Saturday, May 12, 2012

Quote of the Day: Liberalism After Liberalism

Liberalism After Liberalism - How can we affirm human dignity when liberalism no longer can? -Wilfred M. McClay - First Things
So yes, I concluded, that is “how it can be love,” as we understand love, to tolerate error in others. Not because we are postmodern liberals who believe that all truth is pragmatic and subjective, and that no one can be sure of anything at all, so that we must all therefore live in a state of complete epistemic suspension, lest we become fanatics who cruelly impose our subjective beliefs on others. Not because we are Millian liberals who believe in the free marketplace of ideas as the only place where truths can be warranted. Not because we are people of feeble faith who confuse what is politically or socially convenient with what is required of us by God. But instead because the commitment to noncoercion flows from a theologically grounded commitment to the fundamental and intrinsic dignity of each individual person and thus to the necessity of letting that person come to God freely, in a disposition of love, in the manner of God’s desiring. 
Nice.

3 comments:

Anon1152 said...

"But instead because the commitment to noncoercion flows from a theologically grounded commitment to the fundamental and intrinsic dignity of each individual person and thus to the necessity of letting that person come to God freely, in a disposition of love, in the manner of God’s desiring."

Does this invalidate parts of the Old Testament?

*BTW, I read the whole article on firstthings.com and found it interesting. But I'm in a provocative-question-asking-mood at the moment...

BallBounces said...

Q. Does this invalidate parts of the Old Testament?
A. No. Nor does it invalidate corresponding passages in the NT.

God gave us freedom from the get-go. Unfortunately, freedom, when it means distance and separation from God, is destructive.

First Things features really intelligent Catholic writers. I am very impressed with the intellectual capital of Roman Catholicism.

Anon1152 said...

I don't dispute your claim about first things, or the intellectual capital of Roman Catholicism...

But I still see lots of coercion recommended in the bible when it comes to unbelievers.

"... nothing intellectually compelling or challenging.. bald assertions coupled to superstition... woefully pathetic"