I hear Christians use the word liberal as if it were a bad thing....WHY?

Question

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin liberalis suitable for a freeman, generous, from liber free; perhaps akin to Old English lEodan to grow, Greek eleutheros free
1 a : of, relating to, or based on the liberal arts b archaic : of or befitting a man of free birth
2 a : marked by generosity : OPENHANDED b : given or provided in a generous and openhanded way c : AMPLE, FULL
3 obsolete : lacking moral restraint : LICENTIOUS
4 : not literal or strict : LOOSE
5 : BROAD-MINDED; especially : not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or traditional forms
6 a : of, favoring, or based upon the principles of liberalism b capitalized : of or constituting a political party advocating or associated with the principles of political liberalism; especially : of or constituting a political party in the United Kingdom associated with ideals of individual especially economic freedom, greater individual

People Like Joseph C scare me.......makes a bold retort and then turns to stone and can't back it up.

Answer 1

fear?

Answer 2

I am a Christian and this perplexes me as well. I know an elderly devout softly spoken Christian woman. She never says a bad word, always positive flowing from her mouth. She is always sweet and kind.

Oh wait, until she starts talkign about those "damn liberals". This is one of the most extreme examples of political bi partisianship I have seen in a Christian.

Most Christians speak of liberals in terms of political lines. Some will speak of doctrinal beliefs as well. But in regards to political lines they feel as if the Republican party best represents the Christian faith. This swithes back and forth throughout history on which side the Christians see as the enemy.

Personally I am a Christian and I am independent. I think Christians probably should not identify with a particular party but I am not going to condemn them for doing so. God is not a Republican. God is not a Democrat.

Answer 3

They think it's bad because they have been told to think that way, from the mid-70s until now, by their churches and by their political party (the GOP). "Liberals" were blamed for everything from losing the Vietnam war to the downfall of Nixon (guess we shouldn't have caught him violating so much Constitutional law). Then liberals were blamed for the faltering economy. Then Reagan came to office, repealed the Fairness Doctrine, and Rush Limbaugh came to the air, and continues to this day to tell the conservatives what and how to think. Of course, there's O'Reilly, Coulter, and several others who help too. Liberals think for themselves, and we all know that's Un-American, and worse, it's Un-Christian. "Broad-minded" is just too scary for them.

*Edit* JosephC: What "prominent psychiatrists?" Dr. Phil?
You sound like you need a "prominent psychiatrist" yourself. I spent 17 years working as a psychiatric nurse, and I know a lot about the diagnoses in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Volume IV (DSM-IV), and they don't mention anything about political affiliations. "Liberalism" is not, and never will be, a mental disorder. Maybe in the dreams of the GOP. If being a liberal qualifies as mental illness, does that mean far-right conservatives can be classified as mentally disordered, too?
Fair is fair, after all.
Blowing a lot of hot air doesn't make you right. Neither does SCREAMING at us.

Answer 4

I am a Christian & a Liberal. I have given my life and my sins to God. I have given Him my Soul. He is my Lord. I am His Child. I was made a New person.

Now some Christians say NO WAY are you a Christian. I don't believe in aborton. and there are things i disagree with about somethings they do. but I am sick of people always quesioning my Love for MY GOD!!! I am sick of people always thinking that i am this horriable person.

Another thing my 2 Cousins are Liberals and Christians they are fighting in Iraq right now. putting their lifes on the line for this Great Counrty of ours. they Love America so much that they joined the Marines right after 911. they have God with them all the time. God has saved my Cousins so many times.. Now YOU tell me that God hates Liberals. you tell God that He's wrong for saving my Cousins life more then one time. you all tell my Cousins when they get home safe that they are NOT Christians. just don't get mad when you get a answer you may not like.

Answer 5

Usually it translates into this:

Liberal- Someone lacking a basic set of principals that they adhear to. They have a warped sense of reality that is modeled after a "fairy tale" mentality. They generally find fault with simple proven facts that they don't agree with. An example of this is gay marriage, I am sure we all know that there are men and women in this world, and that they are in fact different physically for a reason. Nature by it's self will tell you that the functions of the two opposite sexes is to bring forth life and keep the life cycle going. You don't have to be very smart to figure out that two of the same sex cannot continue the life cycle. Also to be noted all of the terrible diseases that can be contracted that way too. Another example is animal rights, animals are killed and eaten everyday in America, that is their purpose, if it wasn't they would be eating you. The facts are that they are typically delusional and spout intolerance as a word defining their adversaries. To that extent yes their adversaries are in fact intolerant of terrible things that lead to the destruction of humanity.

Answer 6

Hmm... I guess I'm not as Liberal as I thought.... I don't want to be considered licentious or loose, for sure. But I go for the generous, open-handed, more into abundance-thinking definitions....

Answer 7

You should really say L-word it is much more polite. Ask the Democratic party, they don't seem to like to describe themselves with it too much.

Answer 8

I think in this case 3,4 and 5 would explain it liberal christians are those who stop following the bible and think they can be christian with out giving their soul to it. just saying you are christian or attending church doe not save you or make you a follower of Christ Jesus

Answer 9

its because they think being liberal or free would cause an individual to shrink in evil, and because it can go against their doctrines

Answer 10

It is a bad thing.

You're quoting a dictionary written by liberals themselves, and they're not going to list a defininition that reveals their horrible condition for what it really is: a mental disorder and the Plague of the Modern Era.

EDIT: YOU LISTEN TO ME, SONNY..I'LL BACK EVERYTHING UP THAT I SAY. YOU JUST NAME THE TIME AND PLACE FOR A DEBATE.

There are a number of prominent psychiatrists who now regard liberalism as a genuine mental disease. It is similar to schizophrenia, characterized by irrational behavior and entering into a state of extreme denial.

Answer 11

You missed the real definition of Liberal though:

MAKE IT ALL UP AS YOU GO ALONG