Tolk-a-mentalists vs Fundamentalists.

Nick is back and commenting under the "Political Leaders Make Poor Teachers" post. I'm sure most are missing our lively conversation which is fine. There are bits and pieces that would probably only interest Nick and myself. But I did want to bring to the forefront and interesting parallel that he has pointed out.

"The thing about Tolkien die-hards not liking the films is an interesting one. You're right; inevitably, Jackson had to take certain liberties to make it work cinematically. Also, the characterisation and sub-plots are subject to interpretation. But people get stuck on their own interpretations of Tolkien, and hey presto: Tolkien fundamentalism. There are those who seem to forget that he only wrote it as a story, and Middle Earth is only pretend! I think Jackson did a decent job, personally. Essentially, he told us: this is what I think Tolkien's Middle Earth would be like to live in. There are differences, but he certainly produced an amazing spectacle. 

All of which kind of brings us back on topic. Tolkien is dead, and Tolk-a-mentalists are free to argue ad nauseum about who has the correct interpretation of his work. But the Holy Spirit is not dead."
Again, thanks Nick for tools and insights for helping us understand the things we deal with.

The Hostile Takeover of the SBC

I got in trouble teaching adult Sunday School one day last year.

I go to a conservative, loving and gracious, Spirit-filled, country church. The father-in-law of the pastor used to be a Southern Baptist preacher. And he remembers the SBC (Southern Baptist Convention) of the good old days. I mentioned, in passing, the trouble that the SBC is going through. He was right there to defend his old SBC.

But what he was defending was the SBC that he knew, that noble institution that was actually worth a rip before the Fundamentalist Takeover, before Paige Patterson and others like him got their fleshly mitts onto the reigns of power.

My friend Hannah, of Emotional Abuse and Your Faith (in my blog list) linked a book over at Egalitarian Christian Alliance (in my link junction).
Hannah had this to say:

"My Uncle was a missionary for the SBC, and all my cousins were born in different countries.  He retired and returned to the states about the time all this junk started.

"I remember him telling us that if he was starting over now - he would have found a new church to work with.  He was appalled at all of it.  

"I knew how loyal he was, and it shocked me to hear about it.  We were not SBC, so where a bit removed at that point.  My parents grew up Southern Baptist, but once Dad got transferred to the north?  lol I remember the church telling us do NOT go to those 'northern' baptists!"

Here is the link to the book:
The Fundamentalist Takeover in the Southern Baptist Convention

I'm thinking of sending the link to my pastor's father-in-law. What do you think?