"Unfortunately, many people in our society, pharisaically tied to their own religious customs and laws, have yet to recognize the debt that they owe to liberals. Had there been no liberals, we would be living in a radically different social, political, and religious environment. For one thing, if Jesus had not been a liberal who was willing to try new ideas rather than to live slavishly bound to old religious customs and traditions, there would be no Christianity that so many conservatives in our society consider to be primarily important in their lives. The next time a preacher or a politician labels someone a "liberal," ask yourself why that within itself should be any reason to hold him/her in disdain. Keep in mind a logical axiom that recognizes that the truth or falsity of propositions is always independent of its source, so it is entirely possible that an idea proposed by a liberal just might be worthy of your consideration. Indeed, history has taught us that the ideas of liberals have been the driving force that led us out of caves into the society that we now enjoy, and whatever progress awaits mankind in the future will come to us through the efforts of liberals who will dare to buck the status quo and consider new ideas. Knowing that should be enough to encourage you to listen to what that a liberal has to say." ~~~ Farrell Till
"I do not consider a liberal necessarily to be a leftist. A liberal to me is one who--and it suits some of the dictionary definitions--is unbeholden to any specific belief or party or group or person, but makes up his or her mind on the basis of the facts and the presentation of those facts at the time. That defines what I am. I have never voted a party line. I vote on the individual and the issues." ~~~ Walter Cronkite
"What do our opponents mean when they apply to us the label "Liberal?"... But if by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people — their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties — someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I’m proud to say I’m a "Liberal." ~~~ President John F. Kennedy
"Jesus was the ultimate liberal progressive revolutionary of all history. The conservative religious and social structure that he defied hated and crucified him. They examined his life and did not like what they saw. He aligned himself with the poor and the oppressed. He challenged the religious orthodoxy of his day. He advocated pacifism and loving our enemies. He liberated women and minorities from oppression. He healed on the Sabbath and forgave adulterers and prostitutes. He associated with drunks and other social outcasts. He rebuked the religious right of his day because they embraced the letter of the law instead of the Spirit. He loved sinners and called them to himself. Jesus was the original liberal. He was a progressive, and he was judged and hated for it. It was the self-righteous religionists that he rebuked and he called them hypocrites." ~~~ Gary Vance
"However, for most of the past 1700 years Christianity has been the 'established religion', the religion of those who are in control --- the rich and the powerful. This means quite simply that Christianity to a very great extent has been understood and/or interpreted to serve the purpose of their own percieved entitlement. That is to say, their Jesus has become conservative. I do not believe the Jesus of history would have been in any way comfortable with that --- he was more of a liberation theologist." ~~~ Giles Fraser
