Do you believe in the pendular theory of politics?

 

Some argue that,as a result of their belief in this invisible macrohistorical force, political moderates are always waiting quietly for the metaphorical pendulum to swing back to the centre, hence their relative political inaction compared to those who hold more extreme beliefs.

 

In the context of the "power struggle" within the American Southern Baptist Convention, some have used the (mis)belief in the pendular theory to explain the inaction of moderates in the face of the takeover by Fundamentalists.

 

Bruce Prescott, Executive Director of Mainstream Oklahoma Baptists, wrote:

 

 

'The pendulum metaphor has oft been applied to Baptist life. In the early 1980's many Baptist educators and administrators used the metaphor to discourage moderates from organizing politically to oppose the fundamentalists who were taking over the SBC. "The pendulum always swings back to the center," they counselled. Twenty-five years later, many Southern Baptists are still waiting for the pendulum to swing back.

Moderate Baptists decided long ago that the pendulum wasn't going to swing back. Some said the Baptist pendulum was broke. Others said it had been nailed to the wall. Actually, the leadership of the Convention moved to the right and Baptist people are still following their lead. If Parham is correct (and I think he is), that the leadership of the convention is moving further to the right, then where are Baptists headed?'

Frederick Clarkson wrote:

 

 

'Whatever is going on, one of the stock responses is that the rise of the Christian Right an arc in the "pendulum" of history, and that the pendulum will soon swing back.

There are alot of problems with this notion. To me, the most important implication is that we should not be concerned, at least not concerned enough to think about it very deeply -- let alone act -- because, well, this too shall pass. Another problem is that the pendulum metaphor suggests that whatever happens is inevitable, as inevitable as the mechanism of the pendulum swinging back and forth -- as if human actors, organizations, ideologies have nothing to do with history and its outcomes.

 

...

 

I say whether or not the pendulum theory has any validity in the great sweep of human history, applying the idea, dismissively as a way of justifying one's own ignorance, and inaction is in a word, bullsh*t. The pendulum metaphor is more like a form of personal hypnosis, something to chant whenever the politics gets challenging, uncomfortable. Dangerous.'

 

My questions:

 

1. Generally, do you believe in this pendular theory of politics? If so, could you provide more examples?

 

2. Specifically, what is your opinion on the comments made by Prescott and Clarkson regarding the inaction of moderate Baptists in the face of the takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention by the Fundamentalists?