Toward an antisociology of doctrine

Consumer cults give us a window.

Some people drive Harley Davidson motorcycles. Some people look down on everyone who uses any other motorcycle and make a point of indicating so. Some people look down also on every Harley user who doesn’t look down on everyone who uses a non-Harley motorcyle. We could go on to discuss Apple computers, cars, TV shows, etc.

When one enters a highly doctrinal church group one might think the group is concerned about what one confesses and teaches. Nothing could be further from the truth in many cases.

A group identifying itself on the basis doctrinal precision will often be consumed with those who refuse to say enough bad things about those outside the group, about those who lack a number of superlatives in their conversation to describe the doctrines in question, about those who merely confess and teach in conformity to the group’s written charter. Knowing and agreeing with the doctrinal statement is not nearly enough to qualify as a real member of the group.

It is never enough to believe; one must boast.

2 thoughts on “Toward an antisociology of doctrine

  1. Christopher

    I’ve pointed out that many Reformed people I have met, when you ask them what they believe about certain things, always answer in the negative. That is, they identify themselves by what makes them different from everyone else.

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  2. joel hunter

    People can get Christianity anywhere. They come to Reformed Christianity for the atmosphere and the attitude. When it comes to wearing your theological flair, it’s up to you whether or not you want to do the bare minimum. If you think the bare minimum is enough, then okay. But some people choose to wear more flair and we encourage that. You do want to express yourself, don’t you?

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