Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave59
Hi Wildcat
Interesting point that you have made there.
With all the pressure from Oxford University and some of the American churches to accept Liberal interpretation of scripture on some matters then they certainly face a challenge.
As a Christian, believing in the Bible as the revealed word of God, then I do not believe that they can adopt Liberal theology and stay true to God's teaching. Therefore it may be likely that a schism will occur in the future.
It would be good to discuss further on this matter.
Regards
DD
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The references to homosexuality in the standard bible translations are very few (I think no more than 6) and even those are disputable when you look at the original hebrew and greek. The Church is being pulled in conflicting directions from both directions from increasingly conservative groups and a gay rights lobby (most notably in the US and Canada). Dr Richard Turnbull Principal of Wycliffe college, seems to me to be a thoroughly objectionable character, not just because of his views on gays and women, but also because he is on record as talking about evangelicals taking over the COE educational establishment in terms of a power struggle with the rest of the church. Nearly everyone at the college has now accused him of bullying. He only has himself to blame for the reaction of the Oxford establishment. (some stuff about Richard Turnbull
here)
My view is the bible cannot be interpretted as inerrant especially when you consider the politics involved in early Christianity that created both the wording and compilation of religious texts that we now call the bible, but also because of the problematic passages in the bible dealing with slavery, treatment of women that you find especially (but not exclusively in the old testament).
I think if the evangelicals and fundamentalists as represented by the likes of Dr Turnbull did split from the rest of the Church. It would help those remaining and allow them to bring the interpretation of the bible and theology up to the standards of modern society, which in my view can only be a good thing (for them).
(BTW - I am it is fair to say a partial observer being a liberal atheist.)
