My own thoughts on Conservatives and Liberals

[doug yowell]

What if the electric guitar playing female pastor is preaching a recent, six-day creation and that homosexuality is an abominable sin?

Was she playing "Stairway to Heaven", "Sympathy For the Devil", "Knocking on Heaven's Door",or "Should I Stay or Should I Go"?

[doug yowell]

As to Church members, I've thought about the words themselves.

How about Conservatives along religious lines, as those wanting to save (conserve) the status quo - a return to tradition and the "old ways"? Ironically, we are now hearing along political lines the phrase "we want out country back" - back to what? I guess the way things used to be?

The term Liberals along religious lines, makes me think of freedom (liberation) - a desire to think for oneself - to liberate oneself from tradition and dogma. And as for its political syntax, people who want more freedom for themselves and others which for some has the taint of anarchy?

Alex (just trying to simplify things)

Wouldn't it also be true that liberals want freedom FROM conservatives and that once their freedoms were legalized they would become the conservatives in order to preserve their ideals? Then they portray their traditions and dogmas as "the way we've been doing things",the contemporary status quo? The teaching of evolution in public education would be the perfect example.Additionally, doesn't your definition also imply that only liberals can think for themselves? That, by definition, conservatives are willing to subject their thinking to uncritical regurgitation of tradition? Do you see that as an accurate description of conservatives? Is it possible that, in fact, liberals are less likely to engage in critical thinking than conservatives, or that both or neither engage equally?

[abelisle]

Doug,

I was really trying to do a linguistic analysis of the words themselves, but . . .

My simple answer to your questions would be yes. Social dynamics always dictates change - what is liberal now might very well be deemed conservative years from now.

As for your last question in regard to "critical thinking", I find that it is sorely lacking at all levels, both religious and political

Alex (thinking is hard exercise, so just let someone else do it for you - a common refrain)

[doug yowell]

Doug,

I was really trying to do a linguistic analysis of the words themselves, but . . .

That's probably a good idea, Alex. The next time I go to the Olive Garden for dinner, I'll do an analysis of my linguine too.Maybe I'll discover new meaning to the words tip and gratuity.

[abelisle]

Doug,

Please don't over-analyze the linguine. It might very well lose its flavor.

As for your tip, all I can say is try to be gracious.

Alex (I hope I haven't flubbed my attempt at a "double entendre")

[Gerr]

I just have one question.

Can I consider myself conservative and still favor having drums and electric guitar in church as part of the worship service? Or do I have to wear the liberal mantel to go there? Ok, how about a female pastor playing those drums or electric guitar?

Only if they don't play them so loud that they sound like we are at a rock concert!

We dropped in at the Dos Palos, CA fair years ago. The Judds were in concert. We were way back, yet the amplification decibel was so loud I had to plug up my ears.

[Dr. Shane]

I agree. The musical instruments shouldn't be so load that one cannot hear the congregation singing.

[Bravus]

This is a symptom of a disease that I think infects both groups: the tendency to state our own tastes as though they are universal laws. Loud music and the taste for it - or a distaste for it - is a cultural issue, not a Biblical or any other kind of religious issue, and on it at least we should be 'live and let live'. How many congregations have been split by intransigence on *both* sides around worship style issues?

[Dr. Shane]

Oh, I don't think I was saying there is anything Biblical about the type of music played. My point is only that "some people" tend to think of rocking contemporary music as being part of liberal theology. I don't believe that way myself. I love contemporary rocking music and consider myself more conservative than liberal as far as theology is concerned.

[karl]

Oh, I don't think I was saying there is anything Biblical about the type of music played.

Psalm 150

1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.

2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.

3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.

4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.

6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

Does anybody get the idea from this Psalm that David is limiting praise of God - in His sanctuary - to any given style or volume of music?

It seems to me that he is throwing it wide open. Harp (soft) Trumpet (loud) and then "everything that hath breath" (really loud.)

[Dr. Shane]

I definitely don't think any style of music is sinful or inappropriate. I do believe there are lyrics that are sinful and inappropriate but not any specific type of music.

That said, there are personal preferences. Myself, I don't like the music to be so load I can't hear the congregation singing.