New Paradigm in Sociology of Religion

Last updated on: August 25, 2015 at 12:00 am By Peter Leithart

In a wide-ranging 1993 review of work in sociology of Religion, Stephen Warner observes that what he calls the “new paradigm” uses economic imagery but isn’t defined by economic imagery. Rather, the defining feature is “the idea that disestablishment is the norm” (1053). That is to say, North American pluralism is the norm, rather than European Christendom. This is in contrast to older “secularization” models take monopolistic religious establishments as the norm and thus suggest that pluralism shocks the system:... Read more

Melting Pot Pentecostalism

Last updated on: August 24, 2015 at 12:00 am By Peter Leithart

David Martin (Future of Christianity, 68-69) notes that in the heat of Pentecostal revival, blacks and whites fuse. He admits that “the fusion of black and white was partly reversed as the movement developed, when it came to the mingling of races. The white heat of revival initially melts down distinctions of colour, gender and class, but then they separate out again, leaving a potentially explosive memory of revolutionary fusion. The fusion eventually occurs again with renewed energy, in new... Read more

Foreign Protestantism

Last updated on: August 24, 2015 at 12:00 am By Peter Leithart

Waldo Cesar observes (Pentecostalism and the Future of the Christian Churches, 91-92) that Protestantism has often felt like a foreign import to Latin America. There was a discontinuity between Protestant missions and the local population, and Protestantism tended to rely on the outside world. All this impressed Latin Americans as a form of neocolonialism. Cesar isolates two factors that led Protestant missions in this direction. First, “It has been true that historically the Protestant churches always had difficulties coexisting with... Read more

The Church and the Street

Last updated on: August 24, 2015 at 12:00 am By Peter Leithart

In his contribution to Pentecostalism and the Christian Churches, Waldo Cesar calls attention to the spatial connection of Latin American Pentecostal churches with the urban streets of Latin America: “There is nothing special from an architectural point of view, and in many cases large movie theater, rented or bought, which do not even have the appearance of a church, are meeting places. . . . The link with the street is achieved by means of a large facade, usually a long... Read more

Denomination and Sacrament

Last updated on: August 21, 2015 at 12:00 am By Peter Leithart

One the features of denominational Christianity highlighted by David Martin is a distinctive mode of sacramental theology that he labels “subjective.” Unlike sects, denominations retain sacraments; unlike the church, the sacrament is less the work of God than the expression of the worshiper. The contours of his characterization are worth noting: “As with the ministry so also with the sacraments themselves: the forms may be retained but the content is different. Denominations often appear to have a very Catholic theory... Read more

Genesis Redux

Last updated on: August 21, 2015 at 12:00 am By Peter Leithart

Leviticus 1-3 form a unit. 1:1 begins with “Yahweh called to Moses and spoke to him,” and a similar phrase, ‘Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying” shows up in 4:1. Chapters 1-3 form a single speech from God. The chapters cover three offerings: the ascension (‘olah), the tribute of grain (minchah) and the peace offering (shelamim). The sequence makes sense from a number of angles. In ritual enactments, the tribute offering would be added to the ascension offering, and both would... Read more

Muzzling the Prophet

Last updated on: August 21, 2015 at 12:00 am By Peter Leithart

“A key function in most religions,” write Michael Emerson and Christian Smith (Divided By Faith) “is to proclaim what ought to be, what is universally true, what is right and just. We call this the prophetic voice” (163). American religion, however, fragments this prophetic voice, even within the same religion, into thousands of difference voices.” The result, as W.E.B. DuBois said is a “pathetically timid and human” church, one that will “stand on the side of wealth and power” and... Read more

Seeing Glory

Last updated on: August 20, 2015 at 12:00 am By Peter Leithart

“This is the thing which Yahweh has commanded that you do, that the glory of Yahweh may appear to you,” Moses tells the assembled Israelites (Leviticus 9:6). What is that thing we must do to see glory? The following verses answer that question. Aaron comes near to the altar, offers a purification and ascension offer for himself and then for the people (9:7-21). After he lifts his hands to bless the people, the glory of the Lord appears and fire... Read more

Denominations and Sects

Last updated on: August 20, 2015 at 12:00 am By Peter Leithart

In a classic 1962 paper, “The Denomination,” David Martin challenged the prevailing idea that a denomination is an “advanced stage in the development of a sect.” As a sect becomes wealthy and well-established, it softens its rigor, becomes more tolerant and less perfectionist, and eventually settles in comfortably as a denomination. Martin doesn’t think this fits the facts. Even where it fits fairly well, as in the history of the Quakers, it doesn’t fit entirely, since even successful, wealthy sects... Read more

What Would Augustine Say?

Last updated on: August 20, 2015 at 12:00 am By Peter Leithart

Donald Trump’s position paper makes the case for strong borders: “A nation without borders is not a nation. A nation without laws is not a nation. A nation that does not serve its own citizens is not a nation.” Pat Buchanan calls it an “invasion” and says that the issue is nothing less than the survival of Western civilization: “Will the West endure or disappear by the century’s end as another lost civilization? Mass immigration, if it continues, will be... Read more