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'''Cafeteria Christianity''' refers to the practice of deciding for oneself which parts of the [[Bible]] to accept, as one might select certain foods in a cafeteria while rejecting others.<ref>[http://www.churchofgoddfw.com/monthly/cafeteria.html "Cafeteria Christianity," from the Church of God - DFW]</ref> This implies that the person is a [[Christian In Name Only|Christian in name only]] and, while believing in a deity, does not adhere to any particular creed of Christianity, preferring to decide for themself how to express their faith. Other terms include "salad-bar Christianity" and "[[cherry picking|cherry-picking]] Christianity." Cafeteria Christianity is an example of self-generated Christianity, i.e., "Christianity" developed to meet one's own demand profile.<ref>{{cite book| first1=Robert |last1=Ekelund |authorlink1= Robert Ekelund |first2= Robert |last2= Hébert |first3= Robert |last3=Tollison |authorlink3= Robert Tollison |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=FP08EXnwP3YC&lpg=PA334&dq=cafeteria%20Christianity&pg=PA258#v=onepage&q=cafeteria%20Christianity&f=false |title=The Marketplace of Christianity |publisher= MIT Press |year= 2006 |page = 258 |isbn=9780262050821 }}</ref> It is a form of [[confirmation bias]].

'''Cafeteria Christianity''' refers to the practice of deciding for oneself which parts of the [[Bible]] to accept, as one might select certain foods in a cafeteria while rejecting others.<ref>[http://www.churchofgoddfw.com/monthly/cafeteria.html "Cafeteria Christianity," from the Church of God - DFW]</ref> This implies that the person is a [[Christian In Name Only|Christian in name only]] and, while believing in a deity, does not adhere to any particular creed of Christianity, preferring to decide for themself how to express their faith. Other terms include "salad-bar Christianity" and "[[cherry picking|cherry-picking]] Christianity." Cafeteria Christianity is an example of self-generated Christianity, i.e., "Christianity" developed to meet one's own demand profile.<ref>{{cite book| first1=Robert |last1=Ekelund |authorlink1= Robert Ekelund |first2= Robert |last2= Hébert |first3= Robert |last3=Tollison |authorlink3= Robert Tollison |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=FP08EXnwP3YC&lpg=PA334&dq=cafeteria%20Christianity&pg=PA258#v=onepage&q=cafeteria%20Christianity&f=false |title=The Marketplace of Christianity |publisher= MIT Press |year= 2006 |page = 258 |isbn=9780262050821 }}</ref> It is a form of [[confirmation bias]].

This practice is particularly common among [[Liberal Christianity|liberal]] denominations, which cite only those passages which show Christ's forgiveness and mercy, but not His justice, in order to deny the existence of [[Hell]] and the necessity of [[faith]] for redemption. Matt. 7:1, "Judge not, that ye be not judged" is quoted out of [[context]] particularly often for this purpose. When read in context, this verse is part of a condemnation of [[hypocrisy]], not judgment in general.<ref>[https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/the-most-misused-verses-in-the-bible-excerpt.html Judging Others: A Closer Look at Matthew 7:1], from [[Crosswalk.com]]</ref> Likewise, they selectively ignore passages which refute [[evolution]], condemn [[abortion]], make statements about the role of [[women]] that refute modern [[feminism|feminist]] dogmas, condemn [[homosexuality]], [[adultery]], and [[remarriage]] after an un-Biblical [[divorce]], and conflict with other liberal views. Liberal Christians are also fond of citing Scripture selectively in order to rebuke [[Hypocrisy|only someone else's sins]] or to [[special pleading|explain away]] the sins of liberal political allies.

This practice is particularly common among [[Liberal Christianity|liberal]] denominations in order to deny the existence of [[Hell]] and the necessity of [[faith]] for redemption. Matt. 7:1, "Judge not, that ye be not judged" is quoted out of [[context]] particularly often for this purpose. When read in context, this verse is part of a condemnation of [[hypocrisy]], not judgment in general.<ref>[https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/the-most-misused-verses-in-the-bible-excerpt.html Judging Others: A Closer Look at Matthew 7:1], from [[Crosswalk.com]]</ref> Likewise, they selectively ignore passages which refute [[evolution]], condemn [[abortion]], make statements about the role of [[women]] that refute modern [[feminism|feminist]] dogmas, condemn [[homosexuality]], [[adultery]], and [[remarriage]] after an un-Biblical [[divorce]], and conflict with other liberal views. Liberal Christians are also fond of citing Scripture selectively in order to rebuke [[Hypocrisy|only someone else's sins]] or to [[special pleading|explain away]] the sins of liberal political allies.

However, cafeteria Christianity is not limited to the left side of the political spectrum: conservative Christians are also fond of citing Scripture selectively in order to expose hypocrisy while explaining away the same issues in their own camp (such as criticizing the Catholic Church for covering up child molestation among its priests&#8212;arguing that the problem is due to the Church's prohibition against priests marrying&#8212;while ignoring similar cases involving married pastors or leaders within major Protestant churches or denominations).  A notable example of "right-wing" cafeteria Christianity is the [[Westboro Baptist Church]]; their followers quote verses about God's judgment but ignore those about mercy.

However, cafeteria Christianity is not limited to the left side of the political spectrum: conservative Christians are also fond of citing Scripture selectively in order to expose hypocrisy while explaining away the same issues in their own camp (such as criticizing the Catholic Church for covering up child molestation among its priests&#8212;arguing that the problem is due to the Church's prohibition against priests marrying&#8212;while ignoring similar cases involving married pastors or leaders within major Protestant churches or denominations).  A notable example of "right-wing" cafeteria Christianity is the [[Westboro Baptist Church]]; their followers quote verses about God's judgment but ignore those about mercy.