Would Jesus love a liberal? You bet!

[GreenPartyVoter]

http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/liberalchristians.htm

I am surprised at the believer/non-believer battles here. I often find as a liberal believer I have more in common with atheists than my fundagelical counterparts.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

1. Dang, that's a good website!

Thanks for the link!

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Thanks. Let me know if it's missing any useful links and I'll add them

:)

~Jen

[checks-n-balances]

8. I second that!

Thanks, GreenPartyVoter, for reminding us of your great website. I'm with you in everything you said, also, in your opening remarks on this thread.

I'm in awe at how often I hear from people on this site who claim to be agnostic or athiest how important it would be if people would just follow Jesus' teachings. They "get it" a lat better than lots of people who call themselves "Christians".

The so-called "Christians" - who way they follow Jesus but betray him and their fellow human beings by their actions - are give Christianity a VERY BAD name and I'm tired of their misguided pretenses. I place the blame squarely on the shoulders of their misguided, ignorant (and/or dishonest) leaders.

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. I have given a lot of thought to the RW side of the faith

esp since I deal with it on a regular basis through church and family. In many ways, it is as if we have two different religions going on here. The RW really emphasizes the creation, the fall, the virgin birth, the death, and the resurrection. It's as though this is IT when it comes to their religion, plus a slew of rules to follow.

Me, those things I feel are parables rather than truth. The death and resurrection I don't need to be true either, as I do not believe that we need rescuing from the Fall. Rather, I take them as a symbol of God's love for me and focus instead on the incredible example Christ set in life.

[jody]

3. The term "Conservative Christian" is an oxymoron. Christ is a liberal

who teaches "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me."

Christ also said, "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more."

Those are heavy loads to bear for anyone with wealth and that's why Christ said, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into he kingdom of God." Perhaps that's why Christ taught, "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth" and presumably heaven."

Christ is the ultimate liberal.

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Not to mention he wasn't a bigot. The RW of this faith

don't get that.

[Az]

5. A distinction that may help

In dealing with the various believers I have encountered I have found that those of a liberal mindset seem to use their beliefs as guidance. They derive their wisdom from what they percieve in the doctrine of their faith. They then present these ideas based on their own merrit rather than a doctrinarl position.

This is inverse of the conservatives. Theirs seems to be a case of doctrine over wisdom. They impose whatever doctrine they can find to enforce their existing position. When challenged on it they turn to the doctrine as authority to back their position up rather than hope the idea stands on its own merrit.

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. Yes, liberals go with the flow, whereas conservatives would just

drown everyone with their own river of rules.

[Snotcicles]

6. I think we are having a labeling problem

I do not have a beef with any Christian.
It's the Christian impersonators like dub I have a problem with.

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. Agreed. And most liberal Christians I know don't have a problem with

atheism and agnosticism. I think this is born of a combination of a "live and let live" philosophy with an understanding that no one, including themselves, has cornered the market on the "truth".

[superconnected]

7. Many DU'ers don't seem to want to believe/acknowledge

there are Christians that aren't extreme fundys.

I've learned to add anyone using terms like "Jayzeus" to my ignore list. It pretty much speaks volumes for their knowledge of Christianity beyond fundamentalism, and their tolerance for other' religions.

What could I say to them anyway, other than ask if they believe all Muslims are terrorists and all Buddhists wear sandals.

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. Me, I just let my eyes slide over anything of that nature

that doesn't sit well with me for personal reasons, and just talk with them about other things. I have yet to meet anyone that I cannot find some sort of common ground with, even if it's just "Hey, how 'bout them Red Sox?" :)