I'd be more interested to hear what Mohler has to say about Worthen's book, or someone like Jeff Iorg or Danny Akin than Randall Balmer, or Mark Noll. First of all, it would be a fair evaluation, not a sales pitch like most of what you've posted, and second, it would be interesting to see if they think its worth the paper its printed on to read it, if for no other reason, for its critical value, if it has any.
Nothing else really holds significance here, Stephen. The SBC is more than a generation removed from its leadership change, and has sustained and affirmed the direction taken by the conservative resurgence repeatedly and overwhelmingly. You're down there in the Heart O' Dixie, why not take a drive through the countryside, visit some SBC pastors and churches, and see how many you find who aren't in agreement with the direction the SBC headed in 1979.
Get yourself a copy of one of Francis Schaeffer's more recent works, take your copy of Molly's
Apostles of Reason, to take with you, set on the desk when you talk to one of the pastors, and see which one he trusts more.
The characterization of Conservative Evangelicals as "anti-intellectual" is an intentional misnomer. It's the result of attempting to blend them into the same mix as "fundamentalists." There are Baptist fundamentalists, of the Jack Hyles-Bob Jones-Lee Roberson brand, but they are pretty much all of the independent, fundamental variety. That's usually the first mistake made in analyzing the SBC. Within the convention, there are a few churches like that, but not many. The other mistake is equating anti-intellectualism with anti-humanism. It's arrogant and patronizing to think that not holding "popular" humanist perspectives is a sign of a lack of intellectual pursuit. Evangelicals attend, get good grades, and graduate from some of the most prestigious, highly respected academic ivory towers in the country. Look at the faculty lists of the SBC seminaries. I guess it irks some pseudo-intellectual critics that they can't indoctrinate everyone.
Last edited by Sandy on Fri Apr 25, 2014 4:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.