The Challenge of Present-Day Fundamentalism

Abstract

was historically timed to meet rising influences of Renaissance and Enlightenment on religious life of America. main characters of modern mood are easily recognizable and need here barest restatement. There was, first, an emphasis upon man as of greater importance than religious dogma; mood was humanistic as opposed to medieval stress upon a body of doctrine. Next, there was a reliance upon nature with an accompanying distrust of supernatural. Reason was elevated above faith. scientific method was considered applicable to all realms of reality, and was received as new authority replacing older acceptances of revealed truth. Humanitarian idealism in an evolutionary setting replaced ancient issue between sin and salvation in its subhuman and super-human dimensions. Walter Lippmann had not yet written of the acids of modernity, but there is no doubt they had long eaten away at foundations of traditional religion. By latter part of last century two distinct movements appeared, almost simultaneously, each in strong opposition to other. one, which came to be known as Modernism, was a projection of Renaissance spirit on religious level. Its chief emphases were: (1) literary and historical criticism of Bible; and (2), social application of prophetic Christianity. other was Fundamentalism, which came, not as an extension of Renaissance, but as a re-action against it. It was a rigorous return to a rigid system of dogma presented as holding undebatable absolutis of Christian revelation. issue was projected in a series of brochures, entitled The Fundamentals, which appeared about beginning of our century. main planks in Fundamentalist platform, as set forth in these pamphlets and in subsequent propaganda, were: (1) doctrine of plenary inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture; (2) doctrine of virgin birth of Jesus, with literal acceptance of miracles; (3) physical resurrection of our Lord and of redeemed, (4) substitutionary theory of atonement, and (5) second coming of Christ. There were other fundamentals, perhaps as many as twelve, but list given here well describes spirit and content of movement.