THE FUTURE OF FAITH

SESSION THREE

FAITH TURNS INTO BELIEF

USING THE THREE PART MODEL OF

FAITH – BELIEF – SPIRIT THAT COX

PRESENTS, WE DEAL WITH HOW THE

EARLY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

MOVED FROM LIVING ‘THE WAY’

OF JESUS TO A SYSTEM OF BELIEFS

‘ABOUT’ JESUS

Our Project:

An accurate picture of Christian origins

Clearer understanding of how we are

living in similar times to the early church

Three Characteristics of the Early Church:

Multifaceted

Apostolic authority a fiction

An “alternative” to empire

Three Modern Developments:

Discovery of the Gnostic Gospels (1945) - heresy and orthodoxy questioned

Apostolic Authority – a late invention

Emergence of “a people’s history”

Original Christianity was “anti-imperial”

and “counter-imperial” - Jesus example

As Christianity grew it became consumed

with issues of state

Modern liberationist and feminist theologies

have given us a whole new perspective of

formative Christianity.

- Polymorphic (not united)

- Disparate patterns of authority

- Defiant, not subservient to empire

Erection of hierarchies and the fabrication of belief systemswere imposed on the people

Clergy – shepherds or rulers?

Creeds –“Road markers of faith?” (or)“Imposed for salvation?”

What the church needs now are

“deeds” not “creeds”

- Rick Warren

Early Church:

A clash of loyalties – Caesar or Christ?

Later Church:

A clash of creeds – being “right” triumphs

Creedal statements were a response to:

External and internal threats to Christianity

Do good fences make good neighbors?

What are we walling in or walling out?

(Robert Frost – The Mending Wall)

The Result?

Belief “in Jesus” became beliefs “about him”

“People of the Way” became part of the

“Ecclesial imperium

The Rise of the Clerical Caste

Paul was not interested in uniformity

of belief or behavior – contextual advisor

Ignatius and Irenaeus sought episcopal

Control – uniformity of belief and practice

Case Study:

The Canonical Gospels versus

The Gnostic Gospels

John versus Thomas – Elaine Pagels

Characteristics of the “Jesus Wars”:

(Philip Jenkins)

Winners got to determine truth

Power was identified with orthodoxy

Survivor churches claimed authority

Standard teaching:

Apostolic successionApostolic authority

Christian community becomesCatholic Church

Bishops become rulers who ‘represent’ the people

The result?

Amalgamation of Church and Empire

Religion became political

State became religious

Small Group Discussion:

Why did it take so long for the “truth”

About early Christianity to come out?

Now that we know, so what?

SESSION FIVEHow We Might Move to the

Future

COX CHAPTER NINE

INTERFAITH DIALOGUE

“If you want to make peace,

You don’t talk to your friends,

You talk to your enemies.”

- Moshe Dayan Israeli general and

politician turned peacemaker

Secularization Affects All Faiths

Christianity and Other Faiths

Face a Common Moment of Crisis

We are “in this together”

OPTIONS

Martyrdom and Murder- Die for the Faith- Kill for the Faith

Dialogue- With Those Like Us- With Those Not Like Us

ENGAGING FUNDAMENTALISMS

Within Our Faith Family

Beyond Our Faith Family

“Fire From Heaven”

The Rise of Pentecostal Spirituality and

The Reshaping of Christianity in the

Twenty-First Century, by Harvey Cox

1995.

Cox Examples

Jerry Falwell - Liberty University

Pat Robertson – Regent University

“You just can’t talk to those people.”

“We not only can; we must and we did.”

INTRAFAITH DIALOGUE

Taking “Within” Our Faith Tradition

Commonalities:

Rediscovery of the Biblical Jesus

Emergence of a Post Western Christianity

INTERFAITH DIALOGUE

Talking “Beyond” Our Faith Tradition

Commonalities

Mystery

Justice

Best of Times – Worst of Times

Christian Conservatism is Changing

Can Christian Liberalism Change as Well?

Respect is Essential

SUMMARY

New Directions for the Future:

1. Toward “New Faiths”

2. Toward “Other Wings” of Christianity

3. Working Together for “Justice & Peace”

in a complex political world

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Talk and Action

1. Do you think we are too much “talk”

and not enough “action” - focused?

2. What possibilities exist for young people and not-so-young people today?

PENTECOSTALISM

A Major Sign of Hope for the Future of Faith

Pentecostalism

The fastest growing Christian Movement

of the past century, with every indication

of continuing that trend through the next

“Fire From Heaven”

The Rise of Pentecostal Spirituality and

The Reshaping of Christianity in the

Twenty-First Century

Harvey Cox (1995)

Pentecostalism, not Fundamentalism

At the heart of Christian growth in:

Brazil

Korea

Mainland China

USA (Latino population)

Fundamentalists, Pentecostals and Evangelicals

Fundamentalists:

Text-oriented literalists

Pentecostals:

Biblical authority + Direct H.S. experience

Fundamentalists:

“Sober and rational”

Pentecostals:

“Demonstrative worship; ecstatic praise”

Fundamentalists:Non-negotiable doctrines

Pentecostals:“Resistant” to doctrines, creeds, rituals

*****

Evangelicals tend to support Pentecostals and distance themselves from Fundamentalists

Distinguish:

American Pentecostals “Holiness Tradition”

from

Pentecostals in the Global South and East“Progressive Holiness”

Liberation Theology and Pentecostalism?

A possible future convergence in

Latin America between:

Base communities + Pentecostal (CEBs) Communities

(Catholic) (Protestant)

From Non-Conformityto “In, Not Of, the World”

List-making (organized)

Conscious Choice (individualism)

Decision (required)

Pentecostalism can provide creative soil for:

- democracy

- focus on politics and economics

Two Cautions

“Escapist” (Eschatological) thinking

“Health and Wealth” gospel

Questions for Groups

1. Discuss the pros and cons of

Pentecostalism (local and global)

2. Discuss possible collaboration between Mainline and Pentecostal Protestants