Explain liberal Christianity to me...

[OzzyRules]

Originally Posted by Freak80

Fair enough, but how do liberal Christians deal with all of the "fire and brimstone" in the New Testament? Jesus himself speaks about hell, preaches parables about outer darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth, etc. and then there's the orgy of blood and fire in the book of Revelation. And at least one of the creeds speaks of Jesus "descending into hell" before rising from the grave on the third day.

Wardendresden says the fire and brimstone was mostly hyperbole directed toward the religious leaders of his day. Is that the general consensus among liberal Christians?

People are either living in the kingdom of God (in their mind) or they are not.

The outer darkness, torment, etc. These are descriptions of people NOT in the kingdom. They are basically outside the kingdom. Which is the majority of the time for most people.

As people lose their selfish nature and mature spiritually they are able to enter the spiritual kingdom by living in the way the Jesus instructed.

[nateswift]

Originally Posted by Freak80

Fair enough, but how do liberal Christians deal with all of the "fire and brimstone" in the New Testament? Jesus himself speaks about hell, preaches parables about outer darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth, etc. and then there's the orgy of blood and fire in the book of Revelation. And at least one of the creeds speaks of Jesus "descending into hell" before rising from the grave on the third day.

Wardendresden says the fire and brimstone was mostly hyperbole directed toward the religious leaders of his day. Is that the general consensus among liberal Christians?

I think it is fair to say that the greatest part of the current conception of Hell and all its grisly details was concocted well after Jesus talked abpout consequences for selfish behavior. Where would we be without Dante? Yes, Jesus did indicate that there would be consequences, but that neither means "cruel and unusual punishment," nor eternal damnation. Consequences help us learn as long as they are not merely revenge.