Quote:
Originally Posted by flamesfever
A good book to read which explains how Christianity has been gradually changing over the last 100 years is "The Heart of Christianity" by Marcus J. Borg. As I interpret the book:
1. Rather than the Bible being a product of God, and having divine authority, it is being viewed more as a human response to God.
2. Rather than interpreting the Bible literally and factually, it is viewed as being metaphorical and should be interpreted in a historical context.
3. Rather than emphasizing an afterlife and what to believe or do to be saved, it emphasizes the transformation in this life through a relationship with God.
The book was recommended by a friend in response to the questions I was asking in a study group. I believe it helps one take a more intellectual approach to Christianity.
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Dont get me wrong ff, Im not trying to be a Bee in your Bonnet....however LOL, let me try.
1. Isnt your item 1 doing exactly what I suggested to Firefly above? Isnt that Liberal Christianity making the Bible suit what you want it to be? Why would you change thousands of years of tradition? What % of the Christian sect would follow along with your revisions? Why would you change something that was supposedly written by an Omniscient all powerful all loving all knowing God?...which moves right into Point 2...
2. So now someone within the Christian sect is suggesting the Bible is not to be taken literally? Which parts? Do you suggest that the part in Genesis where God creates everything is a myth or a metaphor? What possible metaphor lies in Exodus 4.24?
And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. There is so much explaining to do on this topic alone I could spend weeks talking about it. Im sure it must confuse some parishioners after being told for years that the bible is to be taken literally.
3. This is also very interesting, afterall one of the biggest reasons religion exists, is the belief in the afterlife, with the all good all powerful creator, in a place only the righteous have a key to the door for. All the rest of the schmucks get Hell dont they? Now are they trying to suggest that Heaven is a transformation from High School to a working career or from an ugly duckling to a beautiful swan with the help of God? (yes Im being facetious). How can they believe in God when the previous point you made suggested the Bible which was supposedly written by God...or dictated by God to his minions is now nothing but a parable or metaphor?
Dont you see the absurdity here...Im sure this movement will severely injure the church and create more Atheists. Every time the church moves further away from its original doctrine the more that people move away from the church. People are growing smarter...they dont fear the unknown or death as much...they dont need a Priest or a Minister to help explain the unknown with parables from the bible because they are...well...educated, and quite frankly far more educated than Priests or Ministers. Im all for your religion ff...Im hoping it catches on and makes some public noise.
