Baptist churches have traditionally expanded by acrimonious division. Let two or more folks in a congregation get ticked off and a new Baptist church was likely to be born. The very idea that edicts could be handed down to local churches from some smooth-talking preacher with perfect hair was unheard of.
That all changed a decade or so ago when my once-proud Baptists gave up their spunky independence. They became Bobble Head Baptists, nodding along when warned that Disney World was an evil place and that women should submit to their husbands at home and at church. Now they're being told to be on the lookout not only for homosexual activists, but for their allies as well.
What, in the name of all things rational, is a "homosexual ally"? Do you have to sign a treaty or something? My guess is a "homosexual ally" is anyone who thinks all American citizens should enjoy the same civil rights, not just those approved by the leadership of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
On Bobble Head Baptists
Dennis Rogers at the News & Observer has a colorful way of referring to the mindset of contemporary Southern Baptists. He calls them "Bobble Head Baptists." Here's a quote:
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10 comments:
I love this idea bobble headed Baptists really express whats going on. But can we call the voter that follow the preachers lead in how to vote as bobble headed voters?
grandma1,
Good idea! "Bobble Headed Voters" very accurately describes the "values voters" crowd.
that's a very interesting example of "bobble heads"
at LC we have a more specific meaning to it, as we use it to describe "token" baptist women that are placed on boards or show-boated publically because of their ease of agreeing with the demands of others
"and that women should submit to their husbands at home and at church"
Those idiot Southern Baptists! Where did they get that crazy idea from? Surely historical baptists like Spurgeon, Moody, Boice, Fuller, and Carroll (both JM and BH) never would have believed that. Oh, and by the way, that can't be in the Bible. Hope your picking up the sarcasm, cause Im laying it down pretty thick.
Somebody needs a history lesson.
OHHHH sorry D.R....
I forgot that everything in the Bible has to be followed to the T, despite cultural contexts...
Have you sacraficed your oxen today?
the beauty of being traditional baptist is no one interprets the bible FOR me...
something some of the new generation forgets...
actually submission would be a good subject for this blog, i'd be interested in hearing bruce's comments on it.
Keith,
Family relations should be one of "mutual submission" and my position on this has been on the web for years.
Here are some links.
The Christian Family
Dead Head Leads SBC Family
You have to remember Bruce was raised by a very independent Mother and a Father who was not intimated by that fact. He also married a woman who is very independent. It remains to be seen if his daughter is as independent. I like Bruce's statement that the foot of the cross is level.
Some people may object to the derogatory aspect of the term "bobble head baptists", but it is a very apt, descriptive, concrete phrase to identify those who practise BLIND FAITH, and have given their intellectual proxy to whatever religious leader that has the flashiest delivery or salesmanship from the pulpit.
thanks for the link, i agree with you, because equality can be found in mutual submission.
Just ran across your blog, sorry if i'm posting to the wrong thread.
First of all, any organization that has to put Mainstream in it's name is anything but mainstream. Wishful thinking eh?
Second, since Southern Baptists are the second largest denomination (below Roman Catholics) in the country, i'd have to say that they are FAR AND AWAY more "mainstream" than you guys.
Hate to break it to you, but your site made me laugh. The episcopalians and unitarians would love to have you.
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