tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343546954225003627.post8576952942471147413..comments2024-02-02T02:32:58.560-06:00Comments on Opinionated Catholic: Catholics Becoming Liberal Protestants Is Not The ProblemJames Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00406049343115557137noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343546954225003627.post-91093056573411988462012-07-18T11:23:36.864-05:002012-07-18T11:23:36.864-05:00I find DBB a bit tiresome on this issue. I assume ...I find DBB a bit tiresome on this issue. I assume she's a better scholar than I am or will be. But she has more than demonstrated that she is not an impartial observer - she openly favors full blown "liberal" Christianity which she regards as the original faith of/from Jesus. And is rather defensive regarding the cliche that "conservative churches grow, liberal churches decline".<br /><br />Can liberal churches grow? Sure. Can conservative churches decline? Sure. What I have never seen her adequately address is the *overall pattern*. <a href="http://livethetrinitynet.ramawright.net/2010/08/illiberal-liberalism-or-diana-butler-bass-part-i/#comment-138410105" rel="nofollow">To whit</a>, "Conservative churches/denominations are either growing or declining at a lower rate than liberal churches/denominations. The bottom line is that liberal churches/denominations appear to interest modern Americans *less* than conservative ones." This in and of itself does not prove "conservative" Christianity is more or less "true". But it calls into question the Spongian mantra that in order to keep the disaffected, in order to attract more people than we lose, we need to go liberal.<br /><br />You hit the nail on the head, asking the appropriate question, "Okay, so people leave the Catholic church, but how many leave because they think it's too conservative? and how many leave for liberal denominations?"<br /><br />Note that Douthat is, toward the end of his piece, *generous* toward and appreciative of "liberal" Christianity. Is DBB generous toward and appreciative of "conservative" Christianity? Such contrasts are revealing.Rick67https://www.blogger.com/profile/16764011597156012973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343546954225003627.post-40111308649503525082012-07-18T10:19:02.956-05:002012-07-18T10:19:02.956-05:00That that is interesting. I have been assuming tha...That that is interesting. I have been assuming that it was more Latino than black but perhaps I am wrong thereJames Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00406049343115557137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7343546954225003627.post-68367548221845383862012-07-17T23:21:32.522-05:002012-07-17T23:21:32.522-05:00I can't speak for other places in the country,...I can't speak for other places in the country, but from what I see here in Houston, Latinos - when they leave the Church - usually leave for an independent/pentacostal church, not for the Southern Baptists. <br /><br />Of course, we have a lot of the mega-churches in town here, so my experience might not be typical.<br /><br />We see more black folks going Southern Baptist than Latino.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16323871207793126503noreply@blogger.com