Defining morality splits Christians

[JI7]

this was written by a minister and is an example that there are many moderate/liberal Christians out there and the way they follow their religion leads them to support democratic causes and candidates.


<If, after voting, I had been questioned by one taking an exit poll, the choice for my vote would have been "moral values." To my mind that selection covered most of the others. To cast a vote for John Kerry was infinitely more moral than a vote for George Bush.

Within the religious realm there is a conservative view that tends to take Scripture as inerrant and literal. This position holds homosexuality as a sin without redemption and allows no social allowances for gays and lesbians (note the rejection of civil union by the religious right). Their position does not allow a woman a right of choice concerning her own life and body, but rejects her rights because of an objection to the act of abortion.

At the other end are those equally as religious but more moderate or liberal who take a different view to the interpretation of Scripture. They look to the revelations of science to enlighten their views of both scripture and society. These people move toward accepting that homosexuality is not a "lifestyle" or a choice. They may believe that abortion is wrong, but that every woman is free to make her own choices.

To the first group morality seems to be a list of rules. Boxes to be checked off and done or opposed in God's name.

The latter group tends to look at morality as captured in the words and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth through his parables, stories and sermons. They take seriously the 25th chapter of Matthew ending with the promise that, "just as you have done to the least of these my children....">

http://springfield.news-leader.com/opinions/today/1201-Definingmo-238636.html

[Why Syzygy]

1. this one?

Matthew:
34 Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you took care of Me; I was in prison and you visited Me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or without clothes and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?' 40 "And the King will answer them, 'I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.' 41 Then He will also say to those on the left, 'Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels!
....
why does it always end with 'god' sending people to "hell"?
That's the problem I have with the whole scenario.
A good case up to that point, immho.

[JI7]

6. well, this guy says the moderate/liberal interpretation is not based on

taking everything as literally true. and that seems to be what separates the liberal/moderate christians from the right wing ones.

[Skidmore]

2. Evangelicals/fundamentalists have forgotten one of the major teachings

of Christ. He said he came to do away with the old and replace it with the new. The rending of the veil in the temple at the moment of his death has always been taught to represent the replacement of Jewish laws with the laws of Christ. His teachings represented a major repudiation of the Pharisees and the doctrines surrounding Judaism at his time. People seem to forget that he was the recognized head of a political movement also, a movement that sought to elevate the slave to the same level as the Roman aristocracy. This was accomplished by defining a spiritual equality among men over the accumulation of physical trappings of wealth and power. The fundamentalists have embraced the Old Testament and do lip service to the teachings of Christ when they want to use the concept of salvation (which is an acceptance of the teachings of Jesus) to hammer people who fear eternal damnation if they question the teachings of the doctrine. We forget that all religious teachings are "interpretations" of the nature of spirituality by men. Falwell, Copeland, Roberts, Robertson, Graham, the Pope, and all other people who have been given the role of leaders in different doctrines (and religions) need to be reminded of the diversity of those interpretations.

[WoodrowFan]

3. forgotten??

I don't think they understood it in the first place, can't forget what you never knew. (SIGH)

[rjbny62]

4. Jesus brought a revolutionary message that the fundies don't get

most of them anyway are so self-consumed that they miss it completely. Instead of a new and living way, they've gone back to trying to make laws like in the old testament, rather than seeing the power of loving your neighbor as well as your enemies. Tied in with this is the materialism that prevents the breaking down of the walls of wealth and power that is mentioned in the previous excellent post.

[WoodrowFan]

5. no one is justified under the law

I agree, they totally missed Christ's message about the Law...

Galatians 2:15-19: …yet who know that a man is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the Law, because by works of the Law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the Law died to the Law, that I might live to God."

[Lerkfish]

8. fundies are pharisees and saducees....they just don't get it...

Here is my argument:

--They are fixated by law instead of grace.
---they are purveyors of judgement instead of forgiveness
--They are practioners of exclusivity and condescension, instead of sitting with the tax collectors and prostitutes.
--They take the highest seat at the feasts, instead of demonstrating humility
-- they are like whitened sepulchres, which are white on the outside but inside is unclean foulness and corruption
--They have allowed the moneychangers into the temple

History repeats itself.

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. There are lots of us spiritual lefties out there. More than the RW

moral majority.

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Would Jesus love a theistic evolutionist? You bet!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/