So what exactly is a Moderate Christian anyway?

chaoschristian · #11 28th October 2007, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by higgs2

I don't think it's *between* "liberal" and "conservative" as if there were a scale measuring those things. For me, not identifying as either one is what makes one moderate. Not using those labels to define everything.

Izdaari · #12 28th October 2007, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by Willtor

For myself, I don't like the thought of being between the Liberals and the Conservatives. I don't think it adequately describes my view or distinguishes them from other people who don't fit into those categories. The first thing I would argue is in not describing Christianity in terms of these two camps - Liberal and Conservative - and then identifying oneself with respect to them.

I don't want to be too pejorative towards my more Liberal and Conservative brethren, so as an analogy that works on one level (and one level only) saying that a Moderate is between Liberalism and Conservatism seems to me quite like saying that Trinitarianism is between Sabellianism and Arianism. Again, not that Liberals and Conservatives are basically Sabellians and Arians but you get the idea: I wouldn't define my positions in terms of what someone else thinks.

Thank you!

Now we're getting somewhere.

Originally Posted by chaoschristian

A moderate is someone who reads the scripts of the liberal and the conservative and whips out the red pen.

Yep, that's me!

Izdaari · #13 28th October 2007, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by higgs2

I am hoping we don't even refer to "conservatives" (or "liberals") much, but basically reject the labels altogether.

Yes, I think that's the right way to go about it.

chaoschristian · #14 28th October 2007, 05:53 PM

Started a stub wiki for the forum here.

Freedom&Light · #15 28th October 2007, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by Izdaari

Is it more a procedural thing, i.e. we believe more like the conservatives, but are tolerant like the liberals? That describes me to some extent.

This would be the closest to describing me, although I don't see the conservatives as intolerant. I think , for me, hanging out with the liberals is more natural because no one has to know the Right Thing. There's no good way to describe what I mean. LOL.

I'm closer to a mixture of Max Lucado, C.S. Lewis, and JRR Tolkein.

My views are definintely conservative, but I know that I don't know all the answers, and love discussing how someone reaches the conclusions they come to- without judgment.

DailyBlessings · #16 28th October 2007, 07:19 PM

I tend to think of a moderate as someone who is more or less orthodox is basic tenets, but diverse as far as politics and conclusions on specific issues go.

Criada · #17 28th October 2007, 07:27 PM

I think being moderate largely relates to how we interact with those who disagree with us.
I am largely conservative in my views, but I don't expect others to agree with me on every detail. And I don't think that my views make me a better or worse Christian.
All of us are right on some things and wrong on others.
And when we get to heaven, we'll probably all be very surprised!

But as long as we are prepared to listen to one another, learn from one another, and love one another, our minor differences really don't matter.

~*Lady Trekki*~ · #18 28th October 2007, 07:28 PM

Originally Posted by higgs2

I am hoping we don't even refer to "conservatives" (or "liberals") much, but basically reject the labels altogether.

longhair75 · #19 28th October 2007, 08:58 PM

The Liberal verses Conservative argument has done a lot of damage to Christianity as a whole. The last thing we want to do here is to become a battleground for this to continue.

~*Lady Trekki*~ · #20 28th October 2007, 09:23 PM

Originally Posted by longhair75

The Liberal verses Conservative argument has done a lot of damage to Christianity as a whole. The last thing we want to do here is to become a battleground for this to continue.

Indeed.