As some know, I have been very struck by a talk by the Director of Liberty, when she raised her concern about the number of conservative Christians who are extremely negative about human rights. In conversation she let us know that such groups constantly write to her with the view that no person has any rights other than the will of God through redemption. These churches tend to be more conservative and fundamentalist churches who write letters to express their dislike of human rights that seek to protect peoples dignity, respect and rights to a fair trial. It is one thing to say I am an evil sinner, it is quite another to say that no one has the right to be treated with human respect or courtesy or tortured, with the focus on behaviour that then earns rights.

It does worry me that redemptive theology, when tied very closely to the doctrine of original sin, really does have such a low regard towards being human and God's clear expectations of having a just society. In the age old fight between the two parts of the church - incarnational v redemptive ecclesiologies, this negativity towards human rights, displays real dangers if you are not able to hold onto both incarnational and redemptive theologies, and living with the tension of the inconsistencies between the two. Redemptive theology in our church history and the doctrine of original sin have been the excuse of some of the worst violent atrocities and offenses of the church in the name of God, so we go there in our peril. The first step to any expression of violence or oppression is to reduce their humanity to being a lesser-being..... And we the Christian church are often complicit to this process.

So in these times of hightened internal security in the UK, it is vital we do not loose our call to see the story of Genesis - that ALL HUMAN BEINGS reflect the image of God. This is original blessing, and the importance to value all life including humanity. It really does bother me that the church often is extremely unloving, judgemental, racist, sexist and negative about human rights our call is to model a new Ekklesia - a new and just society. Dehumanisation is a real danger with the rise of the more conservative and fundamentalist expressions that think so negatively towards humanity - particularly towards women and gay people. By their love shall you know them. Well from where I am standing, its a much smaller church than it would first seem. The litmus paper for this at the moment is how the church sees women, gay people, asylum seekers, political prisoners and the acceptability of torture in any form.

All this really emphasises the importance of defending our liberal demonstracy by being somewhat intolerent of those who seek to be intolerent, and our need to demonstrate radical and progressive love by speaking out against those who subtly undermine a Christian theology of justice, mercy and generosity.

I am so concerned about this, that I am going to join Liberty myself to support this, and my right to free speech and a desire not to see the liberal framework of our culture be undermined by conservative Christians