Religion without a Net: Strictness in the Religious Practices of West Coast Urban Liberal Christian Congregations
Research on liberal Protestants asserts that they are in decline because they are low-demand, theologically heterodox and institutionally flaccid organizations. My research shows that there is a niche of activist, liberal Protestants in urban congregations on the West Coast, who are vital groups wit...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
2002
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| In: |
Review of religious research
Year: 2002, Volume: 44, Issue: 2, Pages: 184-199 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Parallel Edition: | Non-electronic
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| Summary: | Research on liberal Protestants asserts that they are in decline because they are low-demand, theologically heterodox and institutionally flaccid organizations. My research shows that there is a niche of activist, liberal Protestants in urban congregations on the West Coast, who are vital groups with focused leadership. They are vital precisely because of their demanding theological and moral vision. In a twist on the strict church thesis, these churches thrive because of their challenging religious practices. Theologically they demand belief systems that integrate thought and action, remain in dialogue with other religious perspectives, nurture spiritual disciplines, celebrate creative religious expressions and advocate an egalitarian moral perspective. These are organizations that are institutionally fragile and difficult to sustain. Nonetheless, vital liberal religious institutions are built on leadership that is focused, lay people that are engaged in spiritual practice, justice that is lived out in communities and congregational activities that are relevant. I argue that the core of vital religious organizations is a demanding ideological and moral vision that is communicated by a leadership that challenges people and embodies the message. |
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| ISSN: | 2211-4866 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Review of religious research
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.2307/3512516 |