Sam explains that Sauls violent behavior was due to an evil spirit sent from Yahweh (1 Sam
19:9). Mark and Luke both record the bizarre behavior of a man who lived among the dead, who
would flagellate himself, screaming day and night. He could not be bound by chains, and would
run naked (Mark 5:1-15; Luke 8:27-30). These two gospel writers explain that the mans
behavior was caused by demons. But the men of the Enlightenment made it very clear that such
notions expressed by the gospel writers were ,,unenlightened indeed. Again Porter says:
caused by diabolical possession. Instead they explained it either as a disease of the brain, or, drawing
upon Lockes psychology, as mental delusion caused by the misassociation of ideas in the
understanding. The ,,old-fashioned Methodist leader, John Wesley, by contrast, clung to the belief
that demons and witchcraft caused disease.
To conclude this brief summary of the views of the philosophes, views which have become
foundational to Western thought, it should be noted that its effect upon Christianity and theology
in Western culture was devastating.
style to the Enlightenment of the philosophes, was the invasion of theology by rationalism.
But not only have the effects of the enlightenment worldview been destructive for the church in
the West. It has been a source of mischief in the Third World church as well. Unfortunately, the
carriers of this mischief have unwittingly been Western missionaries and as well as the scholars
in the schools who trained them. This is made clear in the following case studies.
II. Case Studies from the Third World
Anglican Bishop and Islamics scholar Kenneth Cragg, in speaking on the tensions that
globalization poses for Islam, has said recently, "We are at the end of privatism."
regularly in the Third World to teach and train Third World church leaders. Third World church
leaders have been coming to the West for theological education for years. Next month, a dear
friend of mine, a Muslim convert church leader from Turkey, will come to Toronto to study
theology. He is one of the first of a new wave of Muslim convert church leaders that are taking
up leadership in fledgling Muslim convert churches. In spite of the veneer of Islam that covers
my friends society, magic and occult practice is the very warp and woof of the daily life of his
people.