An editorial in the May 31 issue of The Christian Century proposes a new term for what some refer to as “liberal” Christians:
Mainline or liberal Protestants need a better term to describe themselves. Mainline implies cultural and social dominance, which is hard to assert given the numerical realities. * * * Liberal has its own problems, beginning with vagueness. Liberal in what way, and compared to what? Some might specify that liberal refers to self-conscious modernizers of the faith …. But such modernizers are at the margins, not the heart, of liberal theology, which has been largely engaged in a constructive argument with, not an abandonment of, tradition.
Is there an alternative to the vague liberal and anachronistic mainline? We have a suggestion: Christian humanism.…
Humanism captures liberal Protestantism’s emphasis on intellectual exploration, on doing theology in conversation with other modes of knowledge. Since the Renaissance, humanism has designated a movement that takes learning seriously and celebrates the ability of scientists, poets and historians to expand knowledge and shape the world.
Christian specifies that this appreciation of human freedom and potential is not ungrounded or unlimited, and that human identity is not simply whatever humans want it to be. As creatures of God, humans are most truly themselves when fulfilling divine purposes. And it is “in Christ,” the divine and human one, that we learn what it means to be fully human. * * *
So the next time someone asks if you are liberal or conservative, mainline or evangelical, try saying, “I’m a Christian humanist.”
(Bold-faced emphasis and extra paragraphing added.)
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But christianism is humanism, isn't it?
I remember a verse in the book of Wisdom where the Lord was saying that, him who is just, is simply him who is human .... "And you taught your people, by these deeds, that those who are just must be human; And you gave your sons good ground for hope that you would permit repentance for their sins" (12,19 used in the liturgy)
Splendid....
Posted by: Belinconnu | May 31, 2005 at 06:10 AM
Hi. I found your blog through the blog
of Clueless Christian. You might find
the term Christian Humanism a problem
too, or maybe in the future. I consider
myself a mainstream Catholic (generally
conservative on morals but liberal on
social issue; conservative on doctrine
but liberal on application), but I have
recently become involved with a group
generally considered conservative--
Communion and Liberation. One of their
goals/intentions is to advocate Christian
Humanism towards society at large.
I doubt very much if your
understanding/definiton of it meets theirs.
Generally, I find the terms conservative
and liberal, especially when applied to
religion, to be very reductive and restrictive.
It also tends to stereotype us.
As I see it the big problem in Western
Civilization is where to draw the line
between personal autonomy and some group's
hard-and-fast morality that they want to impose
on everyone.
Posted by: stephen m bauer | June 01, 2005 at 05:04 PM
Good for you! This has been my stance all along.
Posted by: John wilkins | June 01, 2005 at 05:11 PM
Unfortunately, I can't stand either Christians or humans these days, so I guess I can't self-identify this way....
;-)
Posted by: bls | June 02, 2005 at 08:45 AM
The Christian religion has always been the inspiration for science and art. Most of the early scientific developments came from Christian Moncks and scientists. Newton, etc. Some of the best art ever produced is christian themed artwork. Modern artists and scientists still aren't sure how these paintings and sculptures were produced. Some of that knowledge was lost over time and never has been recovered.
I think that the anti-christian bias today trys to paint Christians as ignorant haters of scientific facts clinging to mere shreds of a long-gone mythical religon.
Nothing could be further from the truth, but since the secular world shouts louder and are greater in numbers, their voice gets heard over the crowd. They hate the Christian religon for the simple fact that it greatly clashes with their secular-sinful lifestyles. This is nothing new and Christ warned that we would be hated by the world for following him. So what else is new?
There is a huge amount of historical evidence for Jesus Christ and the bible. I would suggest Lee Strobel's books. The Case for Christ, The Case for Faith, The Case for the Creator. All are very quick reads, lay out the facts, and the books are cheap on amazon.
A Humanist as I understand the definition is someone that is very self-focused. Has alot of Scientific or generic knowledge, but is totally void of what the bible calls spirital wisdom and knowledge. The bible describes them as "Greeks" always seeking wisdom and never coming to the knowledge of the truth. This is because the truth is spiritually revealed through the spirit of God and doesn't lie in the hands of sinful mankind. If it was an intellectual persuit, the mentally deficient, the less intelligent etc. would not have access to God. God indicates that he has called not many "wise" by worldly standards. Secular mankind is very wise in designing wonderful machines, building wonderful buildings, medical breakthroughs, exploring new worlds, but is totally void of spiritual knowledge on how to talk to and worship God, relate to him, love our fellow man and do what pleases God on a daily basis. Most importantly, the secular humanist is unaware of the spiritual war that is currently taking place here on earth and the fact that all of mankind is under the judgement of God for their sinful natures.
I see the days approaching that God will act again in history, the world will be totally caught off guard by a "thief in the night".
Have a great day in the Lord
Posted by: Jim Gillgam | March 20, 2008 at 09:48 AM
Jim Gillgam, thanks for the comment. Apropos of your remark:
some of us suspect God has been acting in history for a very long time, in oh-so-subtle ways that we don't even begin to understand, possibly even at the level of quantum mechanics.
I have a feeling you may mean something else, though: that God will visibly intervene in human affairs in the way predicted in the Bible. The problem with that notion is that some Christians have been saying it for nearly 2,000 years, and some Jews for even longer. It hasn't happened yet. Sounds like some serious rethinking is in order.
Have a solemn Good Friday and a happy Easter.
Posted by: D. C. Toedt III | March 20, 2008 at 10:00 AM
2 Peter 3:3-7
3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
Posted by: Jim Gillgam | April 16, 2008 at 02:36 PM
2 Peter 3:3-7
3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
Posted by: Jim Gillgam | April 16, 2008 at 02:38 PM