Question of the day ??
What do you think about the terms liberal and conservative in today's context? Are they overused, hit the mark or just misunderstood? And finally, do you think that it's meant as criticizm when someone calls you a liberal (if that's where you seem to fit) or a conservative (if that's the case) when they are the opposite?
posted by Greg Hazelrig @ 7:29 AM
11 comments
11 Comments:
As a libertarian, I have a different spectrum: we are libertarians and the rest of you are 'statists'.
Of course, that spectrum only makes sense in politics, not theology. In that domain, I'm entirely comfortable identifying myself as a theological conservative.
People who are label-shy in politics and theology inspire my distrust. Labels aren't perfect, but they usually apply to people. Usually if someone tries to weasel away from labels entirely, there is some sort of McLaren-like obfuscation going on.
I might just inspire your distrust then. Because I hate these labels. Maybe because I am labeled a liberal by some, while a conservative by others.
And when I hear conservatives like my parishioners or maybe tv/radio personalities or even bloggers use the term liberal, it seems bring a negative connotation with it (if you don't believe me about the bloggers, just check out some of the arguments on Wesleyblog).
The same is true when liberals use the conservative term (I just don't have hardly any liberal parishioners or listen to liberal radio/tv personalities except daily show).
I feel like I am very conservative theologically, but very liberal in that I am not afraid to try to look at things from a different perspective. I'm also liberal in the way I feel grace should be dispensed. Mercy should always outweigh judgment because that's how I believe God views things.
I agree with Greg. If you're a conservative then you're all the sudden bedfellows with Pat Robertson. If you're a liberal, then you're on the side of Bishop Spong. There seems to be this pressure to "pick your side" when I don't think it's possible for me. It's certainly by a per-issue basis. At times, I agree with mostly conservative theologians, then there are times when I agree with some liberal theologians.
I guess I'd be fairly moderate.
Screwtape has an interesting viewpoint. He speaks toward a slightly different subject (extreme pacifism vs. extreme patriotism) but what he says rings true in regards to extreme liberals and conservatives:
"All extremes, except extreme devotion to [God] are to be encouraged (by Satan's workers)."
So very true Tony. Lewis does put it well.
Nate, I like your comment about seeming to have to choose between Robertson or Spong. As my blog says up top, The truth is in the middle.
I hate labels as well. So John has every right to distrust me. I believe labels separate and divide rather than unite the body. Jesus didn't talk about labels and places on a static places on spectrum. He discussed many different rooms, many vines, or many branches.
Surely labels fall away in these terms?
Pick the issue; pick the day. On one I'm liberal. On another I'm conservative.
I'm less concerned with labels than I am with Christians who cannot provide short and direct answers to simple questions like "Do you believe in the virgin birth?" or "Are other religions true?"
If a person has traditionally conservative or liberal views, there's nothing wrong with owning up to that label. And it's intellectually dishonest to disown accurate labels.
I'm a libertarian. There are a wide variety of libertarians, but we all have certain core principles. If I start hemming and hawing when someone calls me that, I'm not sophisticated or thoughtful; I'm just a liar.
Theologically, I'm a conservative. There are a wide variety of theological conservatives, but we all have certain core ideas. If I start hemming and hawing when someone calls me that, I'm not sophisticated or thoughtful, I'm jsut a liar.
Jesus used labels. He called Herod a 'fox,'(Luke 13:32), Gentiles 'dogs,' (Matt. 15:26) and the teachers of the law 'hypocrites,' 'blind guides,' 'whitewashed tombs,' and 'snakes.' (Matt 23)
Just when you think you have Jesus figured out....
A while back, my boss say to me: "You are such a liberal" It floored him when I smiled and said "thank you!"
I don't think the truth is in the middle. . .the middle is a label too. God is Truth. That might be the middle, it might be the left or the right. . .those are our labels. Politically I tend to be conservative. As long as we are searching for God's Truth, I don't care what label it has . . .if you want to call it the middle, that's okay with me.
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