Subject:  Introduction to Liberal Christianity |
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Liberal
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Date Posted: 11:12:10 04/22/04 Thu
Introduction: the Three Wings of Christianity
Many religious writers and theologians use the terms conservative, mainline and liberal - both at the denominational and individual believer levels. It is difficult to give precise definitions of these three groups. Everybody's criteria are different. The following is a very general guide:
1. Conservative wing: (e.g. Southern Baptists and Assemblies of God). They generally believe in historical Christian doctrines, such as:
-The inerrancy of the Bible.
-The Bible not only contains the Word of God, it is the Word of God; God inspired the individual authors to prevent them from error.
-The virgin conception of Jesus.
-Jesus led a sinless life while on earth.
-Satan is a very powerful and all-evil presence in the world. He possesses many supernatural powers.
-Salvation is not achieved by doing good works. Only those who have trusted Jesus as Lord and Savior will be "born again," be saved and go to heaven after death.
-Hell exists as a place of eternal punishment for the unsaved.
-The rapture and the return of Christ to earth is imminent.
-Creation science: that the universe was created by God less than 10,000 years ago.
-They reject the "quest for the historical Jesus" which has been a focus of liberal and mainline theologians. All one needs to know about Jesus is found in the New Testament.
In terms of social policies, most:
-Are political conservatives.
-Feel a strong obligation to evangelize: to share their religious beliefs with those who are not saved, in order to bring them to a saving knowledge of Jesus.
-Are strongly opposed to women having access to abortion.
-Regard homosexuality as a chosen, changeable, sinful behavior, condemned by God. They often reject sexually- active homosexuals as church members, and certainly as clergy. They actively oppose and condemn any action to give gays and lesbians equal human rights to heterosexuals -- particularly the right to marry. Conservative faith groups and para-church organizations often recommend that their members vote for political candidates on the basis of their rejection of free abortion access and equal rights for gays and lesbians.
2. Liberal wing: (e.g. United Church of Christ). They see major parts of the Bible as reflecting God's will. But they generally reject other portions of the Bible as being no longer valid:
-They see such stories as the Genesis creation sequence, the virgin conception of Jesus, and world-wide Noahic flood, etc. as religious myths: stories of immense spiritual power, but unrelated to actual historical events.
-They see that many parts of the Bible must interpreted as evil and as contradicting the will of God (e.g. biblical passages which regulate slavery, advocate genocide, assign an inferior role to women, promote religious intolerance, condemn homosexuality, etc.)
-They regard Hell in symbolic terms, not as a place of eternal torment.
-They regard the Bible as errant, having been written by individuals without the direct inspiration of God, whose motivation was to promote their own theological and spiritual beliefs.
-They generally believe in the theory of evolution (either theistic evolution or naturalistic evolution).
-They are keen to learn from theological studies into the historical Jesus.
On social matters, they rely heavily on the findings of social and natural sciences. Most:
-Are political liberals, independents, or moderates.
-Give a high priority to combating racism, sexism, poverty, and homophobia.
-Are strongly supportive of abortion access.
-Believe that sexual orientation is largely genetically pre-determined, is not chosen, is fixed, natural, normal for a minority of humans, and (like heterosexuality) is morally neutral. Many liberal denominations will conduct union services for gays and lesbians and will ordain homosexuals who are celibate or in committed relationships.
3. Mainline wing: (e.g. the United Methodist Church). As the name implies, these are faith groups whose beliefs, priorities and policies lie between the conservatives and liberals:
-They look upon the Bible as containing the Word of God but do not necessarily view all passages being the inerrant word of God.
-The concept of Hell as a place of eternal punishment, and individual salvation are not stressed.
-They are divided about belief in the origins of life and the universe.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_divi2.htm
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There is a nice table in this essay, contrasting Liberal with Conservative beliefs:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_divi3.htm
The fundamental conflict between Liberalism and Conservatism: how to see and read the Bible:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_divi1.htm
An example of the difference in interpretation of the Bible by Liberals and Conservatives:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_inte.htm
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