The Dynamics of Religious Controversy

Sean Lucas offers some thought-provoking analysis at the Ref21 blog. Here's his most penetrating point:

We often want to say that we are arguing over "principle"; and sometimes we are. But more often, what drives our commitments to those principles are the underlying loyalties to people and even institutions. For some, where one went to seminary will tell you a great deal about his loyalties; not so much for specific theological commitments as for the general loyalty to a place that was formational for their Christian life and practice.