Monthly Archives: June 2012

We Must Begin Again

Posted on June 29, 2012 by John Armstrong

I often wonder if a growing number of dedicated and well-taught Christians began to live a love-directed life with their neighbors what would happen to the churches of our land? America just may not see another great awakening. (I’ve been … Continue reading →

Posted in American Evangelicalism, Church History, Church Tradition, Current Affairs, Homosexuality, Religion, The Church, The Future | 17 Comments

The Heresy of Nationalism

Posted on June 28, 2012 by John Armstrong

Ross Douthat, in his much-discussed survey of American religion, exposes one of our most persistent and complex heresies in his final chapter, which bears the appropriate title: “The City on the Hill.” This particular heresy, which has reached across the … Continue reading →

Posted in American Evangelicalism, Church History, Current Affairs, Missional-Ecumenism, Religion, The Church, The Future | 12 Comments

Therapeutic Religion and the Sexual Revolution

Posted on June 27, 2012 by John Armstrong

In James Frey’s book The Final Testament of the Holy Bible (Gagosian Gallery, 2011) the controversial best-selling author gives us one of most revolutionary readings of the gospels I’ve encountered in any form of modern writing. Amazon.com describes the author … Continue reading →

Posted in American Evangelicalism, Culture, Current Affairs, Religion, Spirituality, The Church, The Future | 11 Comments

The God Within Emphasis in Modern Religion

Posted on June 26, 2012 by John Armstrong

The God Within emphasis of so much modern religion is a serious challenge to orthodox Christian faith. By removing the tensions that exist between true faith and reason the distinction between the Creator and the creation is routinely denied, both … Continue reading →

Posted in American Evangelicalism, Church History, Culture, Current Affairs, Religion, Spirituality, The Church, The Future | 12 Comments

How Gnostic Is the God-Within Movement?

Posted on June 25, 2012 by John Armstrong

Ross Douthat, as I stated last Friday, believes that modern American Christianity has been co-opted by ancient Gnostic ideas. But his argument is actually better developed than that of many pop-evangelical apologists who make the same claim but with very … Continue reading →

Posted in American Evangelicalism, Church History, Current Affairs, Mysticism, Orthodoxy, Religion, Spirituality, The Church, The Future | 1 Comment

The God Within

Posted on June 22, 2012 by John Armstrong

“The God Within” is the title of chapter seven in Bad Religion, New York Times columnist and Catholic author Ross Douthat’s important new book. Douthat suggests that if there is a representative religious pilgrim for our time it is magazine … Continue reading →

Posted in American Evangelicalism, Church History, Current Affairs, Mysticism, Orthodoxy, Religion, Spirituality, The Church, The Future | 13 Comments

Think and Grow Rich

Posted on June 21, 2012 by John Armstrong

The most influential book of popular theology published in the 21st century has had an amazing impact around the world. It has touched Christians in many languages and cultures and stands alone as the religious book of the decade. It … Continue reading →

Posted in American Evangelicalism, Church History, Religion, The Church, The Future | 33 Comments

Half-Educated Evangelical Gurus

Posted on June 20, 2012 by John Armstrong

Mark Lilla, a lapsed Catholic and one of America’s leading scholars of religion, writes an interesting lamentation about what has happened in America. The shift that Lilla describes is a major theme of Ross Douthat’s book, Bad Religion. A half-century … Continue reading →

Posted in American Evangelicalism, Church History, Current Affairs, Religion, The Church, The Future | 18 Comments

The Empty Claims of Liberal Religion

Posted on June 19, 2012 by John Armstrong

Ross Douthat titles part two of his critique of American religion: “The Age of Heresy.” He opens with a description of the work of Professors Elaine Pagels and Bart Ehrman, the latter a once-upon-a-time evangelical who graduated from Moody Bible … Continue reading →

Posted in American Evangelicalism, Church History, Religion, The Church, The Future | 15 Comments

Sharing Life with Catholics at Acton University

Posted on June 18, 2012 by John Armstrong

I love the Acton Institute. I especially love to see over 800 people, from over 75 countries, that gather each year for Acton University in Grand Rapids. Last week was another exceptional Acton University meeting. I hope some of you … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 13 Comments