4 Comments:

 kidpositive said...

i'm curious to know what you mean by "interesting". i wouldn't have responded otherwise, but i feel i've engaged you enough to earn your respect (as you have mine). as a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, i'm beginning to wonder if you view all people who lean more to the left, even liberal Christians, in the same discredited light that your friend seems to view them in.

on the other hand, i really shouldn't complain. blogs are the perfect place to speak out, rational or not, at views that oppose your own (of course, i'm speaking to my own personal credit)...

Wednesday, December 08, 2004 11:00:00 PM  

 DAVID C. PRICE said...

Yes, you have earned my respect. Your comments have been gracious and respectful and I always want to respond in like manner. You are welcome to comment on or question anything I write. As you said, that's what blogs are for.

In response to you, I wouldn't use the term "discredited." I certainly tend to disagree with liberal views, but I don't discredit them and certainly not just because they may lean farther left than I do. After all, I think they are the honest views of people who have a right to hold them whether I think they are right or not. In this particular case, I just think they're playing a linguistic game in order to repackage the same ideologies that are represented by the term “liberal.” I think it’s an interesting strategy. More on that in a minute.

First, so that I can be as clear as possible about my position, I think it important to differentiate between theological and political liberals. Though there are certainly some similarities or places of crossover, I think there are some key points of distinction. Theological liberals often deny biblical imperatives such as the deity of Christ, the necessity for personal relationship with Him (or whether or not there is even the possibility to have such in that He may not have ever really lived), and/or that Christ, alone, is the way to salvation. These are things on which the Scripture is very clear. Of course, Scripture must hold a place of prominence in ones life which for many hard-core theological libs it does not. To contrast that, there are certainly many political libs who don't deny these things, thus the differentiation. I suppose some would argue that many verbally believe these things but, in practice, do not in the positions they take politically/socially, but I'm sure the charge could be leveled against some conservatives, as well. So, we'll leave it at that.

I am coming from a conservative perspective, theologically and politically, which should be no surprise to you if you've followed my blog for any length of time. That doesn't mean, of course, that I have no respect for people who hold opposing views. However, I have less patience for the above-described theological liberals who should know better but still hold to the kinds of heresies as what I have listed. Still, my goal is to be respectful towards them as well so as to engage in meaningful dialogue. Since I don't know that much about you, if you happen to fit that description, please don't read any of this as a declaration of war...only a clarification of where I am coming from.

Since reaganwarrior is clearly addressing the political side, that's where we should focus the heart of your question and my use of the word "interesting." Because I'm writing at the airport right now, I don't have the benefit of looking back over the post in question, so I'm working from memory...please bear with me :-)

The crux of the post had to do with a new approach political liberals are taking to re-package their position in order to be more "palatable" to mainstream America. Now, let me be clear, there are Democrats I respect, though I may disagree with this or that particular point. People like Indiana Senator Evan Bayh and Senator Joe Lieberman are two examples. Both of these men are more centrist Democrats, as best I can tell, who are thoughtful about their views and the stands they take on issues and are not hard-line ideologist (in the sense that they must always take a left-leaning approach just because they are Democrats). I have great respect for that. There are many points on which we would agree. I am not an ideological conservative (i.e. blind conservative)...though I will probably choose a conservative perspective most of the time (if not all the time, honestly). My motivation for taking a position is that I've thought through the issues and tried to weigh my view from a Scriptural standpoint, not because some group or party thinks a certain way. I suppose if someone wanted to call following Scripture ideological by some definition, I guess I am guilty at that point. Nevertheless, I don't pile up everyone into the same "liberal" column.

For me, it is the far-left libs I tend to have the greatest disagreement with. The Democratic party has, to one degree or another, moved away from the principles upon which it was founded and seems to have become largely represented by what may be described as "Hollywood Left," Michael Moore libs (just so we get a picture of the extremist positions to which I refer). The party has moved away from the values of mainstream America. Some will debate that point, but I think it is safe to say that most Americans do not agree with most of those extreme positions. Now, for those who hold leftist beliefs but deny that they actually hold those views and want to trick America into believing, through some psychological, linguistic gymnastics, that they are "progressive," I find that "interesting." I mean, if you're going to take a stand on liberal principles, then just do it. Be honest about it...have integrity and take a stand. It's not necessarily the term "liberal" that many Americans don't like, it is what that word represents. Therefore, using a different word doesn't change the fact. "Progressive" just becomes the new "liberal"---same song, new title.

I thought the quote used by reaganwarrior was appropriate. Progressive is not always a good thing if you "progress" beyond what is decent and morally right. People are certainly within their rights to adopt new terminology to express their views, but that doesn't make their positions any better and I think most people can see through it.

I hope that makes things a bit clearer for you. I also hope I've not come across too strongly. It is not my intention to be offensive, but I think there is a game going on with all of the progressive talk, and I find it interesting. :-) Thanks, again.

Friday, December 10, 2004 11:30:00 AM  

 kidpositive said...

well, as far as knowing more about me, i just realized that my profile was disabled. now it's not. so you can pin me for the liberal i'm not. :)

also, glad to see you're in my neck of the woods. classic new england weather this weekend...

Sunday, December 12, 2004 2:35:00 AM  

 DAVID C. PRICE said...

hey, friend, I won't pin you for anything...made that mistake once...won't do it again :-) have a good Sunday.

Sunday, December 12, 2004 10:15:00 AM  

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