A survey of 3,000 people conducted by LifeWay Research and commissioned by Ligonier Ministries found that although Americans still overwhelmingly identify as “Christian,” startling percentages of the nation embrace ancient errors condemned by all major Christian traditions. These are not minor points of doctrine, but core ideas that define Christianity itself. The really sad part? Even when we’re denying the divinity of Christ, we can’t keep our story straight. Americans talking about theology sound about as competent as country singers rapping.
G. Shane Morris, “Survey Finds Most American Christians Are Actually Heretics” (See also Ligonier’s presentation: The State of Theology.com)
R. Scott Clark
R.Scott Clark is the President of the Heidelberg Reformation Association, the author and editor of, and contributor to several books and the author of many articles. He has taught church history and historical theology since 1997 at Westminster Seminary California. He has also taught at Wheaton College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Concordia University. He has hosted the Heidelblog since 2007.
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How did we get here as a nation? What are your thoughts Dr. Clark?
Hi Trent,
See the bibliography at the end of this post. I blame revivalism and its precursors. See esp. the essay “Magic and Noise” and Recovering the Reformed Confession.
I would also include the rise of fundamentalism. Fundamentalism was a rejection of Modernity, and while there is nothing wrong with (and quite a few things right with) the rejection of Modernity, fundamentalism was not the answer. Those came Niagara Bible conferences that gave rise to the Fundamentals of the faith also brought us the Scofield Reference Bible and Dispensationalism. Tie those both into the emotionalism of revivalism and the societal impact of postmodernism with “there is no Truth” and you find a striking resemblance to today’s christianity.