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Can Liberal Christianity Be Saved?
New York Times ^ | July 14 2012 | ROSS DOUTHAT

Posted on 07/15/2012 4:35:34 PM PDT by WilliamIII

IN 1998, John Shelby Spong, then the reliably controversial Episcopal bishop of Newark, published a book entitled “Why Christianity Must Change or Die.” Spong was a uniquely radical figure — during his career, he dismissed almost every element of traditional Christian faith as so much superstition — but most recent leaders of the Episcopal Church have shared his premise. Thus their church has spent the last several decades changing and then changing some more, from a sedate pillar of the WASP establishment into one of the most self-consciously progressive Christian bodies in the United States. Go to Columnist Page » Ross Douthat’s Evaluations

The columnist’s blog on politics and culture. More From Evaluations » Related

Times Topic: Episcopal Church

Josh Haner/The New York Times Ross Douthat Readers’ Comments Readers shared their thoughts on this article. Read All Comments (323) » As a result, today the Episcopal Church looks roughly how Roman Catholicism would look if Pope Benedict XVI suddenly adopted every reform ever urged on the Vatican by liberal pundits and theologians. It still has priests and bishops, altars and stained-glass windows. But it is flexible to the point of indifference on dogma, friendly to sexual liberation in almost every form, willing to blend Christianity with other faiths, and eager to downplay theology entirely in favor of secular political causes.

Yet instead of attracting a younger, more open-minded demographic with these changes, the Episcopal Church’s dying has proceeded apace.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: apostasy; christianity; ecusa; elca; liberalchristianity; religiousleft; schism; spong
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1 posted on 07/15/2012 4:35:41 PM PDT by WilliamIII
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To: WilliamIII
No such thing as liberal christianity.

That would be an oxymoron.

2 posted on 07/15/2012 4:39:51 PM PDT by elkfersupper ( Member of the Original Defiant Class)
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To: WilliamIII

A more important question: are liberal christians christians?


3 posted on 07/15/2012 4:42:11 PM PDT by chesley (God's chosen instrument - the trumpet)
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To: elkfersupper
No such thing as liberal Christianity.

That's absolutely right. There are former liberals who are now Christian and former Christians who are now liberal. But there are no liberal Christians. The core tenets of liberalism are unalterably opposed in every aspect to the teachings of Christ.

4 posted on 07/15/2012 4:43:08 PM PDT by re_nortex (DP...that's what I like about Texas.)
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To: WilliamIII
Christianity Must Change or Die

Change what?

Change how?

God is eternal. The truth of the Resurrection is eternal.

5 posted on 07/15/2012 4:46:09 PM PDT by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both)
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To: chesley
Are liberal Christians Christians?

No. Liberals lie (as is their habit) when they claim any connection with Christianity. As I posted in this thread, the philosophy of liberalism is counter to God's Word.

6 posted on 07/15/2012 4:46:24 PM PDT by re_nortex (DP...that's what I like about Texas.)
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To: WilliamIII

A saying that comes to mind...

You’re either on the wagon, or you’re not.


7 posted on 07/15/2012 4:53:16 PM PDT by moovova (Ladies & Gentlemen...Pandora has left the box.)
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To: WilliamIII

The Episcopal church is a religion that celebrates homosexuality and abortion. It was founded by an adulterer who murdered his opponents and the women who displeased him. There is nothing Christian about the Episcopal church or its founder. Episcopalians today don’t worship, they gather for emotional support. Their clergy are largely agnostic.If you were a bible believing Christian and became a member of an Episcopal parish, you would soon tire of being told of your therapeutic options.


8 posted on 07/15/2012 4:54:49 PM PDT by allendale
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To: WilliamIII

It’s not worth saving — Liberalism and Christianity is an oxymoron.


9 posted on 07/15/2012 4:55:43 PM PDT by 353FMG
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To: WilliamIII
Yet instead of attracting a younger, more open-minded demographic with these changes, the Episcopal Church’s dying has proceeded apace.

When you cut away the roots, the tree dies. A church without the Holy Spirit is a dead thing.
10 posted on 07/15/2012 5:03:52 PM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four Fried Chickens and a Coke)
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To: WilliamIII

Most of what passes for liberal Christianity is just the “vain philosophies of man”.


11 posted on 07/15/2012 5:11:51 PM PDT by MachIV
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To: WilliamIII

No. They can not be saved. They are no longer Christian. They are a political ideology. They have been dying for years. People can read. Once they read the Bible they know these “Churches” are lost. Have been for a long time.


12 posted on 07/15/2012 5:13:56 PM PDT by therut
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To: elkfersupper

You beat me to it.....”liberal” Christianity is NOT Christian.

Marxists—Liberals (now) with the twisting of the word “Liberal” to mean exactly the opposite of what John Stuart Mill and JFK stated-—and the so called progressives or leftists or socialists or atheists or Democrats or Satanists or Wiccans or muslims—whatever they call themselves now—are Godless people.

They want to eliminate the Christian religion because it created the best hope for mankind-—and true Christians do not worship the State and are hard to control and make into slaves. True Christians don’t fall for the Big Lie.


13 posted on 07/15/2012 5:17:00 PM PDT by savagesusie (Right Reason According to Nature = Just Law)
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To: savagesusie

Right. Liberals are not Christians - they are humannists who take over the Christians’ churches and then kick the Christians out.


14 posted on 07/15/2012 5:39:22 PM PDT by SaraJohnson
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To: MachIV

Succint and on the mark.


15 posted on 07/15/2012 5:52:40 PM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four Fried Chickens and a Coke)
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To: MachIV

Amen to that!


16 posted on 07/15/2012 6:20:15 PM PDT by DarthVader (Politicians govern out of self interest, Statesmen govern for a Vision greater than themselves)
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To: WilliamIII
These faux 'churches' are more like dead men walking. They deny God's Word and they deny the working of the Holy Spirit.
They are just a social club of like-minded unbelievers.
They offer nothing. No Salvation, No Risen Christ, No Power, No Hope.
Just a bunch of man centered vain philosophies that lead to nothing.

Bishop Spong ... there is a name that belongs in the garbage heap of history's judas goats and false teachers. Wolves dressed in lamb"s clothing.

17 posted on 07/15/2012 6:20:41 PM PDT by El Cid (Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house...)
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To: WilliamIII

You can not be a liberal and Christian.


18 posted on 07/15/2012 6:23:14 PM PDT by bmwcyle (Corollary - Electing the same person over and over and expecting a different outcome is insanity)
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To: WilliamIII
Sorry, article title is wrong:

"CanWhy Should Liberal Christianity Be Saved?"

Better.

My answer: see reply #4. Thank you re_nortex.

19 posted on 07/15/2012 6:37:59 PM PDT by upchuck ("Definition of 'racist:' someone that is winning an argument with a liberal." ~ Peter Brimelow)
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To: WilliamIII

They might want to consider joining the Muslims. Neither is much of a religion and both believe in killing babies and butt buddies,


20 posted on 07/15/2012 7:05:38 PM PDT by RetiredTexasVet (Skittle pooping unicorns are more common than progressives with honor & integrity.)
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