tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post6976875203823654064..comments2024-03-24T07:56:33.811-05:00Comments on Allan R. Bevere: Liberals, Conservatives, and Progressives, Oh My! #1: The Problem with the Left/Right ContinuumAllan R. Beverehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903011101108437513noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-13850024599661886812014-07-14T11:11:06.188-05:002014-07-14T11:11:06.188-05:00There are huge problems with the liberal/conservat...There are huge problems with the liberal/conservative spectrum. Among them, off the top of my head: <br /><br />1. It promotes assumptions. If you identify as "liberal," then I can assume a, b, and c about you; same if you identify as "conservative." Without regard to whether you actually believe what I assume about you. <br /><br />2. It divides us into "good guys" and "bad guys." The label creates walls that divide. <br /><br />3. Both liberals and conservatives are quite happy to believe untruths about one another in order to reinforce their own stereotypes and ideologies. <br /><br />4. It reduces religious faith to ideology. Self-giving love is pushed either to the back seat or out of the car entirely.Willie Deuelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11793491583747419707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-67867969392012651262014-06-24T15:55:14.309-05:002014-06-24T15:55:14.309-05:00Craig,
Thanks for your comments. I doubt I am win...Craig,<br /><br />Thanks for your comments. I doubt I am winning or will win many converts. For too many the liberal/conservative continuum is an ontological reality.Allan R. Beverehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07903011101108437513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-20802069206382382262014-06-24T15:54:05.387-05:002014-06-24T15:54:05.387-05:00Eric,
You are right that many are done listening,...Eric,<br /><br />You are right that many are done listening, once they know your position, but I frankly doubt that they will continue to listen once they know your opinion, and I am not sure they are people willing to sit down at the table and have a holy conferencing moment anyway.Allan R. Beverehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07903011101108437513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-5494159993872258832014-06-24T12:53:24.493-05:002014-06-24T12:53:24.493-05:00Allan,
Thanks for continuing to raise questions a...Allan,<br /><br />Thanks for continuing to raise questions about the liberal vs. conservative dichotomy. I appreciate what you are saying. Craig L. Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08351091412370400350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-18045369725621877892014-06-24T10:47:22.860-05:002014-06-24T10:47:22.860-05:00I agree with that in principle, except that it is ...I agree with that in principle, except that it is my experience with regard to some of these hottest topics, many people are done listening once they hear where a person stands or leans. Perhaps what I mean is that we need to adjust our starting point to a place where authentic conversation can get started.Eric Helmshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03192391202653980730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-54025115088596538902014-06-24T10:05:58.364-05:002014-06-24T10:05:58.364-05:00Eric,
Thanks for your comments.
I certainly agre...Eric,<br /><br />Thanks for your comments.<br /><br />I certainly agree that openness to any issue is necessary for good Christian conferencing, but I think it is important that when the conversation begins we need to let each other know where we stand or in what direction we lean. Since none of us comes to an issue from a neutral point of view, we need to know where we differ. I think that is critical for any conversation.Allan R. Beverehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07903011101108437513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-25953303690659850902014-06-24T08:35:25.289-05:002014-06-24T08:35:25.289-05:00I very much agree with you, but then again, we had...I very much agree with you, but then again, we had the same teacher. I do find this a very helpful way to express the nature of the problem and why I, and perhaps others like me, find it difficult to get into the discussion.<br /><br />I might add that beginning the argument, "I believe homosexuality is compatible/incompatible with Christian teaching because..." is itself problematic. It is not holy conversation unless the beginning of it is the open desire for holiness rather than convincing someone else to agree with me. Eric Helmshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03192391202653980730noreply@blogger.com