LIBERALISM

"Liberalism" (in the classical sense of the word) is a rather flexible term for an ideological disposition that developed in the 1800's, and reached an intense level in America during the days preceding World War II. It is characterized by several arrogant attitudes. (a) Liberalism seeks to establish a break with the rigid acknowledgement of the historical accuracy and authority of the Scriptures. Allegedly, the discoveries of the scientific community have progressively and significantly made the Bible irrelevant to the modern man. (b) Liberalism involves the exaltation of human "reason" over the testimony of scriptural history. All events in the Bible (especially the miraculous) must be measured by modern "experience," rather than judged in the light of credible, historical testimony. The supernatural events of the Scriptures are dismissed therefore. (c) Liberalism has an unbalanced view of the "benevolence" of God; all references to divine wrath, judgment, and hell are rejected, supposedly being incompatible with how God "ought" to be. (d) Since no one will finally be "lost," according to this philosophy, there is no further need for Christ (except as a vague moral example), his atoning death, resurrection, etc. These elements, therefore, are to be removed from Christianity. (e) This ideology argues for a novel view of "human freedom," i.e., man must be granted the freedom to search for himself, identify himself, and fulfill himself -- without interference from a Higher Power. In brief -- freedom from divine restraint! See EXISTENTIALISM. In reality, "liberalism" is nothing more than infidelity, merely clothed with the veneer of a quasi-religious garb.