FUNDAGELICALISM
This was the term my friend and fellow professor at the College of Saint Rose, Bruce Johnston, used to describe his latest Christian belief system. He started at an almost cult-like fundamentalist school in Manitoba, Canada, then switched to a “regular” fundamentalist school in Southern California, and finally attended a small college in the same area, from which he earned a BA. From there, he moved to SUNY Albany, where he taught part-time at the College of St. Rose while earning a Ph.D. from SUNY Albany.
When I arrived, he was head of the Philosophy and Religion Department at St. Rose. Needless to say, in addition to being extremely bright and hardworking, Bruce was an extremely creative character. He was a wiz at the computer, had a great sense of humor that expressed itself in loud peals of laughter and giggles, and could explain complex philosophical issues clearly and interestingly to his undergraduates. He invented the term “fundagelicalism” not only to trace his own unique pilgrimage but also to unpack the history and key concepts of extremely conservative Protestant Christian theology.
In his spare time, Bruce spent hours playing the piano in a practice room in the Music Department building. He also occasionally peeked into the gym to watch me and others shoot hoops during lunch hour. He actually enjoyed watching NBA games on TV more than we did. Needless to say, “Brucer,” as I preferred to call him, was an incredibly diverse and creative individual. Unfortunately, Bruce died a few years after retiring, and we never got to get together to say our “Goodbyes.”
Perhaps Bruce’s most creative and profound contribution to the college was the “Seniors Only” religion course he invented to fulfill their final religion requirement. It was called “JUNKFOOD THEOLOGY.” He and the students read and discussed popular religious films and books on their own terms, seeking to relate them to their present lives. Almost the entire senior class enrolled in this course during their last semester because of Bruce’s and the course’s unique character. Bruce was a great colleague and friend. I miss him.
2 responses to “”
He does sound like a good guy. I wonder where he stopped on his journey
from fundamentalism.
Hi Chuck – Bruce and I tried to write a history of theology together but it never went far. I think he ended up somewhere between neo-orthodoxy and liberalism as did I :O) Paz, Jerry