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Mark Tooley is joining, again, others who are without Scriptural grounds attacking the United Methodist Church. This time, however, he is doing so through a school which was founded by Methodists and later expanded by Coca-Cola.
Mark Tooley, head of the IRD, is actually saying that Emory and 99 other schools somehow associated with Methodism have abandoned their Christian heritage because…um… well, I didn’t quite get that part. See, SIX Tibetan monks are coming to learn at Emory science and technology in hopes of returning to their homeland to teach this to others. As part of the exchange, DOZENS of Emory students are culturally immersed in Tibet. (By the way, this type of cultural immersion happens at numerous American colleges and universities.) Emory is a private institution which houses the Candler School of Theology, a Methodist Seminary. Are the monks going to the Seminary? No. They are going to learn science and technology. The six of them.
Yet, Mark Tooley seems to think that because of this, Emory and by extension, the United Methodist Church, has lost its Christian heritage:
Mark Tooley, president of The Institute on Religion & Democracy (IRD), says Emory is one of over 100 universities affiliated with the United Methodist Church that have essentially abandoned any ties to the denomination’s Christian heritage.
“It could and should be a wonderful opportunity to teach from a Christian and Methodist perspective to thousands of students coming from all over the world. But sadly, I’m afraid that’s not taking place,” he laments.
The IRD president points out that Methodism has historically embraced evangelistic outreach, but most universities affiliated with the denomination are now typically secular and lack any significant biblical influence. (here)
Would then a religious text be administered to these monks? And of course, all students (Wonder what John Wesley would think about that?). Would the person’s salvation be a prerequisite to either enter or to graduate? Further, he goes on to note the valued education and ministry which the second wife of Chaing Kai-Shek used to convert her husband.
“Madam Chiang Kai-shek, a longtime prominent leader of nationalist China, went to a Wesleyan college in Georgia. [She was] powerfully affected by Methodist teaching there and later helped persuade her husband, Chiang Kai-shek, president of nationalist China, to become a Methodist,”
Of course, Tooley leaves out the best part. Conversion was a compromise in order to marry Soon May-ling with him he created the New Life Movement which combined more than a few things that I suspect Mark Tooley would appreciate with traditional Wesleyan thought. If you truly examine the life of Kai-shek, you will not see a real conversion, even without the continued references to Buddha. In other words, Tooley’s example is saddled with historical inaccuracies.
But, I digress. Mark Tooley tell us an (imaginary and unfounded) problem and yet, offers no real solution. What he implies is that Emory and other institutions of higher learner should have a religious test going in and coming out, with those beacons of enlightenment serving only to propagate Tooley’s versions of history, science and the Scriptures. As I have asked before – Where is Scripture for his attacks? Or even his vision of Christianity?
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Joel Landon Watts is a Masters of Theological Studies student with a focus in Mimetic Criticism of the Gospel of Mark. His interests include exploring the role of mimesis in human civilization, specifically in the study of religion and media, as well as science fiction and the way in which it has allowed mythology to be explored in light of scientific ideals of the past century. Currently, he is a TA for Old Testament at United Theological Seminary under Dr. Vivian Johnson, Associate Professor of Old Testament. His first book, Rhetorical Strategies of the Evangelist: Mimetic Criticism of the Gospel of Mark, is expected to be published by Wipf and Stock early next year. He is currently co-editing a book on moving from Fear to Faith (Energion, 2013).
Scripture?
Who needs Scripture to attack things as being un-Christian?
As you know, what’s right and proper Christian thought (TM) is so much bigger than Scripture! I mean, don’t be ridiculous!
If one limited oneself to Scriptural basis for arguments, then how could you EVER be sanctimonious about as many things as we want?
Sheesh!
Like most other long-time UMs, I stopped paying any attention to Mark Tooley years ago. He is as irrelevant as the two-tier ordination process. On the DL, I have information on Tooley that helps me shrug and forget about him.
You should share, even privately.
Let me put it this way… “me thinks he doth protest too much” on the gay issue
They usually do…