Define Liberal Christian

[The Princess Bride]

Ok, so WHAT exactly is the definition of a Liberal Christian?

Because so far as politics are concerned...Liberals do not hold the best reputation...and I was curious if this affect peoples views on Liberal Christians also...


and what exactly a Liberal Christian is, in comparision to a Conservative Christian?

 

[stumpjumper]

Sometimes it's easier to define it as what it is not...

I'll start: A liberal Christian is not a fundamentalist Christian.

I would probably consider myself more post-modern than liberal. More of a McLaren Christian than Spong...

More into N.T Wright than Borg...

 

[The Princess Bride]

Forgive me...but I live in the Deep South, and we are predominately Baptist, Methodist, Non-Denom. and Catholics around here...and a lot of deep, rooted traditions, so not a lot of newer concepts and teaching, aside from the occasional guest speaker...

Ok...so what is a Fundamentalist Christan?

 

[Im_A]

Ok, so WHAT exactly is the definition of a Liberal Christian?

Because so far as politics are concerned...Liberals do not hold the best reputation...and I was curious if this affect peoples views on Liberal Christians also...


and what exactly a Liberal Christian is, in comparision to a Conservative Christian?

Liberal Christianity seems very subjective to me. just like every other type of Christianity. it's in the eye of the beholder based on their own preconceptions. just my opinion tho.

the highlights in my opinion are the influences of the Enlightenment Era, German theologians of this modern era, the philosophers that came out of the Enlightenment Era, the modern advancements we have gone through in our modern era and thus affecting our theology or those letting it affect their theology as they see fit.

there probably are some similiarities with liberals on certain issues, but it doesn't seem strong enough to make some dogmatic statement of what Liberal Christianity really is. it's kind of term like conservative, and evangelical Christianity. similiar ideas, but no real definition to define every evangelical or conservative.

at times i wonder if there are two types of liberal christians. one politically and one theologically, or some that are meshing the political and theological aspects of it.

here's a link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_Christianity

here's some more prominant people in Liberal Christianity:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_Christianity#Liberal_Christian_theologians_and_authors

if you check out any of the authors, it is best to not draw conclusions too quick. just because they need to be fully before making any kind of conclusion but that's just my advise.

hey btw, do conservatives have a better reputation than liberals in politics right now as of 2006?

hope this helps.

God Bless!

 

[stumpjumper]

Forgive me...but I live in the Deep South, and we are predominately Baptist, Methodist, Non-Denom. and Catholics around here...and a lot of deep, rooted traditions, so not a lot of newer concepts and teaching, aside from the occasional guest speaker...

Ok...so what is a Fundamentalist Christan?

Here's a good intro: [wiki]Fundamentalism[/wiki]

Generally most people who identify as liberal Christians really aren't liberal theologically in the historical sense... At least in this forum...

 

[The Princess Bride]

hey btw, do conservatives have a better reputation than liberals in politics right now as of 2006?

hope this helps.

God Bless!

Thanks!

Haha...Does any political side for that matter? I'm not too thrilled with ANY parties personally at the moment....

Vote for me for President, Year 2026!

 

[The Princess Bride]

Here's a good intro: [wiki]Fundamentalism[/wiki]

Generally most people who identify as liberal Christians really aren't liberal theologically in the historical sense... At least in this forum...

Thanks, stumpjumper...

All these terms confuse me at times, b/c I'm not used to them..


I've decided that for my better interest, and simply being a Mod, twould benefit me to know at least some details about these topics...

 

[stumpjumper]

Here's another CF wiki if you wish...

I wrote most of this one: [wiki]Liberal Christianity[/wiki]

 

[TOsteve]

Wouldn't a liberal Christian, by definition, shy away from definitions?

 

[Mling]

I'll start: A liberal Christian is not a fundamentalist Christian.

Unless one takes the view that Jesus was liberal, and Christianity was built on liberal values, in which case a liberal Christian is the only true Fundamentalist.

Because blurring lines is fun!

 

[stumpjumper]

Wouldn't a liberal Christian, by definition, shy away from definitions?

Not if you're a pragmatist

 

[CaDan]

Wouldn't a liberal Christian, by definition, shy away from definitions?

Yup. I wrote an article about it for the CF Newspaper a while back.

 

[ttreg]

Would it be okay to put a Fundy and a Liberal Christian in these nutshells?
Fundy:believes that the Bible has no errors
Liberal:admits that the Bible could have errors
And there are exChristians here that say that before they deconvereted they came from Fundy to Liberal. What would you have to say if someone said that Liberal Christianity is just the last step of deconverting?

EDIT: please dont answer my last question anymore i got the answer I wanted but I would REALLY like to find what a definition of liberal christianity could be.

 

[TOsteve]

Would it be okay to put a Fundy and a Liberal Christian in these nutshells?
Fundy:believes that the Bible has no errors
Liberal:admits that the Bible could have errors
And there are exChristians here that say that before they deconvereted they came from Fundy to Liberal. What would you have to say if someone said that Liberal Christianity is just the last step from deconverting?

I consider myself a liberal Christian, but certainly not by any of the above definitions.

As a redeemed child of God, I have been liberated from slavery to the sinful nature. And out of this liberation I feel.... err... liberal!

 

[artybloke]

What would you have to say if someone said that Liberal Christianity is just the last step of deconverting?

I'd say in my experience you're more likely to go from fundamentalist theist to fundamentalist atheist in one big jump. If, like me, you've met and read Christians who don't believe in leaving their brain at the door of the church before going in, you tend to be a lot more open to liberal ideas, and a lot less open to black and white either God or no God choices. A liberal is more likely to become agnostic.

 

[non-religious]

[artybloke]I'd say in my experience you're more likely to go from fundamentalist theist to fundamentalist atheist in one big jump. If, like me, you've met and read Christians who don't believe in leaving their brain at the door of the church before going in, you tend to be a lot more open to liberal ideas, and a lot less open to black and white either God or no God choices. A liberal is more likely to become agnostic.

I agree

 

[Mling]

Would it be okay to put a Fundy and a Liberal Christian in these nutshells?
Fundy:believes that the Bible has no errors
Liberal:admits that the Bible could have errors
And there are exChristians here that say that before they deconvereted they came from Fundy to Liberal. What would you have to say if someone said that Liberal Christianity is just the last step of deconverting?

I would point out that nearly everybody who has become addicted to crack started off on milk, and probably consumed quite a bit of beef in their life also.

Going from blind acceptance to questioning and honest truth-seeking is a very common step. Some go from truth-seeking to rejecting the tradition they were taught, and some find that truth-seeking reaffirms that tradition. Some skip straight from blind acceptance to blind rejection. Some stagnate whereever they are and loose all passion for their decision or tradition. Some stay where they are but build up steam and get more and more passionate about it. Moral and intellectual development are not like 80's-style video games. It is not a competely linear path, and the edge of the screen does not force you along once you start walking.

 

[Im_A]

Would it be okay to put a Fundy and a Liberal Christian in these nutshells?
Fundy:believes that the Bible has no errors
Liberal:admits that the Bible could have errors
And there are exChristians here that say that before they deconvereted they came from Fundy to Liberal. What would you have to say if someone said that Liberal Christianity is just the last step of deconverting?

i think this is seen in a lot ways with the process of deconversion. only because it seems to be the next thing offered. there isn't much in this area for people to seek and find, or so it seems. for many there is nothing different between conservative, fundamentalism and evangelicism, or catholicism/orthodoxy, when in all reality, these genres of Christianity are world's apart. so the next extreme may come quickly because they are just trying to work their issues out, and some don't find the spiritual truth in liberal Christianity just as they didn't find the spiritual truth in fundamentalist Christianity, thus the deconversion happens.

but for some tho, i think it can be argued, that they are liberal because that's their faith.

and i think artybloke hit on the nail. it's a world of difference between fundamentlist Christian and a liberal Christianity. that transfer would have to show a dedication of faith to withstand the theological aspects that liberal Christianity may entail for the believer. and with the fundamentalist Christian more likely to go to be a fundamentalist atheist makes more sense to me too because, it seems to be the very same mindset/attitude, but the difference is a disbelief/difference in the "fundamentals".

 

[ImaginaryVoyager]

I've seen several deconversions happen just the way you were talking about. I know one guy who was a very strong Calvinist--he deconverted and is now just as strongly atheist as he ws a Calvinist--he's even trying to convert an agnostic to strong atheism.

Anyway, as far as the original question is concerned, I've come to believe as eRev has formerly stated, that liberal Christianity is best defined by the root word liberty.

I think liberal Christianity is defined by having a more open and tolerance of differing viewpoints than conservative Christianity. So, yes, I guess I pretty much agree with artybloke on both points.

 

[Ringo84]

Would it be okay to put a Fundy and a Liberal Christian in these nutshells?
Fundy:believes that the Bible has no errors
Liberal:admits that the Bible could have errors
And there are exChristians here that say that before they deconvereted they came from Fundy to Liberal. What would you have to say if someone said that Liberal Christianity is just the last step of deconverting?

EDIT: please dont answer my last question anymore i got the answer I wanted but I would REALLY like to find what a definition of liberal christianity could be.

Well, maybe not errors.....but that the Bible is a work of literature and that its words are not completely, unquestionably literal down to every period, dot, and dash. That's what I believe, at least.
Ringo