Download or read book Recovering from and Rejoicing in Fundamentalism written by Eric A. Vander Ploeg author and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 82 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Christian fundamentalism played a key role in protecting the gospel from liberal decay in American history. Its leaders built a high wall of separation around the fundamentals of the faith to protect them from the innovations of modernism. The wall kept cultural threats out, but it also kept a particular era of Christian culture in. While America later experienced the most rapid cultural upheavals in its history, fundamentalism remained largely unchanged within its walls, and the cultural chasm grew wider and wider. Some of the children of fundamentalism have now left these walls and are in search of something new. This project seeks to help these “travelers” on their journey. Twenty focus groups with self-identified “recovering fundamentalists” identified several patterns of personal pain along with lessons learned that could benefit others. Nine interviews with experienced pastors yielded best practices in shepherding travelers as they enter evangelical churches. These results were collated to produce four key findings: 1. Living with the disapproval and disappointment of fundamentalist parents after transitioning. 2. Learning how to trust authority (of leaders and of the Bible) after being told to “just trust” and not ask questions. 3. Moving from a model of sanctification that is guilt-based to one that is grace-based. 4. Learning how to rejoice in the fundamentalism of one’s youth and to see God’s kindness and glory amidst the errors of its proponents.