Conservative Theology

The Problem of Conservative Theology

JB

The unfortunate thing about conservative theology is that, although it may be dominant among church-goers, it has largely fallen out of favor with the academic elite.  Unfortunately for the Church, it is that academic elite which direct the Church, whether or not they are in official positions of power.

The problem, in large part, isn't that conservative theology doesn't work, or even that it doesn't work academically.  The problem is that conservative theologians are usually more interested in leading congregations than in academic work, and that all of the academy is beginning to equate "secularist" with "academic", so holding a secular perspective is actually becoming almost a prerequisite for participation, or, at the very least, one must argue from a secularist perspective when publishing in academic journals.

This leaves a dangerous void which will leave conservatives without an academic backing in not too many years.  Without being tied into academics, conservative theology runs the risk of not being able to answer the questions or problems of the world, and thus isolating it from the very people it is time to reach.  Academics is important for many reasons, but one evangelical one that people miss is that academics directs the public conversation many years in advance.  What academics are talking about today will filter down to the public over the next 10 years.  By engaging in academics, conservatives have an opportunity to actually lead the conversation, rather than simply following it, which has been our modus operandi for the last century.

This blog intends to inspire and challenge conservatives in academic thought, and also provide an academic voice for conservative principles in theology.  I hope that you enjoy it.