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What do liberal Christians believe? Do they generally believe that prayer works? Do they still believe in an afterlife?
Are there any widely accepted doctrines at all? What beliefs unite them? Or are beliefs largely left up to the individual? The only "universally accepted" doctrine I have seen so far (based on C-D anecdotes) is this: the fundamentalists are wrong.
The basic belief that unites liberal Christians--is that we are to love God and love our neighbors, the basic teaching of Christ. Loving our neighbors means helping those we can in whatever way might be needed, including standing up for those who are victims of injustice.
The rest of what I think you mean by "doctrine" is there for us to question, discuss, and argue over till we die.
This pretty much sums it up.
To the OP, we don't think fundamentalist are wrong. We think fundamentalist are pushy and judgmental. They are like being in a relationship were the other person constantly tells you how "you" are feeling.
They are basically CINOs (Christians in name only).
No - they just conveniently ignore (or 'reinterpret') different Christian tenets than you conveniently ignore (or 'reinterpret').
For example, they probably see the virulent anti-gay aspects of Christianity in a very different light than you. And the palpable socialism of Jesus is probably seen very differently by you than by them.
On the other hand, there is common ground to be found - the repeated tacit approval, and even explicit commanding of, the practice of slavery in the Bible is probably equally ignored (or 'reinterpreted') by both you and liberal Christians alike!
No - they just conveniently ignore (or 'reinterpret') different Christian tenets than you conveniently ignore (or 'reinterpret').
For example, they probably see the virulent anti-gay aspects of Christianity in a very different light than you. And the palpable socialism of Jesus is probably seen very differently by you than by them.
On the other hand, there is common ground to be found - the repeated tacit approval, and even explicit commanding of, the practice of slavery in the Bible is probably equally ignored (or 'reinterpreted') by both you and liberal Christians alike!
Why would you think that? We do not think slavery was EVER OK. We do know that once upon a not-so-distant time, a large number of free people did think that slavery was OK, and while many others didn't, most, except for a notable few, didn't do anything about it. Many thought oppression of women was OK, too. Some still do, just as some still think oppression of gay people is OK. What we think is what other parts of modern society thinks--that social norms that dictate injustice should be questioned, and if segments of society are being oppressed or used by others, it's our responsibility to work to change those things. That's what loving your neighbor means.
Slavery didn't exist because any particular religion thought slavery was OK. Slavery existed because human beings have this nasty tendency to exploit other human beings for their own gain. If they can use their religion to help keep things to their advantage, they will.
Why would you think that? We do not think slavery was EVER OK. We do know that once upon a not-so-distant time, a large number of free people did think that slavery was OK, and while many others didn't, most, except for a notable few, didn't do anything about it. Many thought oppression of women was OK, too. Some still do, just as some still think oppression of gay people is OK. What we think is what other parts of modern society thinks--that social norms that dictate injustice should be questioned, and if segments of society are being oppressed or used by others, it's our responsibility to work to change those things. That's what loving your neighbor means.
Slavery didn't exist because any particular religion thought slavery was OK. Slavery existed because human beings have this nasty tendency to exploit other human beings for their own gain. If they can use their religion to help keep things to their advantage, they will.
I think that was Unsettomati's point: you don't think slavery is ok, but the bible portrays slavery as perfectly normal and acceptable.
I think that was Unsettomati's point: you don't think slavery is ok, but the bible portrays slavery as perfectly normal and acceptable.
Stop the silly nonsense. The Bible reflects an ancient and anachronistic culture and its primitive values. It is NOT and never was supposed to define how to live in an evolved civilization.
Stop the silly nonsense. The Bible reflects an ancient and anachronistic culture and its primitive values. It is NOT and never was supposed to define how to live in an evolved civilization.
Again, that was Unsett's point: the bible clearly teaches a morality that you (and many other Christians) don't take seriously.
Freak 80 raises a great question as apparently liberal Christians are self thinkers that apply politically correctness that secular society has deemed politically correct. Additionally, they distance themselves from scriptural rules, mandates and areas requiring obedience. It's what they THINK that determines their path with God. They create prerogatives that are not made available by God's legalisms ,which they defy,shun and ignore. In the end of the day they may be compromise their title "christian" ,but that is what they were in the first place a"titled " christian" ......a zero.
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