Trivia Question

[Mike S]

This really isn't trivial, but I'll ask it here anyway.

I grew up in Western New York State. Why is this area known as the "burned-over district?"

 

[Willie T]

Over evangelized.

 

[Mike S]

Over evangelized.

Well, that's one way of putting it. I like to think that the area was one of such extraordinarily widespread passionate religious fervor that there was "no fuel" of unconverted population left to be "burned", converted. Charles Finney's description.

I know from experience that it's still an area of extraordinarily passionate religious fervor.

 

[Willie T]

Well, that's one way of putting it. I like to think that the area was one of such extraordinarily widespread passionate religious fervor that there was "no fuel" of unconverted population left to be "burned", converted. Charles Finney's description.

I know from experience that it's still an area of extraordinarily passionate religious fervor.

I see it as an area where so much negative "Fire & Brimstone" preaching (which is not the gospel, at all) has burned out the populace so thoroughly that they no longer respond to the man-made message of fear.... They are looking, instead, for Jesus' message of love.

 

[Kathi]

Does it have something to do with the Mormons?

 

[Mike S]

I see it as an area where so much negative "Fire & Brimstone" preaching (which is not the gospel, at all) has burned out the populace so thoroughly that they no longer respond to the man-made message of fear.... They are looking, instead, for Jesus' message of love.

A little experience in the area might give you a more generous view.

 

[Mike S]

Does it have something to do with the Mormons?

Mormonism did get its start in upstate NY. Hill Cumorah is near Palmyra NY.

 

[Willie T]

A little experience in the area might give you a more generous view.

Well, you are right in Jonathan Edwards' neighborhood... one of the guys who started most of that stuff. Do some reading on him, and you will find that within six years of his preaching a sermon that was probably the most famous of that kind of preaching ever, Sinners in The Hands of an Angry God, he admitted that such a scare tactic sermon wasn't working much anymore.

There was a reason. It was not the gospel of God. It was just a sensationalistic "Turn or Burn" tactic.

 

[Mike S]

Well, you are right in Jonathan Edwards' neighborhood... one of the guys who started most of that stuff. Do some reading on him, and you will find that within six years of his preaching a sermon that was probably the most famous of that kind of preaching ever, Sinners in The Hands of an Angry God, he admitted that such a scare tactic sermon wasn't working much anymore.

There was a reason. It was not the gospel of God. It was just a sensationalistic "Turn or Burn" tactic.

I don't have to read Edwards' sermon. He preached it just a few miles from here, and I'm very familiar with it, I've read it many times.

If all you can take from a time and place of such extraordinary religious activity is a couple of negative examples, and overlook such things as abolition and women's suffrage and the rapid growth of the Baptist and Methodist churches, you might want to check your attitude.

 

[Willie T]

I don't have to read Edwards' sermon. He preached it just a few miles from here, and I'm very familiar with it, I've read it many times.

If all you can take from a time and place of such extraordinary religious activity is a couple of negative examples, and overlook such things as abolition and women's suffrage and the rapid growth of the Baptist and Methodist churches, you might want to check your attitude.

You're right. Sorry. I forgot about Jesus campaigning for all those kinds of things.

 

[Mike S]

You're right. Sorry. I forgot about Jesus campaigning for all those kinds of things.

Yeah, I guess in your world Jesus wasn't a bit concerned with how people treat each other. All that love your neighbor as yourself stuff is just unimportant background information.

 

[jasonc]

no movement is perfect.

 

[jasonc]

if we are going to look for a perfectly correct theological movement. then well good luck

 

[Mike S]

You can look for the good in movements, or you can look for the bad. It says a lot about you which path you take.

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[jasonc]

You can look for the good in movements, or you can look for the bad. It says a lot about you which path you take.

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im anal about that stuff but well if its grey. I set that aside and listen to what I should be doing.