Reply #41: They don't get the publicity, but there are many more than you think... [View All]

[sweetloukillbot]

Most tend to be more thinkers than bloviators, which I think causes the disparity in coverage. But the Episcopal Church has produced some amazing theologians who fly in the face of the general view of Christian leaders, eg. Marcus Borg, Diana Butler Bass, Bishop Spong, Bishop Robinson (who gave the amazing prayer that wasn't televised before the pre-inauguration concert), and the current emerging church movement seems to be wrestling with the question of social justice and how that fits with a fundamentalist upbringing - Jay Bakker, son of Jim and Tammy Faye, is a strong proponent of gay rights from his pulpit, and while I have not seen any strong statements from Rob Bell concerning gay rights, he seems to be very much pro social justice and challenging to evangelical fundamentalism. Heck, as much of a lightning rod as he is here, Rick Warren has done a lot of good work in Africa and reportedly gives 90% of his income to charity, his stand on Prop 8 notwithstanding.
I was raised Lutheran and am now Episcopalian, and I've never seen any disparity with social action and the church's teachings in either tradition - in fact I would say I'm a liberal because I'm a Christian.