Sticky Theology, Part 2: Sound-bite Theology

If we assume that memetic transmission is in play for folk theology, then beyond emotional selection we might also consider the simplifications that occur to make theological positions more "packaged,"

For memetic transmission to be effective, messages must be simplified so that they can be remembered and communicated with a high degree of fidelity. I'm sure you'll recall that school game where a group of people transmit a message by whispering in their neighbor's ear. By the time the message reaches the last person the message has morphed into something completely different.

Thus, to keep good copying fidelity good memes tend to get compressed, streamlined, simplified, and packaged. Basically, good memes become sound-bites.

Obviously, politicians know this secret. They are masters of the high-impact, simplified "message" that they trasmitt over and over during a campaign. I want to suggest that something similar occurs in sticky theology.

The transmission of theology involves a lot of catechesis, both formally and informally. Preachers, persists, Sunday School teachers, ministry leaders, and parents are all trying to transmit a theological system. All this repetition raises the specter of copying errors. How to maintain high copying fidelity?

Well, we can develop sound-bite theology. Simplistic formulations to convey the faith. We see this all over the place. We see it in TULIP and, in my faith tradition, the Five Steps of Salvation (Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess, Be Baptized). We also find in the standardized (and impoverished) responses to issues like theodicy (the problem of pain).

In sum, sound-bite theology is meeting a need: Copying fidelity. But the problem is also clear: A sound-bite theology is good for transmission but it isn't good for theological reflection. Sound-bite theology is spiritually and intellectually impoverished. Which means that loads of people are trying to solve or confront deep issues in their lives with a theology amounts to a slogan. (BTW, good theological memes tend to make good bumper stickers due to this sound-bite dynamic. Yet another way to see theology-as-slogan or theology-as-advertisment.)

Next Post: Part 3