American Baptist

Disciples of Christ

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Mennonite

Reformed Church in America

United Methodist Church

Now I realize that usually when people use the phrases "liberal", and "moderate" they are speaking in political rather than religious terms, however I am speaking of the term "moderate" here in stricly spiritual and social terms and NOT political and I believe one CAN be for social justice of both sexes and all races and help the earth and wildlife withOUT being a political.

As the name implies, these are faith groups whose beliefs, priorities and policies lie between the conservatives and liberals:

1. They look upon the Bible as containing the Word of God but do not necessarily view all passages being inerrant in interpretation or may be symbolic in nature while others are literal.

2. The concept of Hell is viewed as simply as death and NOT a place of eternal punishment.

3. They are divided about belief in the origins of life and the universe.

Most mainline denominations have experienced long-standing, serious internal conflicts because their membership is largely split into two wings: conservative and liberal. The administrative leadership of the denomination is typically quite liberal. However, renewal ministries within these denomination are pressing for a return towards conservative beliefs.

4. Mainline denominations have gradually become more inclusive. Decades ago, they fought over the issue of equality of women. This was settled by allowing women to be ordained, and to hold positions of power in the denomination. Current conflicts deal mainly with human sexuality -- particularly sexual orientation.

Many people tend to view the Christian world in terms of "us ". e.g. "there is my denomination, and then there are all the other faith groups that consider themselves to be Christian ."(1) For example, a Fundamentalist or other Evangelical Christian might believe that his/her faith group represents true Christianity. She/he might consider non-conservative denominations, grouped together, as non-Christian, heretical Christian, quasi-Christian, false Christian etc.

Similarly, (2)a liberal Christian might lump together Fundamentalists, Pentecostals, Charismatics and other Evangelicals as a single group without differentiating among them.

The phrases or terms "Liberal" and "Progressive" are closely related and sometimes the cross over each other so they there really seems to be no difference between the two. There is an offical Network called "The Progressive Christians". The offical Progressive Christian Network has a set of

8 Points

1. Proclaim Jesus Christ as our Gate to the realm of God.

I understand this fine and in my view this means that as Christian we believe that Christ is the Savior and meditor to God but...

2. We Recognize the faithfulness of other people who have other names for the God and His Son. For example Yahweh is called The Great Spirit by Native Americans and I agree with this, that God is THEE Great Spirit or Taiowa. Also Christ may be called Sotunknang..but they are still THEE Creator and THEE Co-Creators of all life.

3. Now this point#3, is complicated for especially JW's, much in the way Catholics are warned that non-Catholics can not take communion, likewsie JW's are taught that ONLY people who claim their hope lies in heaven and not the earth take the bread and wine. Because of this, many are left leary and confused if they should take the bread and wine or not. Because of this I myself have opted to honor the account in the Bible of the meaning or Christ death and ransom rather than focus on the actual symbols.

4. Now point#4 gets vauge and involved. It speaks here of, " invite all sorts and conditions of people to join in our worship and in our common life as full partners, including (but not limited to):

(A) believers and agnostics,

(B) conventional Christians and questioning skeptics

(C) homosexuals and heterosexuals

(D) females and male

(E) the despairing and the hopeful

(F) those of all races and culture

(G) and those of all classes and abilities, ... (H) without imposing on them the necessity of becoming like us.

Now, I am not sure what this phrase means, "invite all sorts and conditions of people to join in our worship and in our common life as full partners, including (but not limited to).."

ANYONE would be a welcomed vistor, but this phrase "Invite all sorts of conditions", I am in question of.

Now these:

(D) females and male

(E) the despairing and the hopeful

(F) those of all races and culture

(G) and those of all classes and abilities, ... (H) without imposing on them the necessity of becoming like us.

I AGREE ON ALL here...but the rest I would question. First of all, I have no idea what this phrase, "conventional Christians," means. To the Evangelical Protestant ONLY the Evangelical Protestant IS a true, "conventional Christian." So I can not say that I embrace this quote or phrase because I do not understand it's true meaning.

THE ISSUE OF ABORTION...

I will tell you straight up that I do not support abortion in any form. I believe if one is going to follow the Buddhist belief of "Ahisma" which translates that "ALL life is sacred and should not be harmed then you must follow it. You can not refuse to swat a fly one moment and then have an abortion the next.

HOMOSEXUALITY...

This is a tuchy and challenging issue. I would surely avoud the extreamists who carry signs that reads, "God Hates Fags!" and view them as hateful. Infact I know a family member and a good friend who both are attracted to the same sex only instead of the opposite. But at the same time I do NOT believe in saying that committing the sexual act of anal sex is ok. I feel that it both the #1 health risk and spread of STDs and that the Bible does is plainly against this. And anyone doubting the health risks in this form of sex should research the medical journals on the issue.

If being attracted to the same sex is an error of human nature, like if it is some sort of sexual dyslexia..but the person tried to live a moral life dispite this then...if they were meant to be attracted to the opposite sex then God would take care of this in the better life to come.

Now all of these I agree on 100% without question:

(D) females and male

(E) the despairing and the hopeful

(F) those of all races and cultures

(G) and those of all classes and abilities, ...

And I REALLY like this phrase here:

(H) without imposing on them the necessity of becoming like us

5. Think that the way we treat one another and other people is more important than the way we express our beliefs.

Now this is a point that I think JW's and the extreamist branches of Protestantism miss. The Golden Rule MUST be put ahead of even the beliefs we hold dear.

6. Find more grace in the search for meaning than in absolute certainty, in the questions than in the answers.

Agreed because even though we greatly hold dear our bibical beliefs and faith in Christ..nothing will be verified UNTILL the better age to come.

7. See ourselves as a spiritual community in which we discover the resources required for our work in the world: striving for justice and peace among all people, and bringing hope to those Jesus called the least of his sisters and brothers.

And THIS CAN BE dome WithOUT being political. It's called The Golden Rule.

8. Recognize that our faith entails costly discipleship, renunciation of privilege, and conscientious resistance to evil--as has always been the tradition of the church.

So basically, in a nutshell, to me, Moderate Christianity is practicing Social,Justice towards both sexes and all races, helping and natural world in this age..and..the better one to come and extending kindness to animals instead of exploiting them.

A 'CHANCE' AT SALVATION FOR 'ALL'

Notice in this tile the key phrase here
a 'fair' 'CHANCE'.
. This means a a FAIR opprotunity at salvation instead of stating that is will ODDOMATICALLY be given to 'ALL' withOUT having to verify anything or pass going through any spiritual rehabilitation. So this differs from universalism..but it does NOT teach that 'ALL' are oddomatically given salvation..but rather that 'ALL' are given a fair 'chance', if not in this present life then in the better one to come. Whereas Fundamental Protestantism teaches 'ALL' MUST choose rightly NOW..or else they is NO HOPE after death. Likewise JW's also teach a Ark Salvation theory. Where as those who HAVE heard JW's message but did not choose to join them are doomed at Armageddon and only those who never heard JW's message will be resurrected. I believe that 'ALL', those who are NOT Christian and maybe be meek-hearted Buddhists, Hindus, New Agers, Neo-Pagans and the like WILL get the same
'fair' 'CHANCE'.
at salvation during the 1,000 year rein of Christ.

Moderate (e.g. the United Methodist Church)

As the name implies, these are faith groups whose beliefs, priorities and policies lie between the conservatives and liberals:

1. They look upon the Bible as containing the Word of God but do not necessarily view all passages being inerrant in interpretation or may be symbolic in nature while others are literal.

2. The concept of Hell is viewed as simply as death and NOT a place of eternal punishment.

3. They are divided about belief in the origins of life and the universe.

Most mainline denominations have experienced long-standing, serious internal conflicts because their membership is largely split into two wings: conservative and liberal. The administrative leadership of the denomination is typically quite liberal. However, renewal ministries within these denomination are pressing for a return towards conservative beliefs.

4. Mainline denominations have gradually become more inclusive. Decades ago, they fought over the issue of equality of women. This was settled by allowing women to be ordained, and to hold positions of power in the denomination. Current conflicts deal mainly with human sexuality -- particularly sexual orientation.

Many people tend to view the Christian world in terms of "us ". e.g. "there is my denomination, and then there are all the other faith groups that consider themselves to be Christian ."(1) For example, a Fundamentalist or other Evangelical Christian might believe that his/her faith group represents true Christianity. She/he might consider non-conservative denominations, grouped together, as non-Christian, heretical Christian, quasi-Christian, false Christian etc.

Similarly, (2)a liberal Christian might lump together Fundamentalists, Pentecostals, Charismatics and other Evangelicals as a single group without differentiating among them. Contributing to this view of Christianity is the public's general lack of knowledge of other denominations within their religion, and an inability to differentiate among those faith groups which are very different from their own.

Reference:

"America’s Christian Commitment Has Remained Relatively Stable for the Past Decade," Barna Research Online, at: http://www.barna.org/cgi-bin/ J. Gordon Melton, Ed, "The Encyclopedia of American Religions: A Comprehensive Study of the Major Religious Groups in the United States and Canada," 3 volume set, Triumph Books, New York, NY, (1989) Borgna Brunner, Editor, "Time Almanac 2002 with Information Please®," Page 436.