Should Liberal Christians Leave Organized Religion?

[Scuba Pete]

I found respite with the United Church of Christ. It allows and even encourages differences of opinions and understanding. I am currently going to the Altamonte Chapel here in Altamonte Springs.

[Dunemeister]

Originally Posted by doppelgänger

Liberal Christians generally have the luxury to socializing with whoever will have them. We can do whatever the hell we feel like doing . . . if that's hanging out in a "traditional" religious setting and saying the creeds and singing the hymns as one draws personal meaning from them . . . great. If it means debating, discussing and learning with atheists, Buddhists, Pagans, and all around blackguards, like YmirGF or Uncle Phil, then that's also fine . . .

Conservatives can and do do these things, too, evidenced by the fact that I (together with a sizeable group of conservative friends) do so regularly. (Although, my unle's name is Ray ). These activities certainly don't make liberal Christianity special.

But perhaps you've hit on it by the use of your word "socialize." If "church" is just "a place where you can hang out (or not) with folks who agree with you (or not)", then you have a point. Everywhere on the planet that enjoys a reasonable degree of freedom constitutes a church. But then, you've gutted the word "church" of any Christian meaning whatsoever.

That's the beauty of liberal Christianity. Everybody is included - even those who find us repugnant, heretical, dangerous or misguided.

It's all good, Baby!

That's a bit disingenuous. If you're a liberal christian, you might attend a worship service at some church, but you certainly wouldn't fellowship (which is a deeper thing than "socialize") with them, especially if they honestly thought you were repugnant, heretical, dangerous, or misguided, even if you knew those other people were liberal christians. Fellowship (as opposed to socializing or banter) requires a degree of respect and mutual regard, which would be absent with these attitudes.

Besides, liberalism divides as much as conservativism. Certainly, conservatives are NOT included in the liberal love-in, and not just because the conservatives don't care to join in. As a conservative, I'm simply not free (in a liberal church) to affirm traditional points of view, such as the deity of Christ, the truth of the trinity as traditionally understood, the inspiration of scripture, and so on. I know this because most of my extended family attend liberal churches. I've had occasion to worship with them in their churches. And although I've merely let people know I'm a "traditional" Christian and have not made any attempt to discuss theology with them, they have been decidedly cold toward me. After the service, some of the members were kind enough to let me know that their pastor would be willing to "educate me," and when I declined, they accused me of chauvinism (their minister, unbeknownst to me, was a lesbian). So liberalism DOES in fact divide people as much as conservativism does, and it's flat-out dishonest to claim otherwise, or to make it seem as though conservatives are themselves responsible for "exclusionary" doctrines or thinking.

[ChristineES]

Being a part of one denomination can be somewhat limiting. I have been a Baptist since I was 18, but I never adopted 100% of their beliefs (such as a literal hell).

By some of your definitions, I think Jesus Himself would have qualified for being a liberal Christian. He did, after all, eat with tax collectors and "sinners".

[Dunemeister]

Originally Posted by ChristineES

By some of your definitions, I think Jesus Himself would have qualified for being a liberal Christian. He did, after all, eat with tax collectors and "sinners".

Yes, one large part of the problem with religion of any type is cherry picking the stuff you like and ignoring the rest, especially those bits that are problematic for you personally.

[oldcajun]

Originally Posted by spiritually inclined

Is there any point in hoping for a reformation of Christianity? Should progressive Christians who approach religion from a metaphorical, community-oriented point of view just give up on organized religion? Is there any point in organized religion?

James

Hang in there, Liberal christianity has been gradually taking over organized religion for years.

[logician]

Originally Posted by oldcajun

Hang in there, Liberal christianity has been gradually taking over organized religion for years.

I must be missing something, the stats for conversative denonimations have been going up for yhears, while the stats for liberal ones have been dropping like a rock.

I attribute this to the "fundamendalist" syndrome - when a religion gets in trouble, the fundies take over to try to hard core preserve the tradition.

[doppelgänger]

Originally Posted by Dunemeister

If "church" is just "a place where you can hang out (or not) with folks who agree with you (or not)", then you have a point. Everywhere on the planet that enjoys a reasonable degree of freedom constitutes a church. But then, you've gutted the word "church" of any Christian meaning whatsoever.

Which is as it should be. The exclusivism that is the basis of the "belief"-based "Church" is repugnant to the Gospel, IMO.

Originally Posted by Dunemeister

That's a bit disingenuous. If you're a liberal christian, you might attend a worship service at some church, but you certainly wouldn't fellowship (which is a deeper thing than "socialize") with them, especially if they honestly thought you were repugnant, heretical, dangerous, or misguided, even if you knew those other people were liberal christians.

First, yes I would. Second, you don't know me, and are not in a position to dictate to me what I would and would not do, sir.

Originally Posted by Dunemeister

So liberalism DOES in fact divide people as much as conservativism does, and it's flat-out dishonest to claim otherwise, or to make it seem as though conservatives are themselves responsible for "exclusionary" doctrines or thinking.

Anyone who tells you there's one right way for you to be or to think doesn't get it. Sorry you had an unpleasant experience.

[Jaiket]

Not if they don't want to. I must admit that my respect for Christians and the work their churches do has grown over the last few years. Who would've thought that a bunch of wildly liberal grannies parading for social justice in the name of Jesus would lift your heart so much...