About
The Evangelical Liberal is a blog to explore more open and liberated ways of being a Christian, particularly for those who have struggled to find their way within the evangelical tradition. Read more-
Recent Posts
- God bless America
- The Penitent Thief – a Good Friday reflection
- Peace on earth?
- Was God’s will done in the US election result?
- Please don’t let Trump in!
- Saul among the prophets – an interesting worship experience
- God bless Greenbelt
- Coping with our faith crises
- An experience of divine absence
- Why doesn’t God magically sort out our problems?
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Category Archives: Religion
How do we know what true Christianity is?
or, Whose orthodoxy is the right one? There’s been a lot of talk recently about whether Islamic State militants are truly Islamic. They of course claim to be the true representatives of Islam, but mainstream Muslims argue that I.S. absolutely … Continue reading
Posted in Atheism/agnosticism, Fundamentalism, Heresy/blasphemy, Liberalism, Orthodoxy, Religion
Tagged creed, denominations, diversity, fundamentalism, orthodoxy, right belief
28 Comments
Religion = 2. Relationship and Redemption
So I was saying that the heart of true religion for me is the pursuit of reality. It seems to me that the world we experience bears the marks (however damaged and disguised) of reason, goodness, beauty and love. These … Continue reading
Posted in Religion, Salvation
Tagged incarnation, love, Personality, redemption, relationship, religion, resurrection, Trinity
3 Comments
Religion = Reality + Relationship + Redemption
So what’s the nub of religion (or faith, or spirituality) for you – what’s it all about? Is it about religious observance and believing the right things, or leading a decent life, or getting to heaven and avoiding hell, saving … Continue reading
Posted in Religion, Spirituality
Tagged C.S. Lewis, idealism, reality, redemption, spirituality, unreality
24 Comments
Authenticity vs obedience?
Should we do good, serve God and love others as a duty because we owe it to God? Or should we only do it if we can do it gladly, authentically and ungrudgingly, out of genuine love and gratitude? Should … Continue reading
Posted in Love of God, Religion, The faith journey
Tagged authenticity, Christian duty, Christian service, faithfulness, grace, love, obedience, ought, should
25 Comments
What use is the Bible?
Of what real, practical use is Christianity and the Bible? This question arose a little while ago at a small group I attend. A very good friend expressed the view that the Bible isn’t really a practical book, and by … Continue reading
Why fundamentalism is not the true expression of religion
Many people view fundamentalists as the real representatives of religious belief. That’s certainly what Richard Dawkins seems to think, along with some of my good New Atheist friends. I can see the reasoning. Fundamentalists are the ones who apparently take … Continue reading
Posted in Fundamentalism, Liberalism, Religion
Tagged fundamentalism, fundamentalists, Liberal Christianity, moderate religion, true religion
25 Comments
Religion, addiction and obsessional neurosis
Sigmund Freud apparently described religion as a ‘universal obsessional neurosis’. As someone who’s struggled with both Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and religion all my life, I feel I’m in a good position to comment on that analysis. It’s one I both … Continue reading
Did Jesus have a wife – and does it matter?
Short answers: probably not, and not hugely. Now for the longer answers if you’re interested… So we’ve probably all heard about the recent discovery of a papyrus fragment that’s being called the ‘Gospel of Jesus’s wife’, based on its inclusion … Continue reading
Why blasphemy shouldn’t be a crime
‘You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God’ (Exodus 20:7) Blasphemy’s been in the news a fair bit recently. But what actually is blasphemy, and should it be a crime under national or international law? The word … Continue reading
