We are suspicious of authority - and rightly so. We've seen its dark side. We know how it can be used to betray the public trust and how power can be abused for manipulative, self-seeking ends. But Jesus' authority is different. It arises from God's inbreaking kingdom. Consequently, his authority is used in God's kind of way - in the way of service to others. »more
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We are suspicious of authority - and rightly so. We've seen its dark side. We know how it can be used to betray the public trust and how power can be abused for manipulative, self-seeking ends. But Jesus' authority is different. It arises from God's inbreaking kingdom. Consequently, his authority is used in God's kind of way - in the way of service to others. »more
McLaren believes that the “real” Jesus has been domesticated, watered-down, and ignored by Western Christians. He invites us to embrace a new ideology rooted in Jesus’ kingdom vision. He believes that Jesus’ framing story will guide us to respect environmental limits, work for the common good, and seek peaceful reconciliation among competing factions. »more
Freedom of religion is freedom for all religions – and also the freedom to practice no religion at all. The relationship between Church and State is complex. It always holds open the possibility of abuse by extremists. However, the complete banishment of religion from public discourse would be just as damaging to liberty as the establishment of a State Church. »more
The right-wing apparently finds some strange satisfaction in arguing for positions that are incompatible with life in a free society. The
left-wing constantly shouts "slippery slope" to any argument calling for a tolerant, respectful use of freedom. Both claim to hold the moral high ground. Neither respects the freedom of the other. »more
Only full religious freedom - freedom for the atheist to the most devout believer and everyone in-between - provides the environment for true spiritual expression to take place. To force someone to be or act religious against their conscience is to advocate the shell of religion without the heart. »more
Church and state must be distinguished. An unholy alliance between the two merely reinforces the negative traits of both. Yet, as important as it is to distinguish the two, it is also necessary that the two are not divorced from one another completely. »more
Our job is to judge those within the church,
to seek purity within the church. Our job is not to judge
those outside. »more
Calling for a "return to Christian America" is historical revisionism at its very worse -- inaccurate, intellectually dishonest, and a betrayal of the intention of the founding fathers »more
From the thrones of man to the very people of God, Jesus was
hated, opposed, and rejected. »more
The reason that such a high degree of punishment is required
in capital punishment is found to have its basis in the
sanctity of human life »more
