Objection to Biblical Inerrancy #10

Continued from Objection to Biblical Inerrancy #9

A tenth objection comes from a sociological study published in the Journal of Politics in 2008. Their charge is that inerrancy engenders a messianic militarism that emerges in political right-wing nationalism, hierarchical authority, devotionalism, immersion in traditionalist Christian culture, and a focus on foreign policy issues over domestic.[1]

While inerrantists should be so flattered as to be accused of so many things simply because they have a high opinion of a religious book, such an objection is slightly contradictory in itself. It asserts that belief in inerrancy makes one both provincially nationalistic and also highly focused on foreign policy. Perhaps instead the foreign policy focus means that the more people believe the Bible, the more they have a heart for the nations and for others.

The study rightly argues that many Christians are ensconced within their own Christian cultural bubble. I would add that immersion within traditionalist Christian culture is not ideal for vigorous and effective evangelism. Perhaps instead someone should study why Christian believers are unappreciative of researchers' blatant disdain for all things Christian and how they therefore refrain from participating in biased studies derogatory of their belief and their Lord.

The term hierarchical authority in this Journal of Politics study probably refers to a biblical pattern of a two-parent family led by the husband, a pattern which worked quite well for the development of society and civilization throughout all world history until the last fifty years -- an open and free civilization that now gives these researchers the right to publish such religious bigotry. And what of their charge against devotionalism? Devotionalism is a good thing and an indication that an inerrantist actually lives what he says he believes.

---

[1] David C. Barker, Jon Hurwitz, and Traci Nelson. “Of Crusades and Culture Wars: ‘Messianic’ Militarism and Political Conflict in the United States.” The Journal of Politics 70 (2008): 307-322. doi:10.1017/S0022381608080328. Accessed November 25, 2008; available from http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=1818056

Continue on to Objection to Biblical Inerrancy #11

Also on Sunday in the South:
Objections to Biblical Inerrancy #1 & #2, #3 & #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9