists still are.
Thank you for bringing much needed insight in why are evangelicals/fundamentalist are so impassioned -- "Shame-bound groups always blame others as a way to assert superiority and exercise control." In the last 25 years I've come to see that the piece so often missing from analysis of history and in trying to effect change and growth is that we neglect the emotional system. Rabbi Edwin Friedman was so helpful in pointing out that unless we deal with the covert and overt emotional system of an organization it will resist change. Revealing shame, talking about it, is the antidote.
This essay is sad and true and suggests we won't getting anywhere by lobbing shame at other groups. Diana, I hope this won't seem like a tangent, but I'd love to get your take on Rebecca Todd Peters' book Trust Women: A Progressive Christian Argument for Reproductive Justice. 2018, Beacon Press, Boston, in which she says both right and left have accepted a flawed premise.
What a brilliant assessment! The attempt to overcome a deep seated belief of unworthiness through turning it outward and placing it upon others is the classic inability to face the truth of one’s own faulty assumptions. Until people truly come home to themselves and accept the truth that we created by Love as love, the temptation to find a surrogate sense of freedom from misplaced inner torment will look for a way out. Shame and blame is a nasty game.
Guilt is always the word that comes to mind when I think about my fundamentalist upbringing.
Thank you for drawing attention to the shame-based Fundamentalist behavior. I am now wondering where, in Rabbi Friedman's system theory, the behavior of the elite folk fit. Those who used mockery and a trenchant tone - what drove that behavior? And how might they have addressed fundamentalism differently? This has obvious meaning for us today as we recognize the grievance-based behavior of White Christian Nationalists and wish not to throw gasoline on the fire, so to speak.
Hi Diana. Your interesting pieces are bringing back memories …
https://www.amazon.ca/Training-Disciplined-Soldiers-Christ-Fundamentalism/dp/1449789889
The comparative scarcity of academic attention given Prairie Bible Institute located at Three Hills, Alberta, Canada, serves as the primary motivation behind this book. This work should therefore be regarded as an attempt to contribute to and refine the very small amount of research available regarding how Prairie Bible Institute's first half-century should be understood and interpreted by students of North American church history.
Drawing on an insider's perspective of PBI, former PBI "staff kid" Tim W. Callaway challenges the adequacy and accuracy of Canadian scholar Dr. John G. Stackhouse, Jr.'s inference that the kind of "sectish evangelicalism" that typified PBI in the twentieth century was substantially different from the characteristics that define the traditional understanding of American fundamentalism.
The undertaking contained in these pages advances the perspective that Prairie Bible Institute during the L.E. Maxwell era did in fact reflect the influence and attributes of American fundamentalism to a far greater extent than what Stackhouse allowed for in his research.
Check out a Twitter thread by Ken Armstrong that quotes Alito's draft opinion. The "reasoning" in the draft is based on the opinions of Sir Matthew Hale, Lord Chief Justice of England in--wait for it--1671. Hale was also into hanging "witches." Whoever leaked this is a saint.
thank you. It takes a long time to root out that core of self-shaming and blaming "the world." By God's grace we'll get there.
When you’re taught the doctrine of original sin; that “the heart is desperately wicked;” that all people sin, so work on removing the log from your own eye; that the body’s desires are to be denied so that the soul can avoid temptation; that those in authority over you must be submitted to; and that only Jesus’ crucifixion (which was necessitated by YOUR sin) appeased an angry father, how can you feel anything other than shame?
As a young woman, I read several articles written by Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick. He influenced my life long faith , religious beliefs and political tendencies. Here is a quote, “ The world faces suicide if it does not stop wars.” After reading your references to Fosdick, Diane, I am moved to read as many writings by him as I can find. I strongly recommend readdressing Fosdick’s legacy during this time of turmoil. Thank you, Diane. Peace and grace to all of your followers.
Shame's God dominated my life until April 1966, when Time Magazine's cover blared the headline: Is God Dead? That mean, vengeful God was always trying to catch me doing wrong, so if that God was dead, well good riddance. I began to wonder why anyone would worship a God who shamed the very people He'd made. No theologian, I was 14 at the time, and wrote a little poem:
If God is there then I should love Him, but if there is no God, then what is there to love except my mother's fallen chocolate birthday cake, glued together with frosting? The tears in her eyes outshone all the candles and God smiled as I blew them out.
The God I worship loves imperfection best of all. Thank you for this illuminating series.
Psychologizing always leads to simplistic and often wildly inaccurate conclusions. It really moves one away from historical data and leads towards the writer's own presuppositions. I will say that Ms. Bass is creative. But, creativity often leads to speculation rather than truth. Placing 'shame' at the root of Fundamentalism delegitimizes any possible theological claim that might be made by them. It is a 'strawman' approach that reveals more about the author's preconceived notions than it does about Fundamentalism. I began as a Fundamentalist and am no longer such. And the Fundamentalism I once knew was fundamentally concerned about theology. Educated fundamentalists still are.
Thank you for bringing much needed insight in why are evangelicals/fundamentalist are so impassioned -- "Shame-bound groups always blame others as a way to assert superiority and exercise control." In the last 25 years I've come to see that the piece so often missing from analysis of history and in trying to effect change and growth is that we neglect the emotional system. Rabbi Edwin Friedman was so helpful in pointing out that unless we deal with the covert and overt emotional system of an organization it will resist change. Revealing shame, talking about it, is the antidote.
“bobbed hair, bossy wives, and women preachers.” AKA my millennial dream
Thank you. This is very helpful. I feel sad about about all this shame
This essay is sad and true and suggests we won't getting anywhere by lobbing shame at other groups. Diana, I hope this won't seem like a tangent, but I'd love to get your take on Rebecca Todd Peters' book Trust Women: A Progressive Christian Argument for Reproductive Justice. 2018, Beacon Press, Boston, in which she says both right and left have accepted a flawed premise.
The flaw in our discourse about abortion--
that justification is required.
What a brilliant assessment! The attempt to overcome a deep seated belief of unworthiness through turning it outward and placing it upon others is the classic inability to face the truth of one’s own faulty assumptions. Until people truly come home to themselves and accept the truth that we created by Love as love, the temptation to find a surrogate sense of freedom from misplaced inner torment will look for a way out. Shame and blame is a nasty game.
Fundamentalists are a modern version of Pharisees.
Or, to corrupt the original manuscripts, “God loves you and has a wonderful man for your wife.” 😜