M-SIG
      Special Interest Group on
Evangelical Christianity




               Evangelical Christianity SIG              

 

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Introduction
(Home Page)


Welcome to the SIG on Evangelical Christianity, where Evangelical Christian theology and the implications of Evangelical Christianity on culture, science, and all areas of life and knowledge are discussed. The idea is that members will suggest topics, and then volunteers will write position statements, suggest web links, submit book reviews, etc., that are related to and make contributions to the topic that has been identified. Members can just view the web site (no intellectual contributions are required to be a member), or take a more active role.

For the purposes of this SIG, "Evangelical Christianity" is defined as conservative, historic, Protestant, Biblical Christianity. However, all members of Mensa are welcome, regardless of religious affiliation.

To join this SIG, make comments, or ask questions, please contact the SIG Coordinator Larry Paarmann: click on the Contact tab.


Motivation for this SIG

This SIG has been motivated and inspired by several groups and books. One group is called "The Truth Project." Information about this group may be found on their web site. Click here for The Truth Project web site. The Truth Project is primarily twelve DVD presentations on developing a Biblical worldview.

A book that influenced the establishment of this SIG is Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey. Click here for information about the book and about Nancy Pearcey. This book is also concerned with developing a Biblical worldview that embraces all areas of life and knowledge, but focuses primarily on science and philosophy.

Another book that influenced the establishment of this SIG is Saving Leonardo also by Nancy Pearcey. Click here for information about the book. This book is really Total Truth, Part II, but focuses primarily on the arts and the humanities.

An organization that has motivated and inspired the founding of this SIG is L'Abri Fellowship, initially established in Switzerland in 1955 by Francis Schaeffer, and is now located in some ten countries. Information about this organization may be found on their web site. Click here for the L'Abri web site. From the L'Abri web site home page: "The L'Abri communities are study centers in Europe, Asia and America where individuals have the opportunity to seek answers to honest questions about God and the significance of human life. L'Abri believes that Christianity speaks to all aspects of life."

Another book that influenced the establishment of this SIG is Reason in the Balance: The Case Against Naturalism in Science, Law & Education by Phillip E. Johnson. For a brief review of this book in pdf format, click here. Johnson makes the argument in this book that if there truly is a God, then modern society is ignoring the most important truth of all, and that to do so is irrational.


Format of Documents

All documents on this web site are in Adobe Acrobat pdf format. Submitted documents may be in pdf format, or in MS Word, or in a simple text file, but all file types will be converted, if needed, into pdf before posting. If you do not already have the Acrobat Reader on your computer, you may obtain a free Reader from the Adobe web site:

http://www.adobe.com


Structure of Web Site

This web site is organized into the seven selections seen along the left side: Home, What's New, Topics, Reports,Local SIGs, Resources, and Contact. What's New is a web page that chronicles changes, additions, etc., to the web site enabling the returning member to easily see what's new since the last time they visited. Topics is a main selection point into the web site. Below topics will be listed indentified topics for discussion, and below each of those topics will be book reviews, statements, etc., related to the selected topic. Reports is a selection that will list reports of annual AGs. Local SIGs indicates local groups of this SIG and their activities. Resources are other web sites that have been found that may be useful for this SIG. And, of course, Contact is a page that be used to contact the coordinator of this SIG to join the SIG, or ask questions, or make comments. To navigate your way around this web site, please make your initial selection from along the left side of the page.


Theological Position of the Coordinator

As to my particular theological position, I am a conservative, Protestant, Evangelical Christian as defined during the Protestant Reformation. This may be summarized by the five solas of the Reformation: sola scriptura (by Scripture alone), sola fide (by faith alone), sola gratia (by grace alone), solo Christo (through Christ alone), and soli Deo gloria (to the glory of God alone), and also by the principal doctrine of the Reformation, Justification by Faith alone. More specific and detailed expression may be found in the Westminster Confession of Faith. To read about the Westminster Confession of Faith, click here.


Final Note

I welcome Mensa members to this SIG (you must be a member of Mensa to join this SIG) who hold to the theological position briefly stated above, also other Evangelical Christians, but also, and especially, those who are not Evangelical Christians but are interested in the topical content of this SIG. It is my hope that we can engage in stimulating discussion and mutually grow in our understanding of the issues involved.

As indicted near the top of this page, to join this SIG, make comments, or ask questions, please contact the SIG Coordinator Larry Paarmann: click on the Contact tab.