Anti-clerical bias

Last evening

Anti-clerical bias

Preface

I found my MPhil reference concerning anti-clerical bias.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006, MPhil Wales 2003

Monday, April 07, 2008, Non-Christian perspectives from Woods

Recent archives

Saturday, May 16, 2020, Deism and the distrust of the clergy

I noted on May 16, 2020:

One of my thesis tutors at the University of Wales, early in the process for my MPhil thesis, told me (paraphrased) that in Britain and Europe there was a distrust of the clergy. Researching this idea, I found that this distrust in the clergy gained much momentum in the enlightenment era and continues to the 21st century.

2003 The Problem of Evil: Anglican and Baptist Perspectives: MPhil thesis, Bangor University

It should be noted that there exists an anti-clerical bias with some critics of Christianity in western society. There is a distrust of organized religion, and this viewpoint is likely a factor for many who choose Atheism as a philosophy.

This is a mistake because many in the Christian church can see the errors within it, including the failings of the clergy, but Christianity and a belief in God are primarily about Christ’s work on earth and in heaven. It is not primarily about the conduct of God’s representatives on earth.

In other words, instances of bad or even false representation of God and Christ on earth do not make Christianity invalid. Christianity should be examined by the words and philosophy in Scripture. Within the Bible it clearly points out that human beings cannot match God’s standards. This means that critics should judge the faith primarily by God’s standards in Scripture, and not by the standards of struggling Christians.

WOODS, B.W. (1974) Christians in Pain, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

Related work

2010 Theodicy and Practical Theology: Ph.D. thesis, the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, Lampeter 

Consider

Matthew 7: 21-23 King James Version (KJV)

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.