The 21st century common story

Enjoy this high school project about the Scopes Trial (complete with outtakes.) I include it because of the obvious worldview these teenagers assume.



Tickle has subtitled the next chapter (chapter 4), "Darwin, Freud and the Power of Myth." When I consider the changing face of the church, I often wonder how much of my thoughts are simply a product of my worldview. How much of my worldview is different from the generation of pastors before me? I went to seminary in the "911" crowd. Many don't know, but a large portion of 2nd career students entered seminary after re-evaluating life post September 11, 2001. (It's also important to note that there was a rise in seminary graduates post WWII. I can imagine a similar evaluation of life and one's life work was present at that time as well.)

The worldview of pastors has changed. Evolution isn't going anywhere (in fact, I saw a bumper sticker that said "evolution is a theory - like gravity.) The concept of "self" and our drive to understand who we are at our core is foundational to understand the current generation's want for spirituality. But it's the power of myth that got me really going in this chapter. I love Joseph Campbell, my family loves Joseph Campbell, I was thinking that I could do a class on Joseph Campbell as a way to create a larger community.

I pastor a church in a region of the world where a majority ethnic group is diminishing one town at a time. Because of the influence of other cultures, ethnic food is a staple. Other cultures are fascinating to me and all of my friends. The background for every one of my sermons is the undeniable truth that we live in a pluralistic world of complex individuals.

These truths have aided in my own faith development. The challenges of scientific discovery push my faith. The complexity of "self" makes me a better pastor. The broad scope of religion in the world has only served to make God too big to define. I see none of these as attacks on my faith development. I take these things for granted.

It's a transition chapter... more tomorrow.