Are liberal believers responsible for the actions of all believers?

Do you agree with the idea that it is up to liberal believers to control what fanatical believers do or change the faith somehow and prevent fanatics from coming into existence?

I have been hit with this idea more than once by posters on other forums lately, so I finally decided to blog a little about it in terms of why I don't think we are totally responsible for what goes on in our faith and what could be done to lessen the number of fanatics:

http://www.livejournal.com/community/thought_express/14905.html

 

control? no one is in control of anyone else's belief, nor should they be. That has to be said right off.

However, the liberal and/or mainstream (as the case may warrant) believers should not let the fundies define the faith, at least for their own good (the good of the liberal/mainstream, that is). You aren't responsible for their beliefs, but...well, lets use an example, shall we?

Fundie christian guy comes out condemning abortion, and says anyone who has one, or performs one, is a non-human and isn't worthy of being allowed to live. This is according to the bible, he says, and is God's will.

You, the liberal christian, can't be held responsible for his hate or screwed up views. You should, for your religion's credibility, come out and say "this guy's a fringe nut, and doesn't represent me or my friends/family/congregation/etc.

The thing that would be nice to see is more evangelicalization (I think I made that word up) of this liberal/tolerant religion. All you ever hear is these hate-filled believers, be they Muslim, Christian, whatever... We know that religion is not meant this way in it's purest form, but all you hear is the bad, because they are the ones speaking. I wish more tolerant believers of all religions (christianity in this case in this country) would have more voice, would have TV shows and radio shows and all that. Real Christians are good people to be around, as they are more likely to embody love (not perfect of course, but better than the "kill the queers" tribe) and it'd do this country, this world, a lot of good to hear more from them. To hear more from all the peace loving, love loving believers of all religions.

 

"Are liberal believers responsible for the actions of all believers?"


No, but I don't think you should be defending all "believers" either.

I don't mean you personally (don't know what you're about) but it baffles me why some supposed "liberal christians" get bent out of shape when someone critises the fundies or brings up the crusades or the inquisition or any of the shitty things that have been done in the name of christianity.

 

thank god for the renaisance

 

I agree. We can't control them but I have worries about certain things they are trying to do politically with women's choice, gay marriage, evolution vs I.D., and abstinence-only versus true sex ed.

Somehow it seems more and more like it is up to the conservative people to decide what should or should not be done in the USA. I don't want to live under a Christian Sharia law. I want control over my own body, I want my gay friends to have the same rights I enjoy as a straight person, and I want my kids to be educated instead of indoctrinated.