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what is a liberal

L

Luke2427

Active Member
Salty said:
Discussion on FB
What is your definition of liberal

Like · Reply · November 16 at 12:34pm
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Say what?
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Theological liberalism

Theological liberalism, sometimes known as Protestant Liberalism, is a theological movement rooted in the early 19th century German Enlightenment, notably in the philosophy of Immanuel Kant and the religious views of Friedrich Schleiermacher. It is an attempt to incorporate modern thinking and developments, especially in the sciences, into the Christian faith. Liberalism tends to emphasize ethics over doctrine and experience over Scriptural authority. While essentially a 19th century movement, theological liberalism came to dominate the American mainline churches in the early 20th century. Liberal Christian scholars embraced and encouraged the higher biblical criticism of modern Biblical scholarship.

Protestant liberal thought in its most traditional incarnations emphasized the universal Fatherhood of God, the brotherhood of man, the infinite value of the human soul, the example of Jesus, and the establishment of the moral-ethical Kingdom of God on Earth. It has often been relativistic, pluralistic, and non-doctrinal.

Liberalism birthed other movements with varying emphases. Among these movements have been the Social Gospel, theological Feminism, Liberation theology, Process theology, and the Jesus Seminar. One product of these movements is the heretical Myth of Christian Origins which denies the divinity of Christ and the authority of scripture.
 
Earth Wind and Fire

Earth Wind and Fire

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Luke2427 said:
Theological liberalism



Liberalism birthed other movements with varying emphases. Among these movements have been the Social Gospel, theological Feminism, Liberation theology, Process theology, and the Jesus Seminar. One product of these movements is the heretical Myth of Christian Origins which denies the divinity of Christ and the authority of scripture.
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Add the apostate churches like the PCUSA, Episcopal, & UMC to your list. I would add "Sickeningly Liberal" to the definition.
 
evenifigoalone

evenifigoalone

Well-Known Member
Earth said:
Would Socialists & Marxists emanate from Liberals. Personally think so
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In the US, yeah.
Kinda confusing, though. Cuz in other countries, from what I've read anyway--correct me if I'm wrong-- the term liberal refers or can refer to classic liberalism, which is more or less today's conservstism and libertarianism.
 
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S

saturneptune

New Member
righteousdude2 said:
.....believe as me :laugh:
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The definition of liberal is not the political and theological misconceptions of the word defined in this thread. Here is the definition:

Noun 1. liberal - a person who favors a political philosophy of progress and reform and the protection of civil liberties
Synonyms: progressive

Antonyms:
conservative, conservativist - a person who has conservative ideas or opinions

2. liberal - a person who favors an economic theory of laissez-faire and self-regulating markets
Adj. 1. liberal - showing or characterized by broad-mindedness; "a broad political stance"; "generous and broad sympathies"; "a liberal newspaper"; "tolerant of his opponent's opinions"
Synonyms: large-minded, tolerant, broad

2. liberal - having political or social views favoring reform and progress
3. liberal - tolerant of change; not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or tradition
Antonyms:
conservative - resistant to change

4. liberal - given or giving freely; "was a big tipper"; "the bounteous goodness of God"; "bountiful compliments"; "a freehanded host"; "a handsome allowance"; "Saturday's child is loving and giving"; "a liberal backer of the arts"; "a munificent gift"; "her fond and openhanded grandfather"
Synonyms: bighearted, bounteous, bountiful, giving, openhanded, handsome, freehanded, big

5. liberal - not literal; "a loose interpretation of what she had been told"; "a free translation of the poem"
Synonyms: loose, free

A basic description is a person that wants change. The definition of liberal is not the Democratic Party, and it is not a person who does not agree with others theologically. It is a person who advocates change.

For example, if one lived in the South during the 50s, like me, and I found the system of governmental segregation disgusting, that makes me a liberal. It does not make me a member of the Democrat party, a socialist, or a person who does not accept the Bible as Inspired.

For a person to be a liberal, they must be contrasted to something standard and desire a change. How does being a member of the Democrat Party meet that definition? What is one comparing it to?

Liberal and conservative are not defined by the standard of the Constitution. They are defined by a desire for either change or maintaining the status quo.

But, as many things on this board, definitions take on a life of their own, and are warped into ideas that were never intended by the original definition.
 
R

Revmitchell

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
saturneptune said:
The definition of liberal is not the political and theological misconceptions of the word defined in this thread. Here is the definition:

Noun 1. liberal - a person who favors a political philosophy of progress and reform and the protection of civil liberties
Synonyms: progressive

Antonyms:
conservative, conservativist - a person who has conservative ideas or opinions

2. liberal - a person who favors an economic theory of laissez-faire and self-regulating markets
Adj. 1. liberal - showing or characterized by broad-mindedness; "a broad political stance"; "generous and broad sympathies"; "a liberal newspaper"; "tolerant of his opponent's opinions"
Synonyms: large-minded, tolerant, broad

2. liberal - having political or social views favoring reform and progress
3. liberal - tolerant of change; not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or tradition
Antonyms:
conservative - resistant to change

4. liberal - given or giving freely; "was a big tipper"; "the bounteous goodness of God"; "bountiful compliments"; "a freehanded host"; "a handsome allowance"; "Saturday's child is loving and giving"; "a liberal backer of the arts"; "a munificent gift"; "her fond and openhanded grandfather"
Synonyms: bighearted, bounteous, bountiful, giving, openhanded, handsome, freehanded, big

5. liberal - not literal; "a loose interpretation of what she had been told"; "a free translation of the poem"
Synonyms: loose, free

A basic description is a person that wants change. The definition of liberal is not the Democratic Party, and it is not a person who does not agree with others theologically. It is a person who advocates change.

For example, if one lived in the South during the 50s, like me, and I found the system of governmental segregation disgusting, that makes me a liberal. It does not make me a member of the Democrat party, a socialist, or a person who does not accept the Bible as Inspired.

For a person to be a liberal, they must be contrasted to something standard and desire a change. How does being a member of the Democrat Party meet that definition? What is one comparing it to?

Liberal and conservative are not defined by the standard of the Constitution. They are defined by a desire for either change or maintaining the status quo.

But, as many things on this board, definitions take on a life of their own, and are warped into ideas that were never intended by the original definition.
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The way it is defined on this board is the way it is defined everywhere. They no longer want to be called liberal they want to be call "progressives" hence the desire for change.
 
evenifigoalone

evenifigoalone

Well-Known Member
saturneptune said:
2. liberal - a person who favors an economic theory of laissez-faire and self-regulating markets
.
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This one is more like the definition of classic liberalism--in the US, at least. Those calling themselves liberals today in the US definitely do not stand for a self-regulating market. Liberals 100, 200 years back were very different from the liberals of today.

Also, liberals being associated with the democratic party seems to be accepted by those in the democratic party, since they refer to themselves as liberals. And seeing as liberal and conservative are widely used to refer to the left and right wings.
That's not the only definition of either word, certainly.
 
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Earth Wind and Fire

Earth Wind and Fire

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Barclay’s Modernism

Barclay once described himself as a “liberal evangelical” — an expression that is somewhat contradictory. The truth is, the engaging professor was a theological modernist. For example, he did not believe in the virgin birth of Jesus. We are not compelled to accept this teaching “in the literal and physical sense” he wrote.

And while he felt there was some essence of the “miraculous” in the deeds of Christ, he believed that many of the Lord’s miracles had perfectly “natural” explanations.
 
Y

Yeshua1

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Salty said:
Discussion on FB
What is your definition of liberal

Like · Reply · November 16 at 12:34pm
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Say what?
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depends on the contex, as a political one sees bigger government the better, as the state has to supply and meet needs of the citizens....

religious wise, one who denies the essentials of the faith, and into social agenda Gospel!
 
J

just-want-peace

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Earth said:
Barclay’s Modernism

Barclay once described himself as a “liberal evangelical” — an expression that is somewhat contradictory. The truth is, the engaging professor was a theological modernist. For example, he did not believe in the virgin birth of Jesus. We are not compelled to accept this teaching “in the literal and physical sense” he wrote.

And while he felt there was some essence of the “miraculous” in the deeds of Christ, he believed that many of the Lord’s miracles had perfectly “natural” explanations.
Click to expand...

I still use Barclay for my SS lessons, but, BUT, only in respect to history, customs of the period, etc. I find him excellent in this regard, but stay away from his passage commentary.
Pity, as the man had a brilliant way of saying whatever he was discussing, but was so ridiculously liberal in his dissecting of the spiritual aspects of the Word.:tear:
 
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