Tolerant evangelism
Religion & Liberty Online

Tolerant evangelism

The abstract from an article in the latest issue of Dutch Crossing: A Journal of Low Countries, Volume 28, numbers 1/2 (Summer/Winter 2004), published by the Association for Low Countries Studies in Great Britain and Ireland:

Edward Dutton, “Tolerant Evangelism. A Student Evangelical Group in a ‘Tolerant’ Culture,” p. 67

This paper examines the nature of evangelism amongst an evangelical group at a Dutch university and compares it to a similar group at a British university. In assessing the differences the paper submits that, to a great extent, an explanation can be found in the centrality of ‘Tolerance’ to Dutch cultural life which it suggests leads to an emphasis on Witness Evangelism. The paper examines the history and beliefs of both groups as well as explaining the fieldwork method employed. It explores tolerance in Holland, drawing upon the views of various cultural commentators as well as the views of Dutch evangelical students on this issue. It then examines differences between the two groups with regard to group activity, evangelical activity and the expression of religious and ethical opinions. It is suggested that the desire to be perceived as being tolerant in Holland, and its consequences, are significant in explaining the differences found.

Jordan J. Ballor

Jordan J. Ballor (Dr. theol., University of Zurich; Ph.D., Calvin Theological Seminary) is director of research at the Center for Religion, Culture & Democracy, an initiative of the First Liberty Institute. He has previously held research positions at the Acton Institute and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and has authored multiple books, including a forthcoming introduction to the public theology of Abraham Kuyper. Working with Lexham Press, he served as a general editor for the 12 volume Abraham Kuyper Collected Works in Public Theology series, and his research can be found in publications including Journal of Markets & Morality, Journal of Religion, Scottish Journal of Theology, Reformation & Renaissance Review, Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Faith & Economics, and Calvin Theological Journal. He is also associate director of the Junius Institute for Digital Reformation Research at Calvin Theological Seminary and the Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity & Politics at Calvin University.