Lecture 6 - Sociocultural Context for Mission in Aust/NZ II

Question 1

3 Ways the Culture Makes it Harder to Believe in Christ

Answer 1

1. Scientism and the Exaltaion of Disengaged Reason (Descartes only that which is verifiable can be true)
   2.Religion as Superstition (Human history is a coming of age story)
2. Christian Faith is Dangerous (church teaching violates rights, belief in heaven devalues ordinary life, coercive power)

Question 2

The Secular Gospel

Answer 2

• Secularism is not absence of belief, but different belief system
• ethic of authenticity, universal altruism, value of ordinary life.
• Has roots in Christian Faith
• 1963 Luckman “invisible religion”
• 21st C Sociologist Christian Smith: Moralistic Theraputic Deism

Question 3

Engaging with the Secular Gospel - The church’s response to date

Answer 3

• Shouting louder
• Accommodate the Gospel to secular mindset

Question 4

Engagement with the secular mindset

Answer 4

• Engage with the Seeker worldview - identify the desire for God
• Point to Gospel as fulfilment
• We find ourselves in Christ and by giving oursleves away in love

Question 5

Critique - Two contradictions within the ethic of Authenticity

Answer 5

• Realizing my true self is an exhausting, never ending search for my identity
• The importance of “me” vs an indifferent world

Question 6

Tackling the opposition to faith within the culture

Answer 6

• Addressing the inadequacy of scientism
• Challening the coming-of-age abandoning of faith narrative
• Christian faith is dangerous - it calls for change, but it ought not be an exercise in power
• Christian faith as the guarantor of the ultimate value of ordinary life.

Question 7

Tell a more Compelling Story

Answer 7

• move beyond simple denunciations
• positively engaging where the narratives are consistent
• critiquing where there are limitations and obstacles to faith
• “out-storying” the secular Gospel with the story of Jesus Christ