[open] For those of us who are liberal, why?

[Tatu]

hmm

 

[Moana]

Because I have an open mind. Most conservatives I know are closed minded and arrogant, I can't stand them when they get in my face. I like all the diverse people that come to my church, I like the people of color and the LGBT people they are very nice.

 

[Margim]

I wouldn't actually call myself liberal. But I'm posting here because I think others probably do... behind my back. Whispered.

Because I'm not afraid to question just about every assumption made by the faith I've inherited. I like the concept of equality, and I believe the fullest understanding of God we have is of love through the person of Jesus... not some angry judging sword wielding maniac of a deity.

I see myself as a Christ follower. If others want to attach other brands to me like liberal... meh. If liberal means that I'm going to continue to challenge the status quo, then I'll wear that

 

[Alfredo]

I'am a liberal because i feel that is what Jesus Christ was. When Christ said "Love your enemies," i see that as a direct denouncment of warfare. I see Christ in his infinite forgiveness, even to the murderer on the cross next to him, as having been forgiving of all crimes, that is why i'am against the death penalty. I'am against any involvement of the church in the affairs of the state directly because of Christ's teaching to "Rendeer unto Ceaser what is Ceasers and to Gods what is Gods." I'am tolerante of homosexuality even to the extent of allowing them the blessing of marriage because of this verse : "If anyone of you is free of sin, let he amongst you cast the first stone." (John 8:7) As well as my moral objection of condemming other adults personal choices.
I'am opposed to the banning of drugs, not only because i do not agree that the goverment should have a say what a person puts into their own body, but also because of this verse "Whatever goes into a mans mouth does not defile him, but what comes out of a mans mouth, that defiles him" (Matthew 15:11) In short, I'am liberal because that is how i believe Christ would be.

 

[freyajem]

Because I have an open mind. Most conservatives I know are closed minded and arrogant, I can't stand them when they get in my face. I like all the diverse people that come to my church, I like the people of color and the LGBT people they are very nice.

I do not like to use the word liberal as it sort of signifies "anything goes". I am open because I experienced God at a time when I was completely desperate, at the end, and He carried me and I got to know God who is way more than the bible and certainly not the strict, unbending, punishing God that all the other religions portray and push at me. I feel at home here with people who think pretty much as I do.

 

[Moana]

I do not like to use the word liberal as it sort of signifies "anything goes". I am open because I experienced God at a time when I was completely desperate, at the end, and He carried me and I got to know God who is way more than the bible and certainly not the strict, unbending, punishing God that all the other religions portray and push at me. I feel at home here with people who think pretty much as I do.

What I meant by it was the people beleve to accept everyone much like Jesus did.

 

[freyajem]

What I meant by it was the people beleve to accept everyone much like Jesus did.

What do you not accept about what I posted?

And I accept everyone as Jesus did.

 

[Tillich]

I am a liberal because I like to drink and smoke my pipe....

No, not really, even though there's not much in life more relaxing than a pipe full of smoking tobacco, some jazz music playing on the hi-fi, and a cup of hot coffee with a shot of frangelica and french vanilla cream....

I think I'm a liberal because I accept the hard fact that it all may not be true in the long run. Therefore, I have a deep respect for people who disagree with my understanding of truth; in fact, I long to learn from those outside the faith whose worldviews/metanarratives may differ profoundly from my inherited faith.

"Inherited faith"....just what have I maintained in spite of my philosophy degree and MA degree in literature? Well, I believe deeply in the Johannine idea that the essence of God's being is Love.....God IS Love. I deplore the past and present images of God that depict God more as a devil or monster. Just think about St. Augustine, Calvin, and Jonathan Edwards....I actually think Calvin was one of the greatest heretics Christianity has ever seen; yet, this murderer is reverenced by modern Calvinistic Baptists.

I am a liberal because I have a deep love for those liberals who affirm God's universal love for all people, theologians and thinkers like Alfred North Whitehead, Charles Hartshorne, Shubert Ogden, John Cobb, and others in the process community have done us a great service by working out a metaphysics of love that have attracted many people in our modern world, if not to the Christian faith in a liberal form, at least, to a form of theism. And they did so without denying the validity of scientific theories that have been dreamed up by excellent women and men in the scientific communities.

I am a liberal because it for me it frees the Bible from cold, rigid fundamentalisms. I now read Paul differently, yes, as a voice in and of the ancient world, but a voice loud enough to penetrate the confusions of our modern world too. I have seen in Paul's writing - reading it from a non-Augustinian/Calvinist perspective - a passion for Love Itself, a burning Love that Paul felt so intensely that he thought It would transform the whole world in his own lifetime.

I am liberal because I believe that Paul, John, and, furthermore, the Patristic Fathers are probably liberal compared to the fundamentlisms of today. It very well be the case that early Christianity DID NOT have the hell, fire, and brimstone message that later Christians feared; in fact, Augustine himself admitted that there were many Christians who believed that all would eventually be saved.

I am liberal because I believe truth must be tested in real life. In a belief system doesn't change lives and society for the better then what good is it really? The hellfire theology, the Calvinist theology, unpardonble sins, don't drink, smoke, or attend movies, evolution is of the devil theologies HAVEN'T WORKED!!!!! My sincere belief is if we view God differently, as a God of Love Who reaches out to all people at all times, seeking their reconciliation, and Who will finally win all people to Himself, then the church will change. We ourselves will want to love others when we see God as Love Itself.

I am finally a liberal because I believe that the church must think for itself today. That doesn't mean abandoning the Bible or any of the great traditions. But it does mean taking the best and the most truthful insights of the past, developing them, and working them into a theology or into many theologies for the good of the church today.

Sorry so long...I have a lot more to get off my chest....let me close by saying that I continue to believe in such orthodox teachings as the Trinity, the Incarnation of Christ,etc. I just believe that we must develop these doctrines further in such a way that it will appeal to both the modern church and today's society.

 

[Im_A]

I am a liberal because I like to drink and smoke my pipe....

No, not really, even though there's not much in life more relaxing than a pipe full of smoking tobacco, some jazz music playing on the hi-fi, and a cup of hot coffee with a shot of frangelica and french vanilla cream....

I think I'm a liberal because I accept the hard fact that it all may not be true in the long run. Therefore, I have a deep respect for people who disagree with my understanding of truth; in fact, I long to learn from those outside the faith whose worldviews/metanarratives may differ profoundly from my inherited faith.

"Inherited faith"....just what have I maintained in spite of my philosophy degree and MA degree in literature? Well, I believe deeply in the Johannine idea that the essence of God's being is Love.....God IS Love. I deplore the past and present images of God that depict God more as a devil or monster. Just think about St. Augustine, Calvin, and Jonathan Edwards....I actually think Calvin was one of the greatest heretics Christianity has ever seen; yet, this murderer is reverenced by modern Calvinistic Baptists.

I am a liberal because I have a deep love for those liberals who affirm God's universal love for all people, theologians and thinkers like Alfred North Whitehead, Charles Hartshorne, Shubert Ogden, John Cobb, and others in the process community have done us a great service by working out a metaphysics of love that have attracted many people in our modern world, if not to the Christian faith in a liberal form, at least, to a form of theism. And they did so without denying the validity of scientific theories that have been dreamed up by excellent women and men in the scientific communities.

I am a liberal because it for me it frees the Bible from cold, rigid fundamentalisms. I now read Paul differently, yes, as a voice in and of the ancient world, but a voice loud enough to penetrate the confusions of our modern world too. I have seen in Paul's writing - reading it from a non-Augustinian/Calvinist perspective - a passion for Love Itself, a burning Love that Paul felt so intensely that he thought It would transform the whole world in his own lifetime.

I am liberal because I believe that Paul, John, and, furthermore, the Patristic Fathers are probably liberal compared to the fundamentlisms of today. It very well be the case that early Christianity DID NOT have the hell, fire, and brimstone message that later Christians feared; in fact, Augustine himself admitted that there were many Christians who believed that all would eventually be saved.

I am liberal because I believe truth must be tested in real life. In a belief system doesn't change lives and society for the better then what good is it really? The hellfire theology, the Calvinist theology, unpardonble sins, don't drink, smoke, or attend movies, evolution is of the devil theologies HAVEN'T WORKED!!!!! My sincere belief is if we view God differently, as a God of Love Who reaches out to all people at all times, seeking their reconciliation, and Who will finally win all people to Himself, then the church will change. We ourselves will want to love others when we see God as Love Itself.

I am finally a liberal because I believe that the church must think for itself today. That doesn't mean abandoning the Bible or any of the great traditions. But it does mean taking the best and the most truthful insights of the past, developing them, and working them into a theology or into many theologies for the good of the church today.

Sorry so long...I have a lot more to get off my chest....let me close by saying that I continue to believe in such orthodox teachings as the Trinity, the Incarnation of Christ,etc. I just believe that we must develop these doctrines further in such a way that it will appeal to both the modern church and today's society.

a big amen!

 

[SuddenlyISee]

I am liberal because I believe that God is too big to fit into one school of thought in much the way that the world is too big to fit into the view from my bedroom window.

God is not "the God of the Bible" or "the God of Moses", but is rather the God of the entire world.

I do not believe that God is so simple as to hold to human prejudices.

Although many aspects of God are in the Bible, many aspects of the men who wrote and compiled the Bible are also in there.

For those reasons, I pray and follow God even when what is said to me does not line up with the Bible or with modern day Churchianity.


SIS

 

[ZuZu]

I am liberal because I believe that God is too big to fit into one school of thought in much the way that the world is too big to fit into the view from my bedroom window.

God is not "the God of the Bible" or "the God of Moses", but is rather the God of the entire world.

I do not believe that God is so simple as to hold to human prejudices.

Although many aspects of God are in the Bible, many aspects of the men who wrote and compiled the Bible are also in there.

For those reasons, I pray and follow God even when what is said to me does not line up with the Bible or with modern day Churchianity.


SIS

 

[freyajem]

That is good isn't it Kpfp.

What is Kpfp for, or should I ask.

I am liberal for much the same reasons. I figure we are all a part of God and all the division comes from the people and not God.

 

[ZuZu]

Hi! All I can tell you is what the "K" is for...it's for my name "Karin" ...the rest of it has to do with a childhood nickname I'd rather not speak of

 

[freyajem]

Hi! All I can tell you is what the "K" is for...it's for my name "Karin" ...the rest of it has to do with a childhood nickname I'd rather not speak of

Hey, I had one of those childhool nicknames too and I wouldn't dare tell either. I'd never live it down.

Karin is a pretty name

 

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

Karin Pees From Planes.

There's my best guess.

Anyone else?

 

[SuddenlyISee]

Karin Pees From Planes.

There's my best guess.

Anyone else?

I've been staring at this for a few minutes and I think it's official... I got nothin'!

 

[razzelflabben]

Can I weigh in even though I am probably considered more conservative than liberal? My historian husband says that conservative and liberal are relative terms and I must agree with him there. What was liberal in Jefferson's day would be conservative today. So I am not exactly sure where on the spectrum to put myself but I would think it would be conservative.

Here is the basic reason, it is two fold. 1. I believe that less government means greater oppertunity for all people. History tells us this and history tells us that the more freedoms in peoples lives come from less government as well. So based on a historical evaluation, I got to go with less government. 2. Is the biblical understanding that taking care of the poor is not a government thing but an individual one. The bible says to give without compulsion, if the government mandates my giving of taxes, it is under compulsion. So from a biblical standpoint, we see history supporting the teachings, which again is a supporting bit of evidence for the inerrancy of the Bible.

Anyway, I just wanted to give my two cents worth because it seems to be a bit different than the norm.

 

[ZuZu]

Karin Pees From Planes.

There's my best guess.

Anyone else?

How did you guess!!???

 

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

Here is the basic reason, it is two fold. 1. I believe that less government means greater oppertunity for all people. History tells us this and history tells us that the more freedoms in peoples lives come from less government as well. So based on a historical evaluation, I got to go with less government. 2. Is the biblical understanding that taking care of the poor is not a government thing but an individual one. The bible says to give without compulsion, if the government mandates my giving of taxes, it is under compulsion. So from a biblical standpoint, we see history supporting the teachings, which again is a supporting bit of evidence for the inerrancy of the Bible.

Anyway, I just wanted to give my two cents worth because it seems to be a bit different than the norm.

It doesnt necissarily support Biblical Innerancy, but Biblical insight, certainly.

Good points though, definately valid. Conservtive on the socialogical spectrum, but very Liberal politiacaly and possibly evangelically, IMO.

So yes, Lib and Con are stoopid terms that lose all meaning when you sit down and cry with a war orphan. Again, Biblically, issues such as Justice and Equality and non-judgmentalism would strictly be Conservative, but they have become Liberal within realms such as CF and Evangelicalism.

God, of course, is liberally conservative or conservatively liberal. Cos all people and situations are different we should apply ourselves appropriately, methinx.

Anywho, cheers for the thoughts Raz-Flab.

 

[freyajem]

Originally Posted by FLANDIDLYANDERS
Karin Pees From Planes.

There's my best guess.

Anyone else?

How did you guess!!???

Guess you figured out but I couldn't figure out how to pee standing up Sorry but your secret would have gotten out sooner or later. You're a very good sport