A Boston University sociologist is undertaking a study to learn more about the “evangelical intelligentsia”.

Study to crack evangelical stereotypes
BOSTON, Massachusetts (AP) — For decades, Boston University sociologist Peter Berger says, American intellectuals have looked down on evangelicals.

Educated people have the notion that evangelicals are “barefoot people of Tobacco Road who, I don’t know, sleep with their sisters or something,” Berger says.

It’s time that attitude changed, he says.

“That was probably never correct, but it’s totally false now and I think the image should be corrected,” Berger said in a recent interview.

Now, his university’s Institute on Culture, Religion and World Affairs is leading a two-year project that explores an “evangelical intelligentsia” which Berger says is growing and needs to be better understood, given the large numbers of evangelicals and their influence.

“It’s not good if a prejudiced view of this community prevails in the elite circles of society,” said Berger, a self-described liberal Lutheran. “It’s bad for democracy and it’s wrong.”

My heavens, “…barefoot people of Tobacco Road who, I don’t know, sleep with their sisters or something…”?

“That was probably never correct…”?

Gee, Mr. Berger, did somebody beat you to the studies of Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster? Oh well, I suppose that wasn’t very Christian of me. Perhaps it makes me appear as sensitive as those cavemen in the Geico spots. After all, it’s not as if anyone’s ever done a commercial saying, “It’s so simple, even an Evangelical can do it.” So, okily-dokily, I’ll just bite my tongue and be happy that someone is taking an interest.

If you need me, I’ll be studying my the(ist)saurus, working on them big words. You know, just in case.

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