Comments on Elizaphanian
Today's post was worth the wait, Sam. Nice.
Being the Reformed, Evangelical, Sola Scripture Christian that I am, I both agree with you (that evangelicalism will go through a long-term decline as a result of American evangelicalism) and disagree (I believe that as the church shrinks, the Reformed, Evangelical and Sola Scriptura churches will begin to assert more influence).
I enjoy your posts very much. Sadly it is in my nature to argue points I find difficult but that only reflects my interest in what you say and concern that you may be right. Do not be annoyed.
The BBC today reports a collapse in oil prices - falling 5% in 2 days. It is now at about 70% of its peak price.
Of course market fluctuations are irrelevant but then the Oil Drum pieces that you cited were based on production figures from 2002-2004 (see the charts), hardly a long term view. The fall in oil prices has been sustained for 6 months - 25% of the time period which the Oil Drum writer uses to show a present peak.
Peakists cannot respond that demand changes are the key (although a market orientated response might argue this the Peakist philosophy does not allow them to) since their theory is that oil demand is enternally rising and is non-responsive to market pressure because oil is so essential.
So oil must end of course but there is no sign of apocalypse yet.
Apocalypse Later, perhaps.
Neil - my disagreement is a bit more specific; ie I think the evangelical camps will split between the emergent and the fundamentalist; the emergent will rapidly establish substantial common ground with the catholic side. Not so much formal unity but a recognisable practical commonality.
Wow, I can't say that I'm really, really excited about a new catholic (small c), revolution of Christianity. These things so rarely come out well for us Jews. So I hope you are wrong.
No offense, but we're happier with you divided.
Just a couple of comments on an otherwise good entry.
In a world of contracting energy, I question the availability of organic food. Local food, certainly. But It will be more important to have food, any food, so whatever is at hand to assure yields will be used, even currently banned insecticides.
THe air may be much less breathable than today. Wood for cooking and heat is likely to make a big comeback.
DK
To quote you, "In particular, the fetishisation of 'the text' will be seen as culturally conditioned, and a product of the widespread acceptance of a new form of technology. As the cultural acceptance of that technology changes and becomes more provisional, so too will the religious understanding of the technology. Once more the Word will be seen as the one made flesh." I am neither Einstein nor an imbecile, just kind of an average Joe, but fairly well read as far as Scripture goes. Moreover, I exercise intellectually on a daily basis. But, I don't have the foggiest idea what the ..... you're taking about. And that, my friend, is why Christian reform ISN'T over. It constantly needs recapture from the fuzzy headed theologians who turn it into some aberrant, mystical, intellectually convoluted bunch of gobbledy gook that self validates the clergy's sense of superiority. I'll do everything I can to perpetuate the reformation, or more properly, return to, the mission and message of the Lamb who was slain for the sins of the world. He told the "church to go into all the world and tell people to repent, (ie. turn from their sin, blindness, unbelief) and to believe that their sins ARE forgiven! That, my friend, is how 12 uneducated men became known as "those who have turned the world upside down. It wasn't about private clubs with big, elegant meeting places and hierarchies arguing over higher knowledge. Christianity grew because priests went to the heathen in wave after wave and told them to stop their rebellion and be reconciled to God. These priests were slaughtered, but they kept going, just to bear a message from the very heart of God. As I began, I have no idea what you're talking about, but I'm pretty sure it isn't about this. Nevertheless, I'd like to hear your explanation, in layman's terms.
Those primitive fishermen, as you say, spoke directly and authentically about what had changed them. They weren't banging on about a book, they were talking about a person they knew directly.
I happen to completely agree with you that theology has been captured by fuzzy headed theologians. Ironic really.
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