Self-described Unitarian ministerette Marilyn Sewell recently interviewed renowned atheist (now THAT’s something to be renowned for, eh? Yow.) Christopher Hitchens in the Portland Monthly magazine. Ms. Sewell, as we will quote, describes herself as a “liberal Christian.” One would not have to go far to describe her biblically as “not a Christian.” Mr. Hitchens has made quite a little empire for himself dashing about the Western world trashing Christianity and the existence of God.
In the interview, Ms. Sewell asks Mr. Hitchens a question, saying,
The religion you cite in your book is generally the fundamentalist faith of various kinds. I’m a liberal Christian, and I don’t take the stories from the scripture literally. I don’t believe in the doctrine of atonement (that Jesus died for our sins, for example). Do you make and distinction between fundamentalist faith and liberal religion?
Now, I’ve always wondered just what a Unitarian universalist “preaches?” Since it doesn’t matter what one believes if all are going to the same eternal reward, what is the message being preached? If all is true, then there’s no difference between true “religion” and false “religion.” Got me.
Now, one may well think that Mr. Hitchens would not have a clue as to what makes one a Christian. That appears to be an incorrect assumption. Mr. Hitchens actually has a very good handle on orthodox Christianity. His response to the question above was:
I would say that if you don’t believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ and Messiah, and that he rose again from the dead and by his sacrifice our sins are forgiven, you’re really not in any meaningful sense a Christian.
By his own statement, he is telling Ms. Sewell that she is not a Christian. Good for him. Even an atheist can speak truth. Would that Mr. Hitchens could apply his own definition of a Christian to himself someday.
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Thanks to Stand To Reason for the heads up on this.
And you were made gatekeeper of all things Christian by whom, Jeff?
One need not be a “gatekeeper of all things Christian” to know that those who affirm all religious truth as equally valid truth (which then necessarily involves either a) rejecting those which do proclaim exclusive truth, such as Christianity or Islam, or b) embracing a contradiction if one wishes to then include thise that make exclusive truth claims with those that don’t) deny one of the basic tenets of Christianity. Also, when one affirms (from the Unitarian Universalist site):
“Theological Perspectives
Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion that embraces theological diversity. Our faith has evolved through a long history with origins in European Christian traditions. Unitarian Universalism today is the result of the 1961 consolidation of the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America. To learn more about the history and evolution of our faith, please see History.
While our congregations uphold shared principles, individual Unitarian Universalists may discern their own beliefs about theological issues. As there is no official Unitarian Universalist creed, Unitarian Universalists are free to search for truth on many paths.
We welcome people who identify with and draw inspiration from Atheism and Agnosticism, Buddhism, Christianity, Humanism, Judaism, Paganism, and other religious or philosophical traditions.”
and,
“Paganism
Pagans, Wiccans, and people who follow other earth-based spiritual traditions are welcome in Unitarian Universalist congregations. Today, a significant number of our members identify with an earth/nature-centered faith.
One of the religious sources of our faith is the “spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.”
In addition to modern Paganism, many Unitarian Universalists find spiritual inspiration in other forms of nature-based spirituality, including simple seasonal reverence, modern Transcendentalism, and other nature-honoring paths.
More information about Paganism from a Unitarian Universalist perspective is available in the following UU World articles:
* “It’s About Time, Persephone!”
* “Scouting Alternatives Draw UU Youth”
* “A New Day”
For even more resources and to connect with other Unitarian Universalist Pagans, please visit the website of the Covenant of UU Pagans.”
Even a cursory reading of the Bible by a rank amateur such as myself will show that such beliefs would be condemned by the Scriptures as false, leading one to condemnation.
Thanks.
I would actually contend that he would (and should) have a good handle on what a Christian is. After all, he is an atheist apologist, right? Know thine enemy…