This series of posts answers the question: what were the building books that acted as the building blocks of my theology and practice?
1. C. S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia
2. R. C. Sproul, Chosen by God
3. Charles Colson and Nancy Pearcey, How Now Shall We Live?
4. John Piper, The Pleasures of God
5. Nicholas Wolterstorff, Art in Action
6. Eugene Peterson, Under the Unpredictable Plant
7. Garrison Keillor, Lake Wobegon Days
8. George Marsden, Fundamentalism and American Culture
So far the most influential books in my Christian journey have included books regarding theology, worldview, philosophy, pastoral ministry, and even two novels. I would be remiss not to include the history book that had the greatest impact on me: Fundamentalism and American Culture by George Marsden. During my last three semesters in college, I was consumed with a project called SIP, my senior integration paper, which included extensive historical research and a massive thirty-page plus thesis paper. For my project, I was studying the relationship between the Christian Reformed Church and the National Association of Evangelicals in the 1940s and 50s. Pivotal to this project was an accurate understanding of fundamentalism and evangelicalism in this crucial time in American religious history, and no one brought more clarity to these issues than George Marsden. But Fundamentalism and American Culture was not only important for reasons of research; I found that understanding the roots and development of fundamentalism and evangelicalism helped me to understand the contemporary landscape of American Protestantism. Not only that, but it helped me to locate my own place in this landscape (baptized and raised in the CRC, attended Evangelical Free church for 7 years, and a member of the PCA since my freshman year in college), and the place of my churches, family, and friends. In other words, this book assisted me as I struggled to understand my identity and the identity of the Christian communities in which I was a part. Throughout college, I became more and more convinced that history is essential if we are to understand ourselves, and I also observed that the church often suffers from historical amnesia, and therefore struggles to distinguish its identity from cultural movements and identities. Fundamentalism and American Culture is a prime example of history that helps us to understand ourselves, history that guides us in discerning what direction we should go in the present and future.
Current Conversations