Amen!
This editorial by John C. Danforth, an Episcopalian minister and former Republican senator, on moderate theology and politics is so good, I have nothing to add.
posted by Bad Methodist @ 11:20 AM
1 comments
Bad Methodist
Shamelessly stealing from my friend Bad Catholic, I'm a United Methodist with a somewhat liberal theology. Specifically, I want my church to be more inclusive of people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered. Generally, I just want to help get God out of that Little Box some Christians want to shove him into.
Friday, June 17, 2005
About Me
- Name: Bad Methodist
- Location: Tucson, Arizona, United States
I became a Christian when I was 19. I started out pretty run-of-the-mill conservative, but my theology has grown progressively more liberal the more I study the Bible. Here I might seem like a raving liberal, but politically I'm actually a moderate conservative. Although I'm straight, the death of Matthew Shepard, the existence of Fred Phelps, and two sermons on the same day from different preachers on the subject of standing in the way of hate combined into the two-by-four God used to call me into fighting for gay rights. The United Methodist Church's official stance is that "homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching," so I guess that makes me a bad Methodist.
Previous Posts
- Where's the love?
- Some markets just need to stay untapped
- Even conservatives think it's a bad idea
- Another religious/political unholy alliance
- Revenge of the Sith pt. 3: The Spiritual Fall
- Revenge of the Sith pt. 2: The Political Fall
- Revenge of the Sith pt. 1: The Personal Fall
- A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away... (in...
- But some are more equal than others
- Game on
1 Comments:
It was a fantastic article all the way until the 3rd paragraph. Actually, the 4th paragraph is alright too!
It's actually a very articulate statement of a more liberal viewpoint, but it beats the same old theocracy drum that is unfounded and tiresome.
His espousing of the "moderate" christian's view on social issues from Terry Shaivo to homosexuality to references to God paints the picture that only that viewpoint is the "loving" one. I can make an argument for each of those cases that my perspective is a "loving" one as well.
He states it's "not a stretch" to assume that the breakdown of bipartisanship and the increased activism of the christian right are not merely coincidental, but offers no evidence to support his theory. Again, the message - It's conservative christians that a responsible for divisions in our country. I don't buy that it's our burden alone.
His last two paragraphs are the worst, purely pandering to those who believe in the "evil" christian right. Who says our political agenda "displaces love"? He makes the trashy accusation that these socially conservative issues were brought up specifically for political gain, to "energize the base".
Religious conservatives believe in the seperation of church and state. Most of my friends consider themselves religious conservatives, and I know NOT ONE of them that advocates a national religion. But I do think that it is the responsibility of any citizen to let their voice be heard on issues facing our country. And it seems to me that many are trying to shut out religious conservative voices simply because they are religious.
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