Difference between revisions of "Liberal Christianity"
(added for balance to avoid liberal bias, with sources) |
(add economic aspect) |
||
| Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
As a further result, liberal Christians tend to take a [[Cafeteria Christianity|pick-and-choose]] approach to the Bible, declaring that those passages that they like were intended by God to be followed today, while other parts are outdated or need to be interpreted correctly. Many liberal Christians believe that the Bible was [[Documentary Hypothesis|combined from multiple sources]]<ref>[http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/rs/2/Judaism/jepd.html Documentary Hypothesis]</ref> or even that certain parts of the Bible that do not agree with liberal theology are later additions that do not belong in the Bible at all.<ref>[http://www.chick.com/ask/articles/1john57.asp Is it true that 1 John 5:7...?]</ref> In extreme cases, some liberal Christians even engage in [[politically correct]] [[censorship]] against those who quote Bible verses that tend to disprove a liberal Christian position. | As a further result, liberal Christians tend to take a [[Cafeteria Christianity|pick-and-choose]] approach to the Bible, declaring that those passages that they like were intended by God to be followed today, while other parts are outdated or need to be interpreted correctly. Many liberal Christians believe that the Bible was [[Documentary Hypothesis|combined from multiple sources]]<ref>[http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/rs/2/Judaism/jepd.html Documentary Hypothesis]</ref> or even that certain parts of the Bible that do not agree with liberal theology are later additions that do not belong in the Bible at all.<ref>[http://www.chick.com/ask/articles/1john57.asp Is it true that 1 John 5:7...?]</ref> In extreme cases, some liberal Christians even engage in [[politically correct]] [[censorship]] against those who quote Bible verses that tend to disprove a liberal Christian position. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Economic aspect=== | ||
| + | In terms of economics, liberal Christianity has transformed the eschatology towards the Kingdom of God into the liberal "law of progress"<ref> April 26, 1939 ''The Christian Century'', Reinhold Niebuhr, "Ten Years That Shook My World", pages 542-546</ref>. | ||
| + | |||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
Revision as of 01:21, December 24, 2008
Liberal Christianity refers to 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 interpretation of the words of Paul in his second letter to Timothy:
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,... 2_Timothy 3:16
Here Paul supports the view that scripture is a direct result of the authors contact with God ("witness") whilst stopping short of claiming actual divine authorship ("word"). Conservative Christians would answer that the Bible records God's promise to preserve His words, not merely His ideas.[1]
As a result Liberal Theologians view the Bible as a text to be interpreted in its historical context through critical analysis.[2] Examples include some churches within Anglican/Episcopalian, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and United Church of Christ churches.[3] 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 further result, liberal Christians tend to take a pick-and-choose approach to the Bible, declaring that those passages that they like were intended by God to be followed today, while other parts are outdated or need to be interpreted correctly. Many liberal Christians believe that the Bible was combined from multiple sources[4] or even that certain parts of the Bible that do not agree with liberal theology are later additions that do not belong in the Bible at all.[5] In extreme cases, some liberal Christians even engage in politically correct censorship against those who quote Bible verses that tend to disprove a liberal Christian position.
Economic aspect
In terms of economics, liberal Christianity has transformed the eschatology towards the Kingdom of God into the liberal "law of progress"[6].
External Links
References
- ↑ God's promise to preserve His Word
- ↑ http://home.earthlink.net/~gbl111/liberalism.htm
- ↑ What Liberal Protestants Believe Beliefnet. Accessed 15 March 2008
- ↑ Documentary Hypothesis
- ↑ Is it true that 1 John 5:7...?
- ↑ April 26, 1939 The Christian Century, Reinhold Niebuhr, "Ten Years That Shook My World", pages 542-546