Re: My Preterist Journey (so far + video)
Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2016 11:33 pm
Rick, it seems our journeys are in some ways quite similar. I used to think the preterist position was ridiculous because I was brought up in a very conservative (what used to be called fundamentalist) way. I had never learned how to read apocalyptic literature so I just assumed most of it was meant to be taken literally.
The New Perspective on Paul was a game changer for me. I discovered serious scholarship and began to listen to less MacArthur, Stanley, and Smith and started reading McKnight, Dunn, Wright, and Garlington.
Later, through Paidion, I discovered Derek Flood. Around this time I also discovered Peter Enns. These guys helped me shed even more baggage.
Then I discovered Tilling, Hurtado, Bauckham, Tuggy, and more recently Perriman and Garrow.
I'm now close to the full preterist position. My view of scripture has changed significantly over the past few years along with my hermeneutics. (I now have very little interest in systematic theology and apologetics.)
I think of the Grateful Dead line "What a long, strange trip it's been."
My journey has been exciting, liberating, and scary, and it has led me to a place where I now feel that evangelicalism no longer fits me. It's a strange and lonely place to be because expressing my beliefs will cause friends to pray for my salvation
I've become much more agnostic in some respects but at the same time I've become more sure and focused when it comes to my core belief that we are given life to love God by loving others.
The New Perspective on Paul was a game changer for me. I discovered serious scholarship and began to listen to less MacArthur, Stanley, and Smith and started reading McKnight, Dunn, Wright, and Garlington.
Later, through Paidion, I discovered Derek Flood. Around this time I also discovered Peter Enns. These guys helped me shed even more baggage.
Then I discovered Tilling, Hurtado, Bauckham, Tuggy, and more recently Perriman and Garrow.
I'm now close to the full preterist position. My view of scripture has changed significantly over the past few years along with my hermeneutics. (I now have very little interest in systematic theology and apologetics.)
I think of the Grateful Dead line "What a long, strange trip it's been."
My journey has been exciting, liberating, and scary, and it has led me to a place where I now feel that evangelicalism no longer fits me. It's a strange and lonely place to be because expressing my beliefs will cause friends to pray for my salvation
I've become much more agnostic in some respects but at the same time I've become more sure and focused when it comes to my core belief that we are given life to love God by loving others.