Liberal Christians Going Head-to-Head with Conservative Christians
"Progressive" (liberal) Christian groups, attempting to dilute the political influence of their conservative brethren, are speaking up when conservative Christian leaders speak out.
Published Nov 30, 2006
(CNSNews.com) - "Progressive" (liberal) Christian groups, attempting to dilute the political influence of their conservative brethren, are speaking up when conservative Christian leaders speak out.
The most recent example came on Wednesday, a week after Dr. James Dobson, the founder and chairman of Focus on the Family, discussed faith, sexuality and liberalism on CNN's Larry King Live.
The Institute for Progressive Christianity -- a new group -- accused Dobson of making "highly inaccurate statements" and "crackpot assertions" during his conversation with Larry King.
In a lengthy news release on Wednesday, the IPC rebutted Dobson's comments one by one. But it's not so much what the liberal Christians are saying -- it's that they're saying it at all.
Until now, conservative Christian leaders have been largely ignored by liberal groups and the mainstream media, except in cases where their controversial statements are held up for condemnation and ridicule.
Point, counterpoint
The Institute for Progressive Christianity describes itself as a "think tank comprising mainstream liberal Christians." On Wednesday, it took exception to Dobson's remarks that liberals "are often those who have no value system" and who embrace "moral relativism."
The group also attacked Dobson's beliefs on homosexuality. (Dobson rejected the notion that homosexuals are born that way and have no choice in the matter. He said he believes it's a developmental disorder.)
The IPC also took issue with Dobson's "serious misstatement" on "the separation of church and state."
As Dobson told Larry King, the so-called separation of church and state is not found in the U.S. Constitution.
"The only place where the so-called 'wall of separation' was mentioned was in a letter written by Jefferson to a friend," Dobson said. "It has been picked up and made to be something it was never intended to be. What it has become is that the government is protected from the church, instead of the other way around, which is that church was designed to be protected from the government."
The IPC argued that Dobson's comments are not supported by history. "While it is true that the phrase 'separation of church and state' is not found in the Constitution or the First Amendment, the concept was well understood by the leading thinkers of the time," IPC Director Frank Cocozzelli said.
He added that Jefferson's letter is considered by historians, legal scholars and the U.S. Supreme Court to be Jefferson's "definitive statement on the meaning of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment."
Many conservatives, however, disagree with those interpretations.
'New and better direction'
The IPC's website says the group held its initial meeting and symposium on November 18.
The group said it finds itself "in a new stage of history" when its "position of influence has been lost to the voice of Christian fundamentalism in the arenas of media, culture and politics."
The group's website says the only way to refute Christian fundamentalism is to do so from within the Christian community - otherwise, it suggests, the critics will be "perceived and painted as a persecutor of the faith."
The group says it aims to "regain a prominent role of influence in public policy and discourse...Powerful arguments will be developed to recast the Christian image into one of tolerance, diversity and reason."
The IPC said it plans to "champion the separation of Church and State" and develop "innovative policy proposals that embody the kind of compassion and integrity that resonates with all people of character."
The IPC says its team includes "visionaries, brilliant scholars, published writers and those with power connections" in Washington.
"This dedicated group of gifted women and men are spearheading the strategic effort to meet the challenge of overcoming undue influence from religious fundamentalism in American politics and to light the path for a new and better direction for the nation.
Naomi Wolf, a former consultant to then-presidential candidate Al Gore, delivered keynote address at the IPC's initial meeting. (During the 2000 presidential campaign, Wolf famously gave Gore wardrobe tips and reportedly told him that he was the "beta male" who must fight Clinton's "alpha male" for dominance.)
See Earlier Story:
'Progressive' Christians Promoting 'Different Voice' (13 April 2006)
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Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.
The most recent example came on Wednesday, a week after Dr. James Dobson, the founder and chairman of Focus on the Family, discussed faith, sexuality and liberalism on CNN's Larry King Live.
The Institute for Progressive Christianity -- a new group -- accused Dobson of making "highly inaccurate statements" and "crackpot assertions" during his conversation with Larry King.
In a lengthy news release on Wednesday, the IPC rebutted Dobson's comments one by one. But it's not so much what the liberal Christians are saying -- it's that they're saying it at all.
Until now, conservative Christian leaders have been largely ignored by liberal groups and the mainstream media, except in cases where their controversial statements are held up for condemnation and ridicule.
Point, counterpoint
The Institute for Progressive Christianity describes itself as a "think tank comprising mainstream liberal Christians." On Wednesday, it took exception to Dobson's remarks that liberals "are often those who have no value system" and who embrace "moral relativism."
The group also attacked Dobson's beliefs on homosexuality. (Dobson rejected the notion that homosexuals are born that way and have no choice in the matter. He said he believes it's a developmental disorder.)
The IPC also took issue with Dobson's "serious misstatement" on "the separation of church and state."
As Dobson told Larry King, the so-called separation of church and state is not found in the U.S. Constitution.
"The only place where the so-called 'wall of separation' was mentioned was in a letter written by Jefferson to a friend," Dobson said. "It has been picked up and made to be something it was never intended to be. What it has become is that the government is protected from the church, instead of the other way around, which is that church was designed to be protected from the government."
The IPC argued that Dobson's comments are not supported by history. "While it is true that the phrase 'separation of church and state' is not found in the Constitution or the First Amendment, the concept was well understood by the leading thinkers of the time," IPC Director Frank Cocozzelli said.
He added that Jefferson's letter is considered by historians, legal scholars and the U.S. Supreme Court to be Jefferson's "definitive statement on the meaning of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment."
Many conservatives, however, disagree with those interpretations.
'New and better direction'
The IPC's website says the group held its initial meeting and symposium on November 18.
The group said it finds itself "in a new stage of history" when its "position of influence has been lost to the voice of Christian fundamentalism in the arenas of media, culture and politics."
The group's website says the only way to refute Christian fundamentalism is to do so from within the Christian community - otherwise, it suggests, the critics will be "perceived and painted as a persecutor of the faith."
The group says it aims to "regain a prominent role of influence in public policy and discourse...Powerful arguments will be developed to recast the Christian image into one of tolerance, diversity and reason."
The IPC said it plans to "champion the separation of Church and State" and develop "innovative policy proposals that embody the kind of compassion and integrity that resonates with all people of character."
The IPC says its team includes "visionaries, brilliant scholars, published writers and those with power connections" in Washington.
"This dedicated group of gifted women and men are spearheading the strategic effort to meet the challenge of overcoming undue influence from religious fundamentalism in American politics and to light the path for a new and better direction for the nation.
Naomi Wolf, a former consultant to then-presidential candidate Al Gore, delivered keynote address at the IPC's initial meeting. (During the 2000 presidential campaign, Wolf famously gave Gore wardrobe tips and reportedly told him that he was the "beta male" who must fight Clinton's "alpha male" for dominance.)
See Earlier Story:
'Progressive' Christians Promoting 'Different Voice' (13 April 2006)
Subscribe to the free CNSNews.com daily E-Brief.
Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.
Originally published December 01, 2006.
