020 Adjectives

The word conservative is used to describe a person as “averse to change or innovation and holding traditional values” as well as “(in a political context) favouring free enterprise, private ownership, and socially conservative ideas”.

Using it to describe a Christian brings with it connotations of being closed-minded, stuck in the mud and also having political views known as the “conservative right” – especially in the US.

Progressive means “happening or developing gradually or in stages” and “(of a person or idea) favouring social reform”. To be a progressive Christian implies going a stage further, moving on, developing, being concerned for justice and peace. A progressive Christian will have developed and have left the conservative, perhaps childish, Christian behind.

Those are the adjectives used whether or not they accurately apply.

Theology that preceded progressive was called Liberal. That name did not have the advantages in the name Progressive which more easily dismisses and belittles conservative beliefs and paints itself as more advanced, modern, realistic, understanding, encompassing. It also allows the follower to adapt their theology to suit their personal beliefs and preferences.

I reject the description of conservative when applied to myself because I am not so inflexible.

By accepting the adjective progressive it implies a claim to be better or more advanced than others.

I am not committed to either the political left or right. There has been much damage done to Christianity by the serious political alliances of groups in the US. Such hardly applies in Australia.

 It is difficult to agree with an adjective to describe my theological position. The meaning of the word evangelical is one I have accepted in the past but its meaning is now confusing. I usually summarise my theology as Bible based Christianity.

030 Conservative and Progressive theology