Mark Noll has written a major indictment of American evangelicalism. Reading this book, one wonders if the evangelical movement has pandered so muc...
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Feb 02, 2012
Bill
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Noll adresses Evangelicalism's "scandal": The absence of deep thinking and the engagement of the arts and sciences from a deep theological perspective.
Noll first gives an historical perspective of how the scandal came about, and then moves on to speak of what the results have been in light of the scandal. He asserts that the church has lost voice in the field of science because of the scandal. He also addresses the political system today, and how it reflects the scandal.
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Noll first gives an historical perspective of how the scandal came about, and then moves on to speak of what the results have been in light of the scandal. He asserts that the church has lost voice in the field of science because of the scandal. He also addresses the political system today, and how it reflects the scandal.
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Jul 23, 2011
Chris
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Noll's overall premise is true: the nineteenth-twentieth centuries did not see much of an "evangelical mind" in the areas in which Noll's desires (politics, science, philosophy, and general culture). His conclusions also provide some positive directions and suggestions for ameliorating the scandalized lack of an evangelical mind, primarily with his incarnational focus. Also, his mildly self-effacing remarks that even his book should not be dwelt on too much but should instead be view
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Jan 01, 2010
Matt
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The Puritans who settled Massachusetts combined heart-felt devotion to Christ with a love of theology. They practiced a vigorous intellectual life centered on the Bible and embraced cutting edge science like inoculation against disease. By the time of the First Great Awakening however, this tradition had degenerated into a formal and lifeless orthodoxy. Noll argues that during the First Great Awakening evangelicals like George Whitfield tried to revive the church with biblical preaching and a th
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Mar 09, 2011
Ana
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The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind / 0-8028-4180-5
I read about Mark Noll's book through Fred Clark's superb Slactivist blog, and was intrigued. Although I am no longer a Christian myself, I do enjoy the writings of Christian intellectuals and I am sensitive to their pain in belonging to a community that, by and large, defines itself as anti-intellectuals and all others as apostates. I am surprised, therefore, to find myself in a position where I cannot recommend Noll's book.
"The Scandal o More...
I read about Mark Noll's book through Fred Clark's superb Slactivist blog, and was intrigued. Although I am no longer a Christian myself, I do enjoy the writings of Christian intellectuals and I am sensitive to their pain in belonging to a community that, by and large, defines itself as anti-intellectuals and all others as apostates. I am surprised, therefore, to find myself in a position where I cannot recommend Noll's book.
"The Scandal o More...
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Jan 22, 2008
Bob
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Extremely interesting book. Written by an evangelical as a challenge his fellow brothers and sisters. He addresses the lack of intellectualism in evangelical circles head on, and is brilliant in his reasoning. A must read for any Christian who thinks "blind faith" means "dumb faith".
Nov 23, 2008
Eric
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This was an important book for me that I read after my first year of college at the suggestion of my aunt, Jan Stump. It was important because it is a call to intellectual sophistication and depth to Christians This call is contextualized in an intellectual history of evangelical Protestants in N. America. I found that they causes of the "scandal" (that there is no evangelical mind) actually effected me and had shaped who I was intellectually up to that point.
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Nov 03, 2010
Jackson
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Mark Knoll is a first rate theologian and historian. Through a well written and engaging history of the development of evangelical theology from its roots in the Reformation, Knoll traces the somewhat tragic story of how evangelical theologians retreated from the world and into the realm of the spiritual alone, thus leaving a void in today's evangelical theology. The first line is one of the greatest first lines in a modern theological work I have read: "The scandal of the evangelical mind
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Nov 19, 2011
Jonathan
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After reading a number of other books citing this source I determined to real Noll's "Scandal." Initially impressed by the author's initial thesis -- the scandal of the evangelical mind is that there is not much of an evangelical mind -- I became less enamored by not only his writing style but also the flesh he put on to the skeleton. That is, the book is academically written at a level that borders on elitism and self congratulation. Moreover, after a number of chapters the observa
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May 29, 2008
tope
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In a sense this is two books: one describing the historical background of evangelicalism and emerging fundamentalism in 19th and early 20th century America, with a special focus on the habits of the mind and intellectual culture that distinguished American evangelicalism in this period, and another outlining the "scandal of the evangelical mind" in the 20th century and speculating on the future of the evangelical mind. In both portions of the book Noll's approach is more of a syntheti
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Apr 13, 2010
Jeremy
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A little dry but it states it's intentions in one sentence. "The scandal of evangelical mind is that it has no mind". This has been an issue damaging to the faith for decades. Noll writes clearly and offers a timely critique for the time it was published which was in the early 90s (before the internet opened up and ideas were more easily proliferated). It looks like we still have the scandal intact, though with very few in academia bringing weight to issues, though that number is growi
Apr 25, 2009
Christine
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This book is a must read for anyone interested in loving God with his or her mind. Mark Noll examines the intellectual history of evangelicalism in the United States, and the strands in evangelical thinking that have led to the scandal of the evangelical mind.
I enjoyed learning about the intellectual life of Jonathan Edwards, and understanding the profound effect that the Enlightenment had on evangelical thought. I found the chapters on politics and science to be especially helpf More...
I enjoyed learning about the intellectual life of Jonathan Edwards, and understanding the profound effect that the Enlightenment had on evangelical thought. I found the chapters on politics and science to be especially helpf More...
Mar 24, 2009
Rebecca
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I had a bit of trouble understanding parts of certain sections, which automatically condemns my mind, but it was intriguing, nonetheless.
Especially interesting to me were the passages concerning fundamentalists and dispensationalism, and the negative effects that eschatological view had upon evangelical thought life.
For the most part, I found this book absorbing and thought-provoking.
Especially interesting to me were the passages concerning fundamentalists and dispensationalism, and the negative effects that eschatological view had upon evangelical thought life.
For the most part, I found this book absorbing and thought-provoking.
Jan 24, 2009
Jared
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This is a great little book, by an evangelical, that argues that there is an anti-intellectualism problem within American evangelicalism. Although Dr. Noll never intended it...his hypothesis goes well with the current research on right-wing authoritarian personalities.
Jul 14, 2011
Ken
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Exceptionally well-researched. Fundamentalism, esp. of the American variety, is dissected in scrupulous detail. Anyone trying seriously to address the intellectual malaise endemic to American faith would do well to read it.
May 06, 2009
Craig
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Noll blazed a trail with this book. It is often quoted by other authors who deal with the subject of Evangelical anti-intellectualism. I especially appreciate Noll's critique of Evangelical's "habits of intuition."
Mar 06, 2009
Mark A. Noll is an evangelical and American historian. In this book he describes the history of American evangelicalism and fundamentalism and how and why it ended up having no real "evangelical mind" to speak of. He takes a very thoughtful and scholarly approach to the matter, and in the end gives suggestions about how evangelicals might change for the better in coming years. While I found at least a couple points I would disagree with him over, overall I found it to be a very wort
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Jul 05, 2011
Frank
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Not light reading, but definitely important reading. The only unfortunate part of the book, was that there was so little in the way of solution or way forward, especially for those of us who are employed in science.
Aug 02, 2011
Some good historical analysis. Interesting to see where the current fundamentalism comes from according to Noll. Not interesting enough to finish the last 60 pages.
Jan 13, 2012
Christianity Today editors' review: Few people have accused evangelicalism of being an intellectual movement—but now we feel bad about it, at least.
Sep 22, 2008
Megan
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A very interesting look at the development of American evangelism and fundamentalism and the ways in which the two have intersected. He focuses on the lack of intellectualism in evangelicalism and makes a strong argument for the reason why this is. In addition to charting out the development of evangelism in the USA and tracing the development (or lack thereof) of an "evangelical mind" he contrasts the history of evangelicalism with the well developed intellectual histories of other C
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Nov 06, 2009
Sheila
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Now I understand how we got where we are - Christians being on the wild side of most arguments. Wish we could get our act together.
May 01, 2008
Matthew
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This book has already become something of a minor classic. Inside, evangelical historian Mark Noll looks at the current intellectual climate inside of current American evangelical culture. Noting the lack of significant evangelical scientists, economists, etc., Noll looks at the historical source of some of these problems, attempting to see if an intellectual evangelical climate is possible, or if the very nature of the evangelical community precludes creating strong intellectual leaders. He
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Jan 03, 2010
Tom
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a great book explaining the history of evangelicalism in america and the problems that evangelicals have created for themselves.
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Nov 16, 2011
Jared
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Mostly good solid points. Wasn't keen on his wanting to collude with evolution. Was very surprised at his very positive treatment on the reconstructionist/ theonomy movement.
Jul 05, 2010
Mike
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Very informative and persuasive. Noll shows why evangelicals have lost their intellectual roots and have lost influence in the world of ideas. This book is cited by many authors as an important book. It traces the history of Christian thought and why it became so anemic in the 20th century. He also has suggestions for what we can do to begin cultivating the Christian mind again.
