Liberal Christian?

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   marinealways24posted 14 years ago

   What is the ratio of liberal Christians compared to conservative Christians? It seems like the conservative Christians would outnumber the liberal Christians.
   
   If you are a liberal Christian, what are your political beliefs different from conservative Christians?
   
   Is it even possible to be a liberal Christian? It sees as if liberalism may contradict Christianity. Am I wrong?

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      sandra rinckposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Every Christian is different.  Their only unity is in Christ.  Some people like to be conservative others like to be liberal.
      
      Me, It all depends on what the subject is.  I personally don't care if someone is gay.  Other Christians might say it's wrong.  I got in a fight about it at church even. 
      
      I don't care if you smoke pot, get drunk or have sex but I do have my limits.  I don't want anyone to do meth, drive drunk, and have unprotected sex unless they are ready to have a child.
      
      I don't like to go to church because it makes me cry but sometimes I like to go to church after it is closed just so I can cry. 
      
      I don't actually really care if anyone doesn't believe in God but I do get offended when I am not allowed to talk about God. 
      
      Some Christians believe you are only supposed to read the Bible but I like to read anything that has to do with God.
      
      There are so many different kinds of Christians in the world that I don't know if there is any such thing as a liberal, conservative, fundamental christian.  To each his own.

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         h.a.borcichposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Well put. The unified point is Christ to christians. Each has their own opinion on various issues. All are free to make a difference in areas that are dear to them. To each his own sums it up nicely. Holly

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         marinealways24posted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks. I agree that most people have different ideas on different issues. I am talking in a broad generalization. It seems as if conservative Christians are more "by the book" and that liberal Christians leave more open to interpretation. Is this wrong as a generalization?

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            sandra rinckposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Na. lol.  They are all up to interpretation.  I guess that would make them all liberal?

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               marinealways24posted 14 years agoin reply to this

               lol Maybe so. The winning interpretation is the one that the most people and power agree with.

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      M Cassianposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      What it means to be a christian is in fact getting lost in the ignorance and lazyness of our culture. I would say that there are more "conservative christians" than "liberal christians." BUT, I believe the gap is getting smaller. With this modern age of "tolerance," people are gradualy becoming diluted and (I say this lightly) soft. As christians we are to be tolerant of the person, but not the sin. And we have made the mistake of attributing a person's "religion" to being an actual part of the makeup of that person. When in actuality a person's religion is merely an idea they ascribe to. So to be intolerant of a person's religion is not to be intolerant of the person. And I think the same goes for a political idea.
      
      I am not a "liberal christian." But what I have seen in people who are or claim to be as such, is that they are essentially adopting christian universalism. Which is essentially an excuse for being a lazy ass. They don't seek a blalanced knowledge of politics (or christianity for that matter), and the only information they do get is from our liberally biased news media in small bites. And getting a small amount of information, even from an unbiased source, they come to their own uneducated conclusions. To me, an uneducated voter is a most dangerous one. The same as an uneducated christian can be very detrimental to christianity as a whole.
      
      Liberalism does contradict christianity in a lot of ways. As well as conservatism. But one exception that I can think of for liberalism, is a liberal's mind to aid the less fortunate. This is a common goal shared in christianity. But it is how they go about doing that that is most definitely not in compliance with the christian mentality. Taking someone else's money by force (via taxation) and giving it to someone they deem to be in a lower social standing in no way whatsoever reflects christianity. Giving to the less fortunate should be left up to the individual's discretion. But they have implemented policies and programs to give the lesser fortunate our tax dollars because no one was giving to the "poor" out of their own good will. Why? Because people are inherently selfish and possessive (sinful).
      
      In my opinion, christianity should be completely devoid of politics. Being a follower of Christ in no way requies us to be political. Though we are told to "obey the laws of the land," by no law, by man or by God, are we required to associate with anything political. So to call yourself a "liberal" or "conservative christian," is in fact a statement of contradiction. Please understand, I am not saying that we shouldn't vote, but when you do vote, do it from God's standpoint, pray about it before, and after you vote. And this is me saying this, not God. I also believe that to involve yourself in politics is in no way sinful. But it most definitely can, and does, distract us from the main point. That being Christ, and God's call on us to love Him with everything we have, and to love your neighbor as yourself; and the latter of which, a liberal person indirectly points out that we are not doing.
      
      Sorry for the rant. =P I hope this answers your questions at least a little bit. The grace of God be with you!
      
      [A little disclaimer: By talking against liberalism, I am not endorsing conservatism. I believe that either side can be equally distracting and detrimental to our faith in some of the same and also some different ways.]

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         marinealways24posted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks. I think conservatism is founded on Christian beliefs. I listen to conservative radio around 2-3 hours a day and constantly hear mentioning of God and references to the bible. I think Christianity is the foundation of the Conservative idealogy. Or at least this is what the more popular conservatives portray.

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            M Cassianposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            marinealways24,
            
            I can agree that it MIGHT have been founded on christian beliefs. But you need to think back to when the conservatives were liberal, and liberals were conservative. The two parties have essentially taken a 180 degree turn from what they once were. Which is a testimony to the inconsistency and fallability of man. You could also say, because our country was founded on christian beliefs, that modern liberalism is also founded in christian beliefs, could you not?
            
            I would also point out (and I'm making a generality, so bear with me) that a politician or even a radio host will use anything and everything to get ahead or prove their point. That doesn't necessarily mean that they profess to believe in its origin or source. And this happens on both sides of the spectrum. I have seen and heard liberals use scripture to back up their socialist (AKA communist) view; likewise, I have seen and heard conservatives use scripture to justify a gluttony they call "prosperity." And again I must clarify that I do know that not all politicians are like that. But the majority of what I have seen and heard causes me to think this way.
            
            I am not trying to slap you across the face here! I'm just giving my point of view (albeit argumentatively) in an attempt to inspire contemplation; not change your mind. Only you can do that.

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               marinealways24posted 14 years agoin reply to this

               You put some good stuff in here. I agree that our country was founded on Christian beliefs along with the liberal/conservative ideaologies originating from Christian belief. I also agree that conservative radio host's will use religion and God to gain followers to their belief. Limbaugh is an excellent example.

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                  M Cassianposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  marinealways24,
                  
                  Limbaugh is a very good example of that. I do like listening to him, but I don't always agree with him. Same goes with Sean Hannity. And I don't have the capacity to listen to the boring liberal radio shows. It's like listening to nothing but Ben Stein murmur, "Blah blah blah, blah-blah, blah blah balh," for 3 hours. It's just maddening!

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                     marinealways24posted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     I think to get an honest critique of someone, "the president", you have to listen to those who disagree and are against him the most and draw your individual conclusions through all of the sidestepping done to gain followers in finding the truth. I think there is little to no truth of a media that follows a president as a messiah agreeing with his every move. Most of the liberals I have heard have been blind supporters of the president while being able to debate little to nothing of what he has accomplished this far.

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      Brenda Durhamposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, liberalism contradicts Christianity.

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         marinealways24posted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Alright. Why?

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            Brenda Durhamposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            It's obvious.
            A Bible-believing Christian knows God is the only giver and taker of life unless it's a morally-just system like capital punishment; that homosexuality is wrong and that they should never be a part of trying to have it legally sanctioned; that hugging a tree and crying about "Mother Earth" is ludicrous when compared to Loving the Creator; that it's wrong to try to change our nation's laws into a mockery of the Bible's principles;  that welcoming other religions with open unconditional arms is the same as asking the Devil into your house;   many other things.

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               marinealways24posted 14 years agoin reply to this

               lol Hold on. The death sentence is morally just? How about our justice system that has before put innocent people to death? That is morally just to you? I don't know about homosexuality, it does contradict both religion and evolution, but I don't think it brings a hell sentence in the religious created afterlife. Maybe if more Christian conservatives were more worried about fixing themselves, they wouldn't be so worried about others sexual preferences.

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      kessposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Christianity's head is in conflict.
      
      They preach a christ they do not know,
      they promote writings they cannot believe.
      
      Therefore, their only unite to promote their hypocrisy.
      
      After that is division all the way for whenever  a head is in conflict it would manifest in the body.
      
      This is the cause of all death.

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   tobey100posted 14 years ago

   I don't even know what a 'liberal' Christian is.  There are no different types of Christians.  The very word Christian denotes a variety of one.  "Christ" "Like".  There are no other interpretations of the term.  There can't be 2 or 3 versions of 'Christ like' can there?

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   bgpappaposted 14 years ago

   Liberalism in no way contradicts Christianity, and neither does conservatism.  It all depends on the person.
   
   For the most part, both sides are full of good christians.  However, both sides have those who do things in the name of Christianity that are repugnant to those values.
   
   I think Conservatives may wear their religion on their sleeves more than liberals, but please don't mistake that for a lack of faith.

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   Mishaposted 14 years ago

   Liberal Christian? Based on what I see on HP, looks like an oxymoron to me

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      earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Hard to see it any other way for me too.

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         kessposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         How about
         
         "there is no god"
         
         an oxymoron or not?

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            Mishaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I think you will benefit from looking up "oxymoron" in a dictionary - or I just don't get your joke, if any.

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               kessposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               I doubt you'll ever get it for it takes two eyes to see the one clear vision.
               
               One eye only shows half.

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      marinealways24posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      lol I have to agree.

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   Brenda Durhamposted 14 years ago

   kess,
   
   you're...a gnostic, or agnostic, or what?

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      kessposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I am

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         Brenda Durhamposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         That's what I thought.  Thanks.
         
         By the way, it isn't Christianity's head that's in conflict.
         
         It's religion's.

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            kessposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Christianity is a religion apart from the other religion but they all are still united under one conflicting head.

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   Brenda Durhamposted 14 years ago

   umm....
   I'm saying that the label has been misused.
   The term Christianity as it's often used today isn't always the same as simply being a Christian.

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