A theological movement emphasizing reason, individual conscience, and social progress over traditional religious authority and literal scriptural interpretation. It emerged in Protestant Christianity during the Enlightenment, promoting adaptation of religious beliefs to modern knowledge and values.
From Latin 'liberalis' meaning 'of freedom' or 'generous,' the term evolved from political philosophy into religious contexts in the 18th-19th centuries. Religious liberalism developed as scholars applied Enlightenment principles of critical inquiry and human reason to traditional Christian doctrines.
Religious liberalism gave birth to the famous 'Jefferson Bible,' where Thomas Jefferson literally cut and pasted together only the moral teachings of Jesus while removing all supernatural elements! This movement also produced the influential 'Quest for the Historical Jesus,' fundamentally changing how we study religious figures as both divine and human.
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