Who Has Authority Over Your Personal Freedom?
Who has authority over you? This is the basic question lying beneath “Freedom From Bad Bible Bullies.”
Why focus on the question of authority?
Religion Ties You Back
Religion is fundamentally about authority. The word religion means “tied back.”
Every religion makes particular authority claims over people who are part of the religion. Different religions make different authority claims. The claims range from very strong claims of authority to minimal claims.
The key point is that every religion makes its own authority claims over those who profess to be part of the religion. If you are willing to be part of a religion, you willingly surrender some of your personal freedom to the authority of that religion. Read more…
“A Fickle Obedience To The Authority of Scripture—The Strange Case of Sarah Palin And The Authority of Women Over Men”
The dramatic rise to fame of Sarah Palin—a woman most of us had never heard of a few weeks ago—demonstrates the enormous power of publicity to create celebrities.
What continues to amaze me more than anything else is how Sarah Palin’s meteoric rise to the role of savior within the Republican campaign requires conservative Christians to ignore any questions about women and authority. Read more…
“Does Religious Authority Override Secular Authority?”
When religious authority conflicts with political authority, which authority takes precedence?
Any consideration of the relationship between religion and politics in the United States must take into account that most churches, religious organizations, and ministers are tax exempt. Read more…
“What Authority Will You Obey Above All Others?”
What authority in your life is primary? Is it God? The Bible? The government? Some person? An organization? A business? Whom or what do you fear the most? Or to ask the question in a different way, what authority will you obey above all others? Read more…
