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| '''Liberal Christianity''', sometimes called '''liberal theology''', is an umbrella term covering diverse, philosophically informed religious [[movements]] and ideas within late 18th, 19th and 20th century Christianity. The word "liberal" in liberal Christianity does not refer to a progessive political agenda or set of [[belief]]s, but rather to the [[manner]] of [[thought]] and belief associated with the philosophical and religious [[paradigm]]s developed during the [[Age of Enlightenment]]. | | '''Liberal Christianity''', sometimes called '''liberal theology''', is an umbrella term covering diverse, philosophically informed religious [[movements]] and ideas within late 18th, 19th and 20th century Christianity. The word "liberal" in liberal Christianity does not refer to a progessive political agenda or set of [[belief]]s, but rather to the [[manner]] of [[thought]] and belief associated with the philosophical and religious [[paradigm]]s developed during the [[Age of Enlightenment]]. |
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| ==Contributions to Biblical hermeneutics== | | ==Contributions to Biblical hermeneutics== |
− | The theology of liberal Christianity was prominent in the [[biblical criticism]] of the 19th and 20th centuries. The style of [[Bible|scriptural]] [[hermeneutics]] within liberal theology is often characterized as non-propositional. This means that the Bible is not considered a collection of factual statements but instead documents the human [[authors]]' beliefs and [[feeling]]s about God ''at the time of its writing''—within a historic/cultural [[context]]. Thus, liberal Christian theologians do not claim to discover [[truth]] propositions but rather create religious [[models]] and [[concepts]] that reflect the class, [[gender]], [[social]], and [[political]] contexts from which they emerge. Liberal Christianity looks upon the Bible as a collection of [[narrative]]s that explain, epitomize, or [[symbol]]ize the [[essence]] and significance of Christian understanding.[http://www.wlsessays.net/authors/W/WestphalConfession/WestphalConfession.PDF] | + | The theology of liberal Christianity was prominent in the [[biblical criticism]] of the 19th and 20th centuries. The style of [[Bible|scriptural]] [[hermeneutics]] within liberal theology is often characterized as non-propositional. This means that the Bible is not considered a collection of factual statements but instead documents the human [[authors]]' beliefs and [[feeling]]s about God ''at the time of its writing''—within a historic/cultural [[context]]. Thus, liberal Christian theologians do not claim to discover [[truth]] propositions but rather create religious [[models]] and [[concepts]] that reflect the class, [[gender]], [[social]], and [[political]] contexts from which they emerge. Liberal Christianity looks upon the Bible as a collection of [[narrative]]s that explain, epitomize, or [[symbol]]ize the [[essence]] and significance of Christian understanding.[https://www.wlsessays.net/authors/W/WestphalConfession/WestphalConfession.PDF] |
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| ==Liberal Christian beliefs== | | ==Liberal Christian beliefs== |
− | Liberal Christianity, broadly speaking, is a method of biblical [[hermeneutics]], an [[individual]]istic method of understanding [[God]] through the use of scripture by applying the same modern hermeneutics used to understand any ancient writings. Liberal Christianity does not claim to be a belief [[structure]], and as such is not dependent upon any Church [[dogma]] or creedal statements. Unlike conservative varieties of Christianity, it has no unified set of propositional beliefs. The word ''liberal'' in liberal Christianity denotes a characteristic willingness to interpret scripture without any preconceived notion of inerrancy of scripture or the correctness of Church dogma. [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09212a.htm][http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09212a.htm] A liberal Christian, however, may hold certain beliefs in common with traditional, orthodox, or even conservative Christianity. | + | Liberal Christianity, broadly speaking, is a method of biblical [[hermeneutics]], an [[individual]]istic method of understanding [[God]] through the use of scripture by applying the same modern hermeneutics used to understand any ancient writings. Liberal Christianity does not claim to be a belief [[structure]], and as such is not dependent upon any Church [[dogma]] or creedal statements. Unlike conservative varieties of Christianity, it has no unified set of propositional beliefs. The word ''liberal'' in liberal Christianity denotes a characteristic willingness to interpret scripture without any preconceived notion of inerrancy of scripture or the correctness of Church dogma. [https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09212a.htm][https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09212a.htm] A liberal Christian, however, may hold certain beliefs in common with traditional, orthodox, or even conservative Christianity. |
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| ==Influence of liberal Christianity== | | ==Influence of liberal Christianity== |
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| ==References== | | ==References== |
− | #Montgomery, John Warwick. In Defense of Martin Luther. Milwaukee: Northwestern, 1970, p. 57. “Luther’s Hermeneutic vs. the New Hermeneutic.” Quoted in [http://www.wlsessays.net/authors/W/WestphalConfession/WestphalConfession.PDF Westphal Confession] | + | #Montgomery, John Warwick. In Defense of Martin Luther. Milwaukee: Northwestern, 1970, p. 57. “Luther’s Hermeneutic vs. the New Hermeneutic.” Quoted in [https://www.wlsessays.net/authors/W/WestphalConfession/WestphalConfession.PDF Westphal Confession] |
− | #[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09212a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Liberalism"]. | + | #[https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09212a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Liberalism"]. |
− | #[http://books.google.com/books?id=L50mveyi6WoC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_book_other_versions_r&cad=4_0 The Making of American Liberal Theology by Gary Dorrien] | + | #[https://books.google.com/books?id=L50mveyi6WoC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_book_other_versions_r&cad=4_0 The Making of American Liberal Theology by Gary Dorrien] |
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| ==External links== | | ==External links== |
− | *[http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=177 Liberalism By M. James Sawyer , Th.M., Ph.D.] | + | *[https://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=177 Liberalism By M. James Sawyer , Th.M., Ph.D.] |
− | *[http://www.biblebelievers.com/machen/index.html Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen (1881-1937)] | + | *[https://www.biblebelievers.com/machen/index.html Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen (1881-1937)] |
− | *[http://www.hostdiva.com/liberalchristians/ The Liberal Christians Network] | + | *[https://www.hostdiva.com/liberalchristians/ The Liberal Christians Network] |
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| [[Category: Religion]] | | [[Category: Religion]] |
| [[Category: History]] | | [[Category: History]] |