Okay, so Marla Swoffer over at Always Thirsty posts her Retro vs. Metro analysis of the factions that comprise the Christian blogosphere. Controversial? Well, she may have topped even my myths of homeschooling and blogging might be a waste of time posts. Then she reopens a past swipe I took at some of the Retro folks, trying to drain further blood out of the blogging leviathan that is Tim Challies.
I think she's nuts in attempting this comparison, but I'm listed as a co-conspirator; to save my blogging life I must comment below. My preferences are backgrounded in cerulean blue. Where there is no highlighting at all on either side, there is no preference or I simply want to stay out of a minefield. If both sides are highlighted, then I think a dichotomy is impossible.
| RETRO | METRO |
|---|---|
| Rural or Small Town | Urban or Suburban |
| Challies | iMonk |
| ESTJ | INFP |
| Left-Brained | Right-Brained |
| Conservative | Liberal |
| Calvinist | Arminian |
| Quiver Full | Family Planning |
| Prose | Poetry |
| C.S. Lewis: Mere Christianity | C.S. Lewis: Chronicles of Narnia |
| Homeschool | Public School |
| Pyromaniac | Tall Skinny Kiwi |
| Think | Feel |
| Sola Scriptura | God Revealed in Many Ways |
| Apologetics | Testimony |
| Puritans | Mystics |
| God the Father | Jesus |
| Isolate | Integrate |
| Past | Future |
| Gifts of the Spirit: NO | Gifts of the Spirit: YES |
| Words | Pictures |
| Criminal Justice | Social Justice |
| Proverbs | Psalms |
| Amy's Humble Musings | (vacancy) |
| Historic Reformation | New Reformation |
| Older | Younger |
| Patriotic | Global |
| Women: Traditional | Women: Egalitarian |
| Rant | Brood |
| Do | Dream |
| Reformed | Emergent |
| Theologically Correct | Relationally Relevant |
| Psychology: NO | Psychology: YES |
| The Thinklings | The Boar's Head Tavern |
| ESV | The Message |
| Certain | Open |
| Catholics: NO | Catholics: YES |
| Sermon | Conversation |
| Truth | Love |
| Hymns | Modern Music |
| Craftsmanship | Technology |
| Literal | Metaphorical |
| Harry Potter – NO | Harry Potter – YES |
| PC | Mac |
I don't want to get dragged into the battles on birth control, don't ascribe entirely to either the Calvinist or Arminian points of view, and have been over the schooling issues recently. My pick out of the Trinity? C'mon! Plus Marla forgot the Holy Spirit in that mix, so that makes the whole enterprise suspect. Justice has to cut all ways, but I'm burned out on justice issues, so I'm not commenting. Both the Reformed side and Emergent side have some blinders on, and the whole idea of pitting theology versus relationship is a moot one
Concerning my non-committal ways on a few blogs, both Tim Challies and Michael Spencer have linked to Cerulean Sanctum a couple times in the last ten days, so I don't bite the hands that expose this blog to more readers. Between the two, I probably come down somewhere in the middle. Phil versus Andrew? I've never gotten much from the Kiwi, and I read the Pyro more for the good writing and snark appeal than the apologetics, so those two are a wash for me.
There were a lot of false distinctions; on many of those I highlighted both sides. I think the distinction between Sola Scriptura versus God Revealed in Many Ways is a truly poor one, since I believe that they aren't in opposition. That may leave some readers scratching their heads, but I have no problem with my position even when those on both sides would contend it's impossible to believe both are equally true.
Anyway, that's where I stand. I can do no more.
Now what blog empire wants to strike back?