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THE LIBERAL CHRISTIAN |
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A progressive, practical, New Thought approach to Christianity & Spirituality |
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LIBERAL CHRISTIAN BELIEFS
Let's also see if we can begin to come to some basis as to why we feel inclined to discount some of the dogma, and rigid beliefs and tenets of "Christianity". It is my opinion based on the evolution of intelligence and consciousness that has occurred since the time of Jesus that it is very normal that we as humans question some of the theories, stories, and myths around this man whose teachings have had such a major impact on humankind. This especially in light of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the vast research that has taken place by Biblical and Theological scholars over the past 30-40 years, and publication of works by the Jesus Seminar, particularity The Five Gospels. It is becoming quite apparent that the man, Jesus from Nazarath, was a unique, if not radical teacher of his time. He introduced a whole new way of looking at a superior being. Instead of an external punishing God that blessed you if you obeyed Him, and cursed you if you disobeyed Him, Jesus taught that the Kingdom of God was within. "The Father and I are One". He emphasized that God was a loving God. He made it clear he was not special when he stated "all these things I do, you too can do, and even greater things can you do." Even though many of his sayings have been questioned by the Jesus Seminar, this man's teachings have survived the centuries and when understood spiritually are just as relevant today as 2,000 years ago, perhaps even more so. The idea of Jesus being other than human, a God himself, did not originate with Jesus. Jesus, a wholly Jewish man, taught other Jews. He was a Rabbi (teacher) to all his followers. Christ (Cristos) was a word given to many men in that time who were considered men of God....in Greek it means the anointed one. Even after his death, his followers continued his teachings to other Jews in a movement based on those teachings called "The Way". It was not until many years later that gentiles were allowed to join the movement. The books of the New Testament were written 50-60 years or more after Jesus' death. The concept of Jesus as a Son of God, wholly divine, was brought into these writings to enhance the stories and the man. In 200 - 400 C.E. the early Christian church gave even greater credence to the belief and an entire religion was developed around it, primarily to exact greater control of the church over the people. Rituals, creeds, and dogma became crucial to the religion. Even today it is the foundation of most Christian denominations. There will be those who will tell us we must believe in the virgin birth, the resurrection and ascension of Jesus to be called a Christian. And there will be those who will tell us unless we declare we are saved by Jesus, we will burn in Hell. Others will say only they will rise to heaven on the day of Rapture and those numbers are limited, so join the bandwagon. But those who would say these things are passing judgment on others, something Jesus so profoundly taught us not to do. I teach the teachings of Jesus, I try to live up to the teachings of Jesus and as such, I consider myself a Christian. Certainly a liberal Christian, but never the less, a Christian. More so, I consider it Practical or Progressive Christianity. |
