billiefan2000
April 9th, 2008, 05:35 PM
More on the Danger of Doublespeak
“Doublespeak is language that pretends to communicate but really doesn’t. It is language that makes the bad seem good, the negative appear positive, and the unpleasant appear attractive or at least tolerable.
Doublespeak is language that avoids or shifts responsibility, language that is at variance with its real or purported meaning. It is language that conceals or prevents thought; rather than extending thought, doublespeak limits it.”
–William Lutz, Doublespeak, New York, Harper and Row, 1989, 1
I used this quote in my piece on Tony Campolo earlier this week. A reader told me how much he sees this technique now used in our churches today.
Ironically, William Lutz was writing on the subject back in 1989 in terms of its use in totalitarian regimes.
This method is now used in many churches who are being “transitioned”
from biblical theology to man-centered Purpose-Driven churches,
from biblical orthodoxy to emerging heresy.
It is a slick and effective way to shut down debate in small groups in churches,
and it enables its users to move things on to their real agenda with minimal fuss.
Those who object are portrayed as being opposed to change, negative and oppositional.
Doublespeak is the method of choice used by men like Brian McLaren who smoothly and deftly move listeners away from the truth of God’s Word
with clever, witty challenges to the eternal verities.
It’s all done in such a smooth, positive way.
Those who employ this method refuse to answer a question directly.
This was evident when Pastor Bob DeWaay “debated” emerging leader Doug Pagitt a while back.
Trying to get Doug to answer a basic doctrinal question was like trying to nail Jello to the wall.
These people won’t answer you with direct speech, they prefer doublespeak.
Identify doublespeak when you hear it.
http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com/?p=593
“Doublespeak is language that pretends to communicate but really doesn’t. It is language that makes the bad seem good, the negative appear positive, and the unpleasant appear attractive or at least tolerable.
Doublespeak is language that avoids or shifts responsibility, language that is at variance with its real or purported meaning. It is language that conceals or prevents thought; rather than extending thought, doublespeak limits it.”
–William Lutz, Doublespeak, New York, Harper and Row, 1989, 1
I used this quote in my piece on Tony Campolo earlier this week. A reader told me how much he sees this technique now used in our churches today.
Ironically, William Lutz was writing on the subject back in 1989 in terms of its use in totalitarian regimes.
This method is now used in many churches who are being “transitioned”
from biblical theology to man-centered Purpose-Driven churches,
from biblical orthodoxy to emerging heresy.
It is a slick and effective way to shut down debate in small groups in churches,
and it enables its users to move things on to their real agenda with minimal fuss.
Those who object are portrayed as being opposed to change, negative and oppositional.
Doublespeak is the method of choice used by men like Brian McLaren who smoothly and deftly move listeners away from the truth of God’s Word
with clever, witty challenges to the eternal verities.
It’s all done in such a smooth, positive way.
Those who employ this method refuse to answer a question directly.
This was evident when Pastor Bob DeWaay “debated” emerging leader Doug Pagitt a while back.
Trying to get Doug to answer a basic doctrinal question was like trying to nail Jello to the wall.
These people won’t answer you with direct speech, they prefer doublespeak.
Identify doublespeak when you hear it.
http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com/?p=593