Aren't fundamentalists just people who have read the bible through a modern era lense and who have drawn conclusions, deductions and 'reasoned arguments' from a book that was never meant to be used in that fashion? The saddest part for these people is not this monumental mistake but rather that they are unwilling to even see that there may be another way to view the scriptures... and even God. These are people who brand thoe wo disagree with them 'liberals', and then in the same breath need to remind us about how terrible it is to be called a 'liberal'. As I recall Luther's view of the scriptures was considered liberal in the extreme! Palegius' views about the will of God and man were considered Liberal. In fact even Jesus was branded a liberal and a heretic for His views and practices as a God-fearing Jew!! So it seems that we 'liberals' are in good company. If a liberal is merely someone who keeps on questioning the status quo in an honest search for the Truth then I pray I am labeled as such until the day I die... no matter how that means the others perceive me.

This was a relief for me to read. I have been branded as a liberal from all sides for insisting that my paradigms be always under revision, for arguing for Truth as referring to a Person not a particlar dogma, for wanting to blur the boundaries and think out of the box. Thanks for this, Sean, and hoping you'll start writing blog entries again sometime!

Posted by: Cori W 12 Feb, 2006 - 17:10:50