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'''Liberal Christianity''' refers to [[Protestantism|Protestant]] denominations, or churches within denominations, that view the [[Bible]] as the ''witness'' of [[God]] rather than the ''word'' of God.  Strangely the view is supported by a rather ''literal'' - though this should not be confused with the form of [[Biblical literalism]] found in fundamentalist and conservative churches - interpretation of the words of Paul in his second letter to Timothy:

'''Liberal Christianity''' refers to a movement within American Protestant denominations to stress the social role of Christianity, as in the [[Social Gospel]] of the early 20th century. The emphasis is on religion as a personal relationship with Christ, rather than a set of orthodox theological beliefs.  The approach dominated most Protestant denominations until it was challenged by [[Neo Orthodoxy]] and [[Fundamentalism]].

 

 

Schleiermacher emphasized that religion was a personal relationship with God, and downplayed historical Christian doctrines such as the [[Doctrine of Creation|doctrine of creation]], [[Incarnation|doctrine of Incarnation]], [[eternal life|doctrine of eternal life]], etc.

 

Schleiermacher sought to re-establish the importance of Christianity using Christian religious experience rather than scientific knowledge. Ritschl revised Schleirmacher's idea and tried to re-establish their authority using [[Kant]]'s idea of moral experience and in the fulfillment of the [[Kingdom of God]]. <ref>Langdon Gilkey, ''Naming the Whirlwind: The Renewal of God-Language'', (1969), 73, 74, and 75  </ref>

 

 

Liberals view the Bible as the ''witness'' of God rather than the ''word'' of God.  Strangely the view is supported by a rather ''literal'' - though this should not be confused with the form of [[Biblical literalism]] found in fundamentalist and conservative churches - interpretation of the words of Paul in his second letter to Timothy:

{{Bible quote|All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,...|book=2_Timothy|chap=3|verses=16}}

{{Bible quote|All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,...|book=2_Timothy|chap=3|verses=16}}

===Economic and historical aspects===

===Economic and historical aspects===

In terms of economics, liberal Christianity grossly oversimplifies New Testament [[eschatology]] towards the [[Kingdom of God]] into the liberal "law of progress."  History does indeed show a growing maturity in technology, thought, and social relations, but there is nothing within the academy's forces of history or its figures of history to suggest that good triumphs over evil. [[Bomb|Bombs]], [[NAFTA]], and [[feminism]] are indeed evidence of the [[liberal]] law of progress, but in so far as these things are merely the will of man, their development involves  [[sin]], i.e. evil triumphing over good.<ref> ''Basic idea for this paragraph is from'' April 26, 1939 ''The Christian Century'', Reinhold Niebuhr, "Ten Years That Shook My World", pages 542-546 </ref> A quote from the [[liberal]] Christian scholar Edgar S. Brightman provides an example of this sort of thinking: "I believe in God because I believe that history represents a steady, moral progress."  This was turned around by the [[neo-orthodoxy|neo-orthodox]] scholar Langdon Gilkey when he stated "I believe in God because to me history precisely does not represent such a progress."<ref> [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3049-2004Nov21.html Washingtonpost Obit of Langdon Gilkey] </ref>  

In terms of economics, liberal Christianity emphasizes Testament [[eschatology]] towards the [[Kingdom of God]] into the liberal "law of progress."  History does indeed show a growing maturity in technology, thought, and social relations, but conservatives argue there is nothing within the forces of history to suggest that good will triumph over evil. Conservatives say liberals deemphasize [[sin]], i.e. evil triumphing over good.<ref> ''Basic idea for this paragraph is from'' April 26, 1939 ''The Christian Century'', Reinhold Niebuhr, "Ten Years That Shook My World", pages 542-546 </ref>  

 

The Liberal Christian scholar Edgar S. Brightman said, "I believe in God because I believe that history represents a steady, moral progress."  This was turned around by the [[neo-orthodoxy|neo-orthodox]] scholar Langdon Gilkey when he stated "I believe in God because to me history precisely does not represent such a progress."<ref> [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3049-2004Nov21.html Washingtonpost Obit of Langdon Gilkey] </ref>  

===Liberal Christianity's Anti-Zionism===

===Liberal Christianity's Anti-Zionism===

Strong elements in liberal Christianity have opposed [[Zionism]] since 1920.

Strong elements in liberal Christianity have opposed [[Zionism]] since 1920, while at the same time combating intolerance and social hostility toward Jews inside the United States.  Support for Zionism is a core belief of [[Fundamentaliam]].

In ''American Protestantism and a Jewish State'' (1973) an Israeli government official [[Hertzel Fishman]] analyzed several years (1937-1967) worth of ''[[Christian Century]]'' and concluded that the magazine consistently and historically opposed a Jewish State in Palestine, obstructed immigration of Jewish refugees, minimized the Holocaust, tried to reduce Israel's boundaries and supported Arab 'rights'." Although Dr. Fishman found instances of the magazine denouncing individual acts of anti-semitism, he found that the magazine was consistent in its intolerance and opposition to collective acts of a Jewish "peoplehood."<ref>''[http://books.google.com/books?id=-BPjHQAACAAJ Zionism Within Early American Fundamentalism 1878-1918: A Convergence of Two Traditions]'', [[David A. Rausch]], Edwin Mellen Press, 1979, ISBN 9-88946-875-3, ISBN 0-88946-976-8, page 23-25 </ref> In this sense and in theological senses, the modern [[Coptic Church]] is part of liberal Christianity. The ''Jerusalem Declaration on Christian Zionism'' is a document written and endorsed by several [[liberal]] Christian churches. <ref> [http://www.pcusa.org/peacemaking/jerusalemdeclaration.pdf ''Jerusalem Declaration on Christian Zionism''] </ref>

In ''American Protestantism and a Jewish State'' (1973) an Israeli government official [[Hertzel Fishman]] analyzed several years (1937-1967) worth of ''[[Christian Century]]'' and concluded that the magazine consistently and historically opposed a Jewish State in Palestine, obstructed immigration of Jewish refugees, minimized the Holocaust, tried to reduce Israel's boundaries and supported Arab 'rights'." Although Dr. Fishman found instances of the magazine denouncing individual acts of anti-semitism, he found that the magazine was consistent in its intolerance and opposition to collective acts of a Jewish "peoplehood."<ref>''[http://books.google.com/books?id=-BPjHQAACAAJ David A. Rausch, ''Zionism Within Early American Fundamentalism 1878-1918: A Convergence of Two Traditions'' (1979) pp 23-25 </ref>  

The first-quarter 20th century [[neo-orthodoxy]] movement was a renewal of Christian doctrines that had been neglected by liberal Christianity within the American and European academy. At the heart of the neo-orthodox renewal appeals to symbolic and aesthetic interpretations of long forgotten Christian doctrines can be found in the works of [[Karl Barth]], the Niebuhr brothers, and [[Paul Tillich]].

==External Links==

==External Links==

*[http://home.earthlink.net/~gbl111/liberalism.htm Modern Theological Liberalism]  

*[http://home.earthlink.net/~gbl111/liberalism.htm Modern Theological Liberalism]  

==References==

==References==

 

[[Category:Christian Movements]]

[[Category:Christian Movements]]