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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 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''' 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."

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.  Likewise, they selectively ignore passages which refute [[evolution]], condemn [[abortion]], make statements about the role of [[women]] that refute modern [[feminism|feminist]] dogmas, 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, 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.  Likewise, they selectively ignore passages which refute [[evolution]], condemn [[abortion]], make statements about the role of [[women]] that refute modern [[feminism|feminist]] dogmas, 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.

A common tactic used by cafeteria Christians is reliance on '''proof texts'''.  A proof text (sometimes spelled prooftext) is a short passage from Scripture that is cited, typically [[Quoting out of context|out of context]], to support a doctrinal position that the [[Hermeneutics|Bible when read as a whole]] may not support.<ref>[http://www.biblestudy.org/beginner/definition-of-christian-terms/prooftexting.html Definition of Christian Terms - Prooftexting]</ref>  

A common tactic used by cafeteria Christians is reliance on '''proof texts'''.  A proof text (sometimes spelled prooftext) is a short passage from Scripture that is cited, typically [[Quoting out of context|out of context]], to support a doctrinal position that the [[Hermeneutics|Bible when read as a whole]] may not support.<ref>[http://www.biblestudy.org/beginner/definition-of-christian-terms/prooftexting.html Definition of Christian Terms - Prooftexting]</ref>  

::"A text without a context is a pretext for a prooftext" <br>—<small>''Evangelical Protestant scholar Dr. Donald A. Carson, who attributed this saying to his father''.</small>  

::"A text without a context is a pretext for a prooftext" <br>—<small>''Evangelical Protestant scholar Dr. Donald A. Carson, who attributed this saying to his father''.</small>  

When cafeteria Christians are confronted with Bible verses that contradict the results of their prooftexting, they typically [[fallacy of invincible ignorance|ignore]] such Bible verses.  If they do respond, they switch quickly from "The Word of God is the Word of God, and it says what it says" to "Yes, that's what it says, but what it means is ...."

When cafeteria Christians are confronted with Bible verses that contradict the results of their prooftexting, they typically [[fallacy of invincible ignorance|ignore]] such Bible verses.  If they do respond, they switch quickly from "The Word of God is the Word of God, and it says what it says" to "Yes, that's what it says, but what it means is ...." This is a classic example of [[confirmation bias]].

Conservative Christian historians and [[Christian apologetics|apologists]] are mindful of this statement by [[John Eck]] addressed to [[Martin Luther]], in the year 1521:<ref>Eck's statement here is supremely appropriate in light of Luther's refusal to submit to the judgment of the Church, the emperor Charles V, and the [[Pope]], and the teaching of Paul in [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+13:1-5&version=KJV Romans 13:1-5].</ref><blockquote>

Conservative Christian historians and [[Christian apologetics|apologists]] are mindful of this statement by [[John Eck]] addressed to [[Martin Luther]], in the year 1521:<ref>Eck's statement here is supremely appropriate in light of Luther's refusal to submit to the judgment of the Church, the emperor Charles V, and the [[Pope]], and the teaching of Paul in [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+13:1-5&version=KJV Romans 13:1-5].</ref><blockquote>