Don’t get me wrong, I love Christian/Bible blogs, and I love blogging myself, but there are a few buzzwords I find to be just ever-so-slightly overused in the blogosphere:
5. Exegesis: This includes “exegetic,” “exegetical,” and the like. I don’t mean to be critical of exegetes, but it does seem redundant to me to bandy about terms like “exegesis” and “exegetic” in writing that is clearly exegetical to begin with. It is akin to using “blog post.” Of course it’s a “blog post,” to what other type of post would you be referring. Similarly, one need not reference their own exegesis in obviously exegetical work.
4. Eschatology: I love eschatology, I really do, but eschatological discussions often include repeated references to the term “eschatology” by the newest eschatolog. It’s a cool word, I get it.
3. Hermeneutics: See “exegesis,” “exegetic,” and “exegetical” above. At least practitioners of hermeneutics aren’t called “hermenetes.” Hermeneuticians(?), consider yourselves lucky.
2. Apologetics: Again, I love apologetics and apologists. But, it seems we should all be defenders of our faith without assigning the task to a growing class of professional debaters (and I am a former competitive debater, so if I think “apologetics” is overused, it is). It seems that if we could “prove” the tenets of our faith, then our faith would be rendered less meaningful.
1. Worldview: With all do respect to the “Christian Worldview” crowd (with whom I agree, in large part), it seems that the most appropriate response to the notion that we should have a Christian Worldview is, “Well, duh!” I agree, for the umpteenth time.
Is it just me?
#1 by Larry Who on March 31, 2009 - 12:41 pm
I agree.
And to be honest, I haven’t got a clue to what your #5-#2 actually mean. But worldview, that’s a word I understand.
#2 by Scripture Zealot on March 31, 2009 - 1:43 pm
I haven’t felt inundated with these words but I’ll probably notice them more now. I suppose for some of us (although I don’t think I’ve used them in posts very often) words like exegetical and hermeneutics are somewhat new and we’re tempted to use them more.
I agree with Worldview and duh.
Here is my version that I wrote quite a while ago:
Overused Words By Scholars and Bloggers
Jeff
#3 by petermlopez on March 31, 2009 - 2:05 pm
Larry, too funny. Thanks.
Jeff, I certainly wasn’t referring to you, but my Google Reader list is growing and growing (out of hand probably), and these buzzwords are all over the place. Not that it’s a bad thing, but I think we get too caught up in the subject(s) of the moment and beat them to death.
#4 by Gary Zimmerli on March 31, 2009 - 3:02 pm
Well gee! You just wiped out half of my blog posts…er…posts!
Seriously, it’s a problem if people use them without knowing what they mean. But a knowledgeable writer speaking to knowledgeable people can use words like that as almost a shorthand, because the people know what is being said without it having to be explained.
(Now, how many times do you suppose I typed “knowledgeable” before I got it spelled right?)
#5 by petermlopez on March 31, 2009 - 3:13 pm
Oh, come on now, Gary. I read your blog, and there’s no way this wipes out more than 1/3.
I didn’t have you in mind at all, but it is funny how this is all over the place. I Googled the phrases before I wrote about them, and there were millions upon millions of results for each…and I know there aren’t that many of us who are into this kind of stuff (or are there?).
#6 by Paul Wilkinson on March 31, 2009 - 4:37 pm
I think you’re looking at a subset of Christian blogging which I would call “doctrinal blogging.” Its writers are quite passionate, its debates are quite intense, but at the end of the day, not much has happened. Just an exchange of words. Blah, blah, blah.
I think real Christian blogging is being transparent. It’s sharing our lives with others. It’s relating to the struggle that some find themselves in. It’s celebrating what God is doing through local churches. It’s dreaming about what churches could be doing. It’s spreading the word about a new Christian book or CD or DVD. It’s encouraging one another. It’s confessing our faults. It’s keeping great quotations and stories alive on the internet. It’s laughing together. It’s praying for someone in the online community who is facing a great need.
It’s about helping, informing, inspiring. And all of it aligning with Scripture; God’s word that must be carefully studied; must be correctly interpreted; must account for the past, present and future; must be defended from time to time; and must leave us somewhat ‘apart’ or truly ‘different’ from the world if we live out its teachings.
See. I just covered all of your five words in the above paragraph in the way the average Joe or Joanne can understand.
#7 by petermlopez on March 31, 2009 - 4:43 pm
Paul, thanks. I couldn’t agree more. I’m checking out your blog right now.
#8 by Learner on March 31, 2009 - 6:00 pm
can u comment on my two comments in http://beautyofthebible.com/2008/08/27/ishmael-and-isaac/ and one comment on http://beautyofthebible.com/bibles/
thanks.
#9 by petermlopez on April 1, 2009 - 2:38 pm
I responded to both of your comments. Thanks.
#10 by Michael Metts on April 1, 2009 - 1:27 pm
I’d say, “clearly” is tossed around too much in biblical scholarship, especially when it is not at all that clear.
#11 by petermlopez on April 1, 2009 - 2:27 pm
True. I think “clearly” is often a way to reassure the writer, rather than the reader.
#12 by Eric von Atzigen on April 1, 2009 - 4:50 pm
Great observations — and Metts’ “clearly” steps on my biblical toes.
What are the top 5 overused words in sermons?
#13 by Michael Metts on April 1, 2009 - 7:18 pm
Oh I didn’t realize you’d used that word Pete. No disrespect intended. I’m just thinking of a few other author’s on my shelf off hand…
#14 by petermlopez on April 2, 2009 - 10:14 am
I don’t think I use it all that often, but my pastor is the one who is saying that you are stepping on his toes. Don’t worry, they probably need to be stepped on from time to time. I’m sure I’ve stepped on them before. But, he’s got a short memory.
Pastor Eric, I will have to think about that one.
#15 by raskickircurn on April 3, 2009 - 9:44 pm
Great site this beautyofthebible.com and I am really pleased to see you have what I am actually looking for here and this this post is exactly what I am interested in. I shall be pleased to become a regular visitor
#16 by jeffro on December 14, 2009 - 10:00 pm
Funny, I just finished watching a debate between Turek and Hitchens on YouTube. You could make a drinking game out of how many times Turek says “materialistic worldview.”
#17 by Peter on December 23, 2009 - 2:36 pm
rask, jeffro, thanks for stopping by.
#18 by Jason M Baird on May 15, 2010 - 1:09 am
Hi Peter,
Totally agree with this article. I did get to thinking when I read #2, especially the part about proving our faith. I came across an awesome site some time back that made me rethink this subject. I know you will love it if you have time to go through it.
Once you get through the questions and you arrive at the main page, click on the page link “If Christian faith is not a ‘blind leap,’ what is it?” There are so many good articles, but I am sure this one will strengthen our foundation and make us more effective in standing up for the faith.
I would love to know your thoughts on this.
Quote
“Christian faith is not blind, rather it is the pre-condition for rational thought.”
Keep up the good work & warm regards,
Jason
#19 by Jason M Baird on May 15, 2010 - 1:11 am
Sorry Peter, didn’t give you the address in my last post.
proofthatgodexists.org
#20 by Peter on May 17, 2010 - 9:23 am
Jason, thanks for stopping by. I hope you come back soon and frequently. I will check out your link.
#21 by GoldSalebol on May 23, 2010 - 5:03 am
hi.
That tips are great, thank you ..
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thank you again carry on…