https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniting_Church_in_Australia

The Methodists are part of this union and rightly or wrongly seem to have influenced the movement in an egalitarian equality direction- and in a sense have lost their self identity and meaning. Some believe that the Methodists have been on the front edge of socially "progressive" policy for centuries. Society is a bell curve so someone has to be on the "progressive" edge but now the edge is controlling the power centre.

Society has to have a balance between tradition and progression.

If one traces history- I believe there is a link between the Methodists, to the English Civil War, to the French Revolution, the Paris Commune, the Russian Revolution, the Chinese Revolution.

Dear Canem Malum,

«Overall there is an interesting interaction between Communist, Capitalist and Nationalist ideologies.»

Capitalism, communism and nationalism are not mutually exclusive, in fact they are most compatible as can be seen in China. Most importantly for this topic, all three cherish something that they consider to be more important than God.

A person who holds one or more of the above three ideologies, would only attend church if it seems to advantage their ulterior motives. This no longer being the case, they find church a boring waste of time, so only the truly faithful remain, who actually want God, which are a minority. This is not really a bad thing!

Canem,
>If one traces history- I believe there is a link between the Methodists, to the English Civil War, to the
>French Revolution, the Paris Commune, the Russian Revolution, the Chinese Revolution.

Considering the Methodists originated in an Anglican revival in the 18th century, I think a genuine historical link is extremely unlikely.

Canem,

<<From my understanding the Presbyterian's are suffering because they have merged under the Uniting banner>>

That's not the Presbyterian Church to which I refer. I'm referring to the continuing, evangelical Presbyterian Church of Australia which lost 36% of attendees, 1996-2006.

This is a different Presbyterian denomination to the one that joined with the Methodists and Congregationalists to form the liberal Uniting Church.

Why is this taking a dive in attendees while Oriental Pentecostals have increased in attendance? Could it have something to do with the nature of the mode of worship that is not focussed on happy, clappy experientialism?

Spencer, could you provide examples of the incorrect use of syntax and grammar by theological liberals?

Rhian,

<<Spencer, could you provide examples of the incorrect use of syntax and grammar by theological liberals?>>

Take this statement about history by leading historical Jesus' scholar, John Dominic Crossan: His definition of history is, “History is the past reconstructed interactively by the present through argued evidence in public discourse.”

Chew over that one at dinner tonight when discussing Captain James Cook's visit to Australia in 1770,the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the USA, Hitler and the Nazi's slaughter of 6 million people in World War 2, and Jesus Christ's crucifixion.

Crossan's history as reconstructed interactivism means he can engage in free play with the text, introducing information that was not in the original text.