Baptists split

[db44]

(Indianapolis-AP) -- Amid a disagreement over theology -- and charges of "anti-American'' thinking -- there's been a split between two major Baptist groups.

The Southern Baptist Convention voted overwhelmingly today to withdraw from the Baptist World Alliance, saying the global group has become too theologically liberal.

With more than 16 million members, the S-B-C is the world's largest Baptist denomination and America's largest Protestant body.

The S-B-C pullout means the world alliance loses its largest member -- and one-third of its income base.

Prior to today's vote, one member urged the Southern Baptists not to support any organization that includes liberals. He also complained about denominations that include "gay-friendly congregations.''

[BrokenHalo]

You know, this made me really angry upon first reading. I actually started writing a couple different responses, and stopped because they were unfair (I was admittedly pretty ticked by the "one member" and was judging a group based on him...which is just as bad as what he was doing *hangs head in shame*) However, I'm also glad that I didn't send the responses I started writing as now that I've cooled off a bit, I realized I jumped to some conclusions here that may (or may not) be true. If *everyone* in the S.B. group agrees with that one member described here, that disturbs me, (I personally find that attitude to be kinda...well...dangerous in it's exclusions, but that's me), but...I'm not going to judge the whole group on one person, here...if I did, I'd be doing pretty much the exact thing that this guy is purporting to do.

Which group is claiming the "Anti-American" thinking? Was it the Southern Baptists who withdrew from the Baptist World Alliance saying it about the "theologically liberal" Baptists, or was it the "theologically liberal" baptists claiming it against the Southern Baptists?

The anti-American charges was the phrase that ticked me off initially and I admittedly jumped to a conclusion about which side was charging it. But after thinking and trying to see things from both sides, I realized that it really could have been directed either way. Those from one side could be claiming that the anti-american thinking may be in reference to what one side feels is a decline in morals, or could have been the other side claiming a stifling of diversity. Either way it was uncalled for (in my opinion anyway...based on what I know...I don't know the exact context of the charge of anti-american thinking...) I definitely have views that lean heavilty toward one line of thinking, but that doesn't make the other view anti-american...

Okay I'm still not coherent this morning. Sorry for the babble, but I did want to know if anyone knows the context of the Anti-American thinking charge...

[bekahbeans]

I know a family who's dad was a Baptist pastor but he got fired cuz he sent his kids to Catholic school.

True story.

[Richard Tafoya]

So, one has to wonder if it's the anti-American-branded Baptists or the so-called defenders of America that would head to South Carolina to secede from what see as a Godless country?

http://www.christianexodus.org/

[db44]

Those guys again? I say goodbye SC and good riddance.