Putting the “Fun” Back into Fundamentalism

An Analysis of the History Surrounding the Publication of The Fundamentals and the Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy

Presented by: Tim PhillipsCHS 572

April 6, 2010

Putting the “Fun” Back into Fundamentalism

What do you think of when you hear the word “fundamentalist”?

Putting the “Fun” Back into Fundamentalism

Historical Events Leading to the Rise of Fundamentalism

German Liberal TheologyDarwin's Origin of the SpeciesThe theology of SchleiermacherThe “Social Gospel”

Putting the “Fun” Back into Fundamentalism

The Fundamentalist-Modernist ControversyEarly 20th century

Pitted the Fundamentalists (conservatives) against the Modernists (liberals)Key event: the publication of The Fundamentals from 1910-1915

Putting the “Fun” Back into FundamentalismThe Fundamentals

Financed by two California oilmen, Lyman and Milton StewartEdited by two pastors, R.A. Torrey and A.C. DixonTwelve paperback volumes sent free to 3,000,000 Christian workersWritten by sixty-four different contributorsVery “ecumenical” in nature

Putting the “Fun” Back into Fundamentalism

What were “The Fundamentals”?

• The inerrancy of Scripture• The virgin birth of Christ• The substitutionary atonement of Christ• The bodily resurrection of Christ• The miracles of Christ• (The second coming of Christ)

Putting the “Fun” Back into Fundamentalism

Opposition by Modernists

Harry Emerson Fosdick (“Shall the Fundamentalists Win?”)“The Auburn Affirmation”

Putting the “Fun” Back into Fundamentalism

Fundamentalism Today

The Scopes Monkey TrialThe change in meaning“Evangelical”

Putting the “Fun” Back into Fundamentalism

Modernist Tendencies in the Modern Church

“We need deeds, not creeds”WWJDMoralism“Cafeteria Christianity”