Unity or Shism?

and will say it again here. If radicals wish to overturn the collective wisdom mankind has codified over millenia, the burden is on them to make the case for doing so. The burden is not on traditionalists to defend the status quo.

It appears Christianity is suffering from the same dysfunction as our Supreme Court. Our Constitution has become a "living" document; now the Bible itself is under pressere to follow suit. The "Living Bible"; what a concept!

Good post Flag.

Scottie said essentially the same thing I was going to, and you did in your excellent essay: societal norms are being attacked viciously on all fronts in an attempt to totally redefine or culture and social contract.

IMO, we've reached a stage where we have to make vigorous stands on principle, win or lose, because the battle is most definitely joined.

I've maintained for years that we're in the midst of a so-far-bloodless civil war in this country every bit as fundamental as the one that took place in the 19th Century.

We must win.

I was raised as an Episcopalian, even though I went to a Catholic school run by Hungarian monks. Most of the Episcopal parishes that I've attended over my Navy career have one thing in common...they do not believe that the liberal wing of the Episcopal Church is legitimate and correct. The parish I attended in Oak Harbor, WA, is now "Anglican", as is the one in Orange Park, FL. Most of the Diocese of St Augustine, FL, calls itself "Anglican", but they haven't made the split official, yet. The Diocese of Ft Worth, TX, is very conservative, even to the point of not having female priests (that Bishop will support a woman who wishes to enter the priesthood, but will send her through the seminary of the Diocese of Dallas and have her assigned from there). The Big Split is going to happen, and probably within the next decade.

We are at war, culturally and spiritually in this country and have been for years. There was a time that I can remember when saying "damn" on TV was scandalous, now we are at a point where much worse is said on network tv. I love the Law & Order shows, but if I hade a dime for every time I have heard them call someone an S.O.B I would be sitting on a fat knot!

Brian: You are right, we do have to stand on principles...win or lose. We cannot just abandon the field of battle in order to avoid conflict; that is a strategy for defeat, as sure as i am sitting here.

Scottie: Yeah, a "Living Bibile" is scary! The bigger threat is having liberals "interpret" anything of substance right out of it; look at all of the "prosperity preachers" out there. They are too willing to sell people on getting rich, but are not easger to acknowledge that sin exists or that it should be avoided. All they tell people is that God wants them to be rich...without the messy entaglements that salvation injects into the situation!

Crawfish: The Espicoplians have always been part of the Anglican Communion, it's just a shame that now they have to distinguish themselves from the name "Episcopalian" because of the church's dogged insistence on making the Gospel fit societal norms. The Gospel is supposed to be at odds with the cares of this world; trying to make it fit what the world says today is dangerous to the spirit.

Liberals hate anything that tells them "NO" when they want to do something, so they just say that whatever moral/legal authority is in place is outdated and needs to be modified according to their desires. When they croak, they'll be asking themselves "Where am I going and why am I in this handbasket?"

When they croak, they'll be asking themselves "Where am I going and why am I in this handbasket?"

That, my friend, is an instant classic!