Is God Conservative or Liberal?: The Real God Stands Up

                             Is God Conservative or Liberal?: The Real God Stands Up

                             By Dr. Juan A. Carmona


We live, not only in a society, but also in a world where there are competing ideologies.  People subscribe to one ideology or another for a variety of reasons.  It appears that ideologies (sets of beliefs) have a life of their own in that they manage to sway people in different directions and also to have people live their lives according to them.  One group of people is as convinced as another group that their ideology is the "correct one."  One individual as as convinced as another that her/his set of beliefs is the "right one" to live by.

There are two terms that we hear of in the realms of morality, politics, and religion.  They are "conservative" and "liberal."  Those who are "conservative" strive and do their best to preserve the status quo, i.e. keep things as they are "because it''s always been that way." They believe that we should maintain intact those norms, perspectives, and values which were handed down and imposed since ancient times. In the realm of religion, those who consider themeselves "conservative" believe that what was handed down umpteen years ago was given by God, and therefore, not subject to change or modification.  On the other hand, those who claim to be "liberal," believe in being "open minded," and also believe that we should modify beliefs and practices wherever possible, and that we should be "open to a wide variety of perspectives."  In the realm of religion, "liberals" believe that we should interpret the ancient sacred texts in the light of the different branches of human knowledge, i.e. the natural and the social sciences, and not be bound or restricted by "out-moded"  views and mindsets.

The major problem in the communities of faith relative to "conservative" and "liberal," is that people who subscribe to either ideology, tend to believe that their particular ideology reflects the mind of God, They are strongly convinced that the way they think is the way God thinks, i.e. if I am "conservative," then God must also be conservative or if I am "liberal," then God must also be liberal.  So I ask, then, "will the real God stand up?"

To the disappointment of all, regardless of what ideology they subscribe to, I will say that God is neither conservative nor liberal.  What is God, then?  God is God and is not either identified with or restricted to our way of thinking and seeing things.  God as God transcends all human ideological constructs, and therefore, cannot be equated with our ideas, no matter how lofty they may seem.  God is not female or male, God is not Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, or whatever other community of faith we wish to confine God to. God is not a Democrat or Republican, neither Communist nor Socialist, but just God.

How then should we proceed to solve this conundrum?  How can we find resolution?  Let God be God.

In the Name of the Creator, and of the Liberator, and of the Sustainer. Amen!

Rev. Dr. Juan A. Carmona