Aren't all pastors and preachers anti anythng progressive?

[ericgtr]

They follow a book that's values are over 2000 years old. Not that I am against living by those principals, hey, whatever floats your boat but we're talking about beliefs in shit that is so unrealistic that it's barbaric.

Here are just a few things the bible has to say about marriage. When this is the sort of shit that's preached/written how does anyone who has it thrust upon them stand a chance of living in reality?

* DEUTERONOMY 22:13-21
If it is discovered that a bride is not a virgin, the Bible demands that she be executed by stoning immediately.
* DEUTERONOMY 22:22
If a married person has sex with someone else's husband or wife, the Bible commands that both adulterers be stoned to death.
* MARK 10:1-12
Divorce is strictly forbidden in both Testaments, as is remarriage of anyone who has been divorced.
* LEVITICUS 18:19
The Bible forbids a married couple from having sexual intercourse during a woman's period. If they disobey, both shall be executed.
* MARK 12:18-27
If a man dies childless, his widow is ordered by biblical law to have intercourse with each of his brothers in turn until she bears her deceased husband a male heir.
* DEUTERONOMY 25:11-12
If a man gets into a fight with another man and his wife seeks to rescue her husband by grabbing the enemy's genitals, her hand shall be cut off and no pity shall be shown her.

[GarbagemanLB]

1. It is ridiculous to lump all preachers/pastors together.

There are many progressive denominations that support diversity, intellectual curiosity, and equality.

[QC]

2. Yeah, there's no difference between Rick Warren and Desmond Tutu.

Geez Louise, we are truly plumbing the furthest depths of ignorance today.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Not at all. Many progressive pastors do not take the Bible literally and use the

parts they feel are relevant to today's society.

[LostinVA]

4. Your OP shows you need to educate yourself on this issue

MANY clergy are liberal, inclusive, great people -- from MANY denominations and religions. I was married by clergy from a mainstream sect -- own own Pacifist Patriot.

[skooooo]

5. Ridiculous..there are several branches..

..of Protestantism that are pretty liberal.

[cali]

6. hell no. there are lots and lots of progressive pastors

yikes. I can't believe you don't know that.

[zulchzulu]

7. I once went to a Progressive Christian Conference

There are plenty of Christians who are progressive out there. Don't believe the hype.

[alwysdrunk]

8. No, they all pick and choose

The progressive preachers ignore these biblical passages, the conservative ones ignore others.

[Avalux]

9. Certainly not - not all. Warren, yes. n/t

[Fovea]

10. Been to a UU service lately?

I am a priest in my community, and I don't read that book much.

Pastor and preacher cover a lot of territory. Not all of it monotheist.

[kestrel91316]

11. NO, they aren't. Fundie wacko conservatism, which sort of stayed in

Pentacostal and Baptist circles until the 70s and 80s from what I have observed, still has not got much of a foothold in mainstream Episcopal, Methodist, Lutheran, and Presbyterian churches. And of course Unitarians are not conservative. United Church of Christ (formerly Congregational Church) tends also to be very liberal. And that's just the Protestants. Jews tend to be very liberal, and though Rome is conservative, one might argue that many Catholic parishes are not.

[supernova]

12. Actually, the New Testament is still a progressive collection

of writings when you think about it.

* Starring an itinerate hippy preacher with no job and gaggle of friends who much depend on the kindness of hosts in each town they travel to to provide shelter and food.

* He preaches unconditional love for all, even outside your tribe and nation.

* He preaches nonviolent political change and resistance to the world's superpower at the time, the Romans. Who lasted longer?


The problem is, the Church created in his name has become a bastion of regression and repression that makes it comfortable for conservatives and reactionary zealots, exactly the people He opposed in his lifetime. Irony, no?

[ericgtr]

13. Fair enough but you cannot deny what is written

and this is their guide. I am sure there are those who are progressive and don't mean to lump them all in to the same group, it's just discouraging is all.

[LostinVA]

16. No, this isn't their guide -- the NT is and the 10 Commandments are

You really do need to go to belief net and read.

[jobycom]

14. Jesse Jackson, Martin Luther King, a couple around here. You left off some interesting verses

about loving your enemies, forgiving and turning the other check, judging people by their actions rather than the categories they belong to... I'm an atheist, and I've always believed that Christianity is a progressive religion.

Warren's an ass. Christianity doesn't make him one. He makes himself one, and blames it on Christianity.

[ogneopasno]

15. Um, no.