Mike Bird’s caricature/critique of Liberal Christianity and my response to it are getting some discussion around the blogosphere (as well as on Reddit). See in particular Mason’s discussion of both posts and his question about whether liberalism and progressivism are the same.
Those who find my exchange with Mike interesting will probably also be interested in Scott McLemee’s piece on Evangelical and Ecumenical Christians in Inside Higher Ed.
And also related are two bits of news in the aftermath of the Indiana State Fair tragedy. Jen McCreight pointed out that after one member of a lesbian couple was killed in the tragedy, the survivor’s injuries were added to by the fact that she had few legal rights in Indiana with respect to her deceased partner. Whatever their views may be on homosexual marriage, what exactly do conservative Christians think they are accomplishing by advocating legislation that affects those they disagree with during life’s most difficult moments? (UPDATE: It seems that some reports that have circulated jumped to conclusions. The surviving partner is still in the hospital and so, while this issue might come up, it apparently has not yet).
And P. Z. Myers pointed out how some are interpreting the prayer time which delayed the country duo Sugarland long enough to avoid being on stage when the disaster happened. As a Liberal Christian I find such theological interpretations akin to those of Job’s friends, and am dismayed that more people do not see that in making God the author of the survival of some, they are also making him out to be one who could have prevented more loss of life and injury but did not.
And so perhaps these real-life cases can provide useful topics for discussion, as we consider how liberals, conservatives, moderates, progressives and others view such things, and what the real world implications are of some of the views and courses of actions we take.
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