Message #3132

[Martin]

I agree with most of that Andrew, especially that the meaning of the labels undergoes a certain amount of change over time.  Most liberals that I know wouldn't really add the  "I hope that my actions will lead you by example to the same belief, but if not it is still right for me to do this." bit.  What liberals really want is for people to adopt a sort of merciful, open-minded attitude within whatever religious culture they find themselves. So for example, they wouldn't necessarily be hoping that a Muslim abandons Islam or that a Jew abandons Judaism in favour of liberal Christianity, but rather that they adopt a liberal stance within their own faiths.