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Here some see Paul conveying that that scripture is a direct result of the authors contact with God ("witness"), whilst stopping short of claiming actual divine authorship ("word").  [[Conservative Christianity|Conservative Christians]] would answer that Paul states here that the words which make up scripture are ''God-breathed'', and that the Bible records God's promise to preserve His words, not merely His ideas.<ref>[http://www.chick.com/information/bibleversions/preserve.asp God's promise to preserve His Word]</ref><ref>[http://www.biblebelievers.com/kam/kam_001.html All Scripture Is Given By Inspiration]</ref>

Here some see Paul conveying that that scripture is a direct result of the authors contact with God ("witness"), whilst stopping short of claiming actual divine authorship ("word").  [[Conservative Christianity|Conservative Christians]] would answer that Paul states here that the words which make up scripture are ''God-breathed'', and that the Bible records God's promise to preserve His words, not merely His ideas.<ref>[http://www.chick.com/information/bibleversions/preserve.asp God's promise to preserve His Word]</ref><ref>[http://www.biblebelievers.com/kam/kam_001.html All Scripture Is Given By Inspiration]</ref>

As a result, Liberal Theologians view the Bible as a text to be [[hermeneutics|interpreted]] in its [[history|historical]] context but through liberal ''critical analysis''.<ref>http://home.earthlink.net/~gbl111/liberalism.htm</ref> As a result, many hold that texts such as Genesis’ early chapters or Old Testament miracles are poetry or fables &#8212; having a message, but not to be taken literally (in spite of thew New Testament referring to such as literal events).<ref>http://www.gotquestions.org/liberal-Christian-theology.html</ref> This approach began to dominate most Protestant denominations in the early 1900s, and was challenged by [[Neo Orthodoxy]] and [[Fundamentalism]] after 1940. Examples today include some churches within [[Anglicanism|Anglican]]/[[Episcopalian]], [[Lutheran]], [[Methodism|Methodist]], [[Presbyterian]], and [[United Church of Christ]] churches.<ref>[http://www.beliefnet.com/story/80/story_8028_1.html ''What Liberal Protestants Believe''] Beliefnet. Accessed 15 March 2008</ref> The word "liberal" in liberal Christianity does not refer to any political agenda or set of beliefs, although liberal theological beliefs will often form the basis of liberal political beliefs.

As a result, Liberal Theologians view the Bible as a text to be [[hermeneutics|interpreted]] in its [[history|historical]] context but through liberal ''critical analysis''.<ref>http://home.earthlink.net/~gbl111/liberalism.htm</ref> As a result, many hold that texts such as Genesis’ early chapters or Old Testament miracles are poetry or fables &#8212; having a message, but not to be taken literally (in spite of thew New Testament referring to such as literal events).<ref>https://www.gotquestions.org/liberal-Christian-theology.html</ref> This approach began to dominate most Protestant denominations in the early 1900s, and was challenged by [[Neo Orthodoxy]] and [[Fundamentalism]] after 1940. Examples today include some churches within [[Anglicanism|Anglican]]/[[Episcopalian]], [[Lutheran]], [[Methodism|Methodist]], [[Presbyterian]], and [[United Church of Christ]] churches.<ref>[http://www.beliefnet.com/story/80/story_8028_1.html ''What Liberal Protestants Believe''] Beliefnet. Accessed 15 March 2008</ref> The word "liberal" in liberal Christianity does not refer to any political agenda or set of beliefs, although liberal theological beliefs will often form the basis of liberal political beliefs.

In addition, liberal Christians are seen taking an unwarranted [[Cafeteria Christianity|pick-and-choose]] approach to the Bible, declaring that passages which they favor were intended by God to be followed today, while other parts are outdated or need to be reinterpreted, in order to conform with current trends. As needed, the spirit of the Bible is emphasized in such a way that its specific wording can be ignored or negated. As Machen comments,  

In addition, liberal Christians are seen taking an unwarranted [[Cafeteria Christianity|pick-and-choose]] approach to the Bible, declaring that passages which they favor were intended by God to be followed today, while other parts are outdated or need to be reinterpreted, in order to conform with current trends. As needed, the spirit of the Bible is emphasized in such a way that its specific wording can be ignored or negated. As Machen comments,  

The research survey of 1535 people, conducted by the Australian National University, revealed that belief in evolution is associated with moral permissiveness. Darwin himself apparently feared that belief in evolution by the common man would lead to social decay. The survey showed that people who believed in evolution were more likely to be in favour of premarital sex than those who rejected Darwin’s theory. Another issue which highlighted the contrast between the effect of evolutionary ideas and that of biblical principles was that Darwinians were reported to be ‘especially tolerant’ of [[abortion]].

The research survey of 1535 people, conducted by the Australian National University, revealed that belief in evolution is associated with moral permissiveness. Darwin himself apparently feared that belief in evolution by the common man would lead to social decay. The survey showed that people who believed in evolution were more likely to be in favour of premarital sex than those who rejected Darwin’s theory. Another issue which highlighted the contrast between the effect of evolutionary ideas and that of biblical principles was that Darwinians were reported to be ‘especially tolerant’ of [[abortion]].

In identifying the primary factors determining these differences in community attitudes, the author of the research report, Dr Jonathan Kelley, said: ‘The single most important influence after church attendance is the theory of evolution.’<ref>[http://creation.com/morals-decline-linked-to-belief-in-evolution Morals decline linked to evolution]</ref>}}

In identifying the primary factors determining these differences in community attitudes, the author of the research report, Dr Jonathan Kelley, said: ‘The single most important influence after church attendance is the theory of evolution.’<ref>[https://creation.com/morals-decline-linked-to-belief-in-evolution Morals decline linked to evolution]</ref>}}

== Liberal Christianity and irrationalism ==

== Liberal Christianity and irrationalism ==

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

* Ahlstrom, Sydney E. ''A Religious History of the American People''. (1972), the standard scholarly history. [http://www.amazon.com/Religious-History-American-People/dp/0300100124/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1195465258&sr=1-1 Excerpt and text search]

* Ahlstrom, Sydney E. ''A Religious History of the American People''. (1972), the standard scholarly history. [https://www.amazon.com/Religious-History-American-People/dp/0300100124/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1195465258&sr=1-1 Excerpt and text search]

*Luker, Ralph E.  "Liberal Theology and Social Conservatism: a Southern Tradition, 1840-1920." ''Church History'' v 10#2 1981. pp 193–207 p [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=90772519 online edition]

*Luker, Ralph E.  "Liberal Theology and Social Conservatism: a Southern Tradition, 1840-1920." ''Church History'' v 10#2 1981. pp 193–207 p [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=90772519 online edition]

* Marty, Martin E. ''Modern American Religion, Vol. 1: The Irony of It All, 1893-1919'' (1986); ''Modern American Religion. Vol. 2: The Noise of Conflict, 1919-1941'' (1991)  

* Marty, Martin E. ''Modern American Religion, Vol. 1: The Irony of It All, 1893-1919'' (1986); ''Modern American Religion. Vol. 2: The Noise of Conflict, 1919-1941'' (1991)  

* Noll, Mark. ''A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada'' (1992), by a conservative historian. [http://www.amazon.com/History-Christianity-United-States-Canada/dp/0802806511/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242457929&sr=1-4 Excerpt and text search]

* Noll, Mark. ''A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada'' (1992), by a conservative historian. [https://www.amazon.com/History-Christianity-United-States-Canada/dp/0802806511/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242457929&sr=1-4 Excerpt and text search]

*Machen, J. Gresham (1881-1937), Presbyterian theologian. ''Christianity and Liberalism'' (1923). [http://www.biblebelievers.com/machen/index.html Online edition]

*Machen, J. Gresham (1881-1937), Presbyterian theologian. ''Christianity and Liberalism'' (1923). [http://www.biblebelievers.com/machen/index.html Online edition]

* M. James Sawyer, ''Liberalism''. [http://bible.org/article/liberalism Web page]

* M. James Sawyer, ''Liberalism''. [http://bible.org/article/liberalism Web page]