Interviewed by Couric, Pro-Robinson Bishop Says "We Respond to 'Reason,' Not only to Scripture"

The Today Show

[governsleastgovernsbest]

In the wake of sexual misconduct allegations against Gene Robinson that have postponed a vote on his candidacy for Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire, Today Show host Katie Couric just completed an interview with two bishops with opposing views on the issue.

Bishop Thomas Shaw of Massachusetts is a strong supporter of Robinson's elevation. Bishop Edward Salmon of S. Carolina is opposed.

The most telling exchange came in response to Couric's question as to why or why not Robinson should be elected Bishop.

Bishop Salmon stated: "The answer is simple. Robinson's election would violate the tradition of the Church, the teaching of Scripture, and the constitution of the Church."

Given an opportunity to respond, did Bishop Shaw contest Salmon's reading of Scripture or the Episcopal constitution? Not at all.

Shaw's response: "We don't only respond to Scripture. We respond to reason, and to Jesus's message of love. This is a new time."

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I am not an Episcopalian, or for that matter, a Christian.

But it would seem to me that when a Church ceases to base its actions on Scripture, and implies that reliance on "reason" leads to a different result from reliance on Scripture, the Church has lost its way as a religious institution. It has become instead a social and/or political institution.

Note also Bishop Shaw's justification of the election of Robinson on the basis that this is "a new time." Again, this is tantamount to expressing the view that Scripture does not represent immutable truth for all times.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Today Show ping.

[AppyPappy]

Shaw's response: "We don't only respond to Scripture. We respond to reason, and to Jesus's message of love. This is a new time."

The Kobe Doctrine.

[goldstategop]

Its not faith; its feelings. That's what drives the liberals whether they're in the pews or in politics.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Shaw to Salmon: "Put some ice on your Scripture."

[Miss Marple]

You may not be a Christian, but you have it exactly right.

This is an obvious schism in the Episcopal Church, and the gay issue is only one part of it. Underlying it all is the issue you have outlines. And it also is occurring in many other mainline denominations (Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, United Church of Christ) and to my mind accounts for their declining membership.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Exactly. Bishop Salmon gave a theologically-based answer. Shaw pointedly refused to do so.

He is entitled to his to his "feelings," but don't these people understand that their approach is fundamentally antithetical to the notion of what religion is about - divine, unchangeable truth and law?

[Havoc]

Interviewed by Couric, Pro-Robinson Bishop Says "We Respond to 'Reason,' Not only to Scripture"

There is a way that seems right to a man but it's end is destruction..

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Thanks for your comment. The very same phenomenon has played out in my religion, Judaism, in which liberals assert that rules must change with the changing times.

Encouragingly, the pendulum seems to be swinging back towards tradition among Reform Jews.

[goldstategop]

My ways are not your ways; my thoughts are not your thoughts. God is not a man that you should read His mind to justify your doings.

[mewzilla]

And even many of the folks who do attend aren't exactly what I'd call devout. All of the Catholics I know who attend mass regularly are cafeteria Catholics.

[N. Theknow]

Shaw's response: "We don't only respond to Scripture. We respond to reason, and to Jesus's message of love. This is a new time."

Seems as though "Mr." Shaw (He does not deserve to be called a Bishop)didn't get the entire message. "Go and sin no more," was a really big part of it.

But of course when "supposedly" learned men convulute scripture to conform to their own desires, what would we expect.

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

[TUX]

Hey...Lets hear it for the New Gospel boys.

[sauropod]

I know you're just gonna love this.

[TUX]

Sarcasm/off

[BushCountry]

Aren't the allegations against Gene Robinson that his gay youth group's website promoted gay porn and that he made several passes at his male parishioners? If so, why hasn't he crawl under a rock and this disappeared?

[goldstategop]

For liberals that actually makes him more rather than less attractive. Call it the "Clinton Effect."

[Credo]

Scripture, Tradition and Reason were articulated by the Theologian Richard Hooker in Elizabethan times. He emphasized that Tradition and Reason never trumped the Scriptures and these 2 parts of the "three-legged" stool were to be illuminated by the Holy Spirit. Tradition and Reason only spoke when the Scriptures did not.

Misuse of Hooker is a common canard pulled out by the liberals in advancing the Gay agenda.

On the issue of homosexual behavior, the Scriptures speak plainly and loudly. If you truly believe the behavior to be destructive spiritually and physically, is it "loving" Bishop Shaw to consent to it being on a par with Holy Wedlock?

[governsleastgovernsbest]

The worldview of Bishop Shaw is in the great liberal tradition of "it depends on what the meaning of is, is" and of Supreme Court justices who ignore the clear language of the Constitution to bend it to their political whim.

[LarryM]

Shaw's response: "We don't only respond to Scripture. We respond to reason, and to Jesus's message of love. This is a new time."

If you take out the Jesus part, this quote could be coming from Sandra Day O'Connor. Just replace "scripture" with "constitution." Typical leftist crapola.