Month: July 2023

Originalism

Don Shrumm

In regards to The US Constitution an “Originalist” tries to apply the law as it was intended when it was written. This as opposed to catering to contemporary concerns and applications. This latter, more typically liberal view is sometimes referred to as the “Living Constitution” approach. There are entire philosophical schools of thought between these two extremes. How we read texts is a vast and fascinating study of Hermeneutics. As always there are shades in between the two sides to be drawn! Click here for a Wikipedia article of far…

Hartley’s Band

Don Shrumm

Felt the thud. People started scrambling… Non-denominational churches were coming into their heyday when I graduated from seminary in 1987.  U.S. Mainline congregations accustomed to dominating American religion for 2 centuries were badly drifting. We just assumed we were too big to fail. Down south pastor friends were already accustomed to being surrounded and overwhelmed by Baptists, conservative theology and more regressive politics. Out West growth of the un-churched and “Post-Christian” sounded ominous. Up on the Atlantic coast where my career was launched tradition (including stately religion) holds more sway.…