MollyMac

I voted for 2 although I would prefer the question to have been phrased: "Which Xian position do you disrespect least?"

Most of what I was taught about xianity as I was growing up went through one ear and out the other but the one notion that stuck is that it's supposed to be about loving one's neighbour etc. Bible believing fundies seem to be full of hate. I have many times defended people who pick and choose from their religion against the charge that they can't be a real xian, muslim or whatever because they do this or that. But people who pick and choose are at least doing some thinking for themselves.

Shake

Yeah, I tend to agree with what you've said here, Molly. I do lose a little respect for the liberal Xians for the picking and choosing part, but at least they're easier to get along with. You can have an intelligent discussion with them. I've gotta give a little (a very little) credit to the fundies for sticking to their guns, though. I completely disagree with them, but respect their integrity to stick to what they believe. It is frustrating though, that most won't even hear your arguments against them.

THE_LEGENDARY_HQB

I grew up with Liberal Christians. They tend to be nonconfrontational, tolerant, and just generally more fun to be around with. So, as people, Liberal X-stians get my vote.

But their beliefs? What beliefs? Beliefs that, on the one hand, supposedly are inspired by the Holy Spirit, yet, OTOH, can be disregarded with the greatest of ease if they don't serve them?
How can I take such things seriously?

Let's face it, the koom-by-aah syrupy sweet version of Christianity they peddle sounds much better in this day and age then the Dark Age variety that the fundies believe in, but, since Christianity is predicated on 2 things:
1. The death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and:
2. The Bible as the word of God, dictated directly by Him to mankind.
And since both of these things are negotiable to many liberals, than what exactly does a liberal go on, if not the Bible? Their own feelings? Hunches? If you believe in the Bible as the Word of God, then ignoring the Bible is ignoring the clear mandates of Yaweh himself, truly an act of rebellion against the Creator, no? Liberals condemn fundies, often vociferously, partially, IMHO out of fear.

As they listen to the Falwells and Robertsons of the world spewing their bile, they react by saying "oh, they're not being Christian"! But how does someone who ignores clear Biblical teaching time and time again, because it "just doesn't feel right", determine what is "Christian behaviour"?

Really {and this is just a hunch, not an empirically testable fact}
I believe that liberals, in their fear of fundies, are demonstrating fear of their own religion . They see fundies out there promoting all kinds of absurd things, usually with multiple Bible quotes to back them up. Fundies make them feel guilty on the one hand for not being "Christian enough", and scare the crap out of them with their advocacy of creationism, mandatory prayer, exclusion of gays and lesbians, theocracy, ect. What if the fundies are right? What if Christianity really is as exclusionist, intolerant, and supremacist as the fundies say it is?

If I were a liberal Cafeteria X-tian, I would really be disturbed at fundies. I'd ask myself, "why does it seem like, at least in many cases, the more someone takes the Bible seriously, the more fanatic, irrational, closeminded and judgemental they often become?"
Fundies take Christianity and force the touchyfeely GodizLuv types to confront its darker side and for that, they should be commended. They hold a mirror to the ugly face of Christianity and show us all of its warts.

So, to end this admittedly long rant, I voted 1. I dunno, they just seem to be more consistent with their beliefs.
Respect,
HQB

Bree

I voted for the conservative Christian. It takes balls of steel to admit that you believe everything the Bible says, 100% - even the really weird parts. It takes even more balls to try and live by that ridiculous standard.

Kudos.

Thieving Magpie

I agree with you, HQB

Aerik Von

Conservative - at least they are NOT trying to be complete flakes.

lisarea

Well, I think you're generally painting liberal Christians with a pretty broad brush. Yes, there are certain types of liberal Christian who pick and choose among their scripture for cute, fluffy stuff, and inevitably end up with a childish, woodgie-coo type of religion, but the simple fact that someone appoints different significance to different parts of scripture does not necessarily mean their beliefs are not as sincere and as hard-won as anyone's.

If I'm not mistaken, John Milton, toward the end of his life, inched closer and closer to the idea that scripture was analogy, and that he needed nothing more than simple faith to be a sincere Christian. (If I didn't have something on the stove, I'd even look this up.) And I respect Milton. I do not believe he came to these conclusions based on willful ignorance or selfishness.

Many people sincerely believe that the basis of religion is faith. I can certainly see how someone can honestly come by an understanding of their faith on a very personal level. Personal resonance and pure gut feel are not necessarily lazy, as long as the individual is honestly assessing their reactions, and not just choosing those that make life logistically easy for them.

Of course, there's scripture that says otherwise, I'm sure; but most stuff in the Bible is contradicted by other stuff in the Bible. While I"m sure there are many fundamentalists who come by their faith honestly, there are probably at least as many who came by it simply because they're assholes and it gives them an excuse.

And on a personal level, I know liberal Christians whose opinions I absolutely respect. While there are certainly many examples of selfish and thoughtless cafeteria Christians out there, there are also those who've come to their conclusions sincerely, and I hate to see them characterized as selfish and insincere.

Amie

Both are equally respectable.

Yellum Notnef

Thats a nice sentiment although completely unhelpful.

Amie

Hey I answered the question in the OP, both are equally respectable.
perhaps if I said: Like another poster did here then it would have been ever so helpful.