No prob, iMonk.

Actually, the absolute beliefs of historical orthodox Christianity has made people into monsters, all in the name of Jesus Christ. Christianity has a very dark side to it. I would say that those who think that we are deparved because of original sin are the most dangerous of all.

This comes from my own personal experience with being an attendee in Churches for many years.

It seems like you label anyone fuzzy who thinks in more than two dimensions. I don’t agree with everying that Peter Rolliins has to say. But at least he is helping people move towards something different than the same old stale, dishonest, Sunday School slop.

If you think that I am being extreme just read the news. For many people who think of themselves and ‘close to Jesus’, this war against terrorism is sponsored by God. It is therefore okay to kill men, women and young children who happen to believe differently.

My intention is not to insult you even if my words were strong. I was going to soft peddle this, but I would be doing you a diservice not to be as honest as I can.

Goodness, no. Here is what I was trying to say, perhaps poorly:

You seemed to be saying that, over here, you have people like me who believe that there are “correct beliefs.” And we are Pharisees who gave Jesus a hard time, and we might even be people who are prone to tying people to stakes. On the other side, we have folks who are practicing Romans 13:10 and don’t care so much about doctrinal precision as long as there is love. If I am mischaracterizing you, please correct me.

What I am saying is that is a false dichotomy. Jesus commanded us to love. No question about that. At the same time, he was unyielding in his insistence that we are moral failures and therefore need his righteousness credited to our account through his death on the Cross. It is this doctrine, this “correct belief” about Jesus that I would insist on because Jesus insisted on it. To do any less is unloving because it leaves humans in their sin.

We love because he first loved us. Love does not build a ladder to God; rather, God descended to us through Jesus, who loved perfectly, obeyed perfectly, died perfectly and arose perfectly. He applies that perfection to us through faith, and we respond in love.

This is NOT the kind of absolute belief that turns people into monsters. Rather, it should produce gratitude and compassion. To link anyone who holds to this kind of belief to the monsters of the Inquisition is a gross distortion and, frankly, insulting. I really hope you weren’t going there.

Let me get this straight: Are you saying that anyone who believes in any specific, absolute, objective truth is essentially a Torquemada? However, anyone who leaves things “fuzzy” (your word) and open for personal interpretation is all about love and, ergo, is fulfilling the law. Is that it?

Had any bad thoughts about anyone lately? Neglected to care for a need? Called your brother a “fool”? If you think that “love is the fulfillment of the Law” is GOOD news, think again.

None of us is fulfilling the law, amigo. Read Romans. After dismantling the Jewish elite for their self-righteousness, Paul then turns his guns toward you and me. Love is the summation of the law, but it is HARD. It is exacting. It is demanding. And we all do a crapola job of it and we are under the Law’s condemnation, whether or not we are hard-nosed traditionalists or cozy, fuzzy postmoderns.

That is why if you leave Jesus’ substitutionary death and resurrection out of the picture — if that is compromised or glossed over — then what is left is indistinguishable from any other human-centered, work-oriented scheme of salvation/actualization. THAT is why I get so bothered when Peter Rollins, et al, talk about “exploring life through the Judeo-Christian tradition” rather than clearly explaining the depth of our sin and our need for a Savior. The former cannot save you, only the latter can. And withholding essential, saving Gospel information to a lost world is NOT loving.

I am very happy to have have discovered Peter Rollins. The Cathars were unfortunate to have found themselves on the side of being wrong from the Orthodoxy.

I like Peters unusual word analysis of Orthodoxy. I will leave correct beliefs to someone else, unless I find myself tied to that stake with flames surrounding me.

Jesus did have problems with the traditional keepers of theology in his day. Somewhere in there the Bible mentions love being the fullfilment of ‘The Law’(Romans 13:10). What ever happened to that?

I appreciate the kind spirit of your question. I found Rollins’ answer to the question to be so fuzzy, I honestly had a difficult time understanding exactly *what* he was saying. “Exploring life through the Judeo-Christian tradition.” Huh?

Scripture speaks with clarity and potency about what being a Christian is. Therefore, I am troubled when someone such as Mr. Rollins has an opportunity to speak with clarity and potency and instead gives me “soggy bread.”

Hope that helps. thanks.