“I am rather inclined to think that the doctrine of a ‘personal relationship with Jesus’ is almost as much a modern invention as the Catholic doctrine of the assumption of Mary”

Many of us are actively involved in personal relationships with Jesus. I strongly suspect you are as well. Do you think this is a delusion brought on by evangelical indoctrination?

Also, it doesn’t seem to me that being part of the community of believers and having a personal relationship with Christ are mutually exclusive.

The phrase “personal relationship with Jesus” is a bit of a turn off because it sounds like part of a hokey tent revival sales pitch but I don’t think we should throw it out simply because it is part of a stereotype.