Religion and Modernity: Embrace New Knowledge or Die

Whether it's the Roman Catholic Church clinging to a 13th century version of "natural law" or the Southern Baptist Convention and professional Christians ranting against gays, the real collision course facing a free and educated society is the fact that increasingly modern knowledge simply contradicts what the self-congratulatory and/or fear driven Christians claim to believe. Claims of Bible inerrancy in particular underscores the disconnect from objective reality. And the contradictions range from modern knowledge of sexual orientation, to in vitro fertilization for the childless to the likelihood that Earth is not the only planet in the universe with intelligent life. Generally, the (in my view falsely) pious refuse to face this reality and in the long term - and deservedly so - the result will be the death of Christianity. Or at least the ignorance embracing, inflexible, non-thinking, hate based version that currently seems to still predominate far too many denominations. An op-ed piece in The Lutheran (subscription only - I get it through my parish) looks at this situation and makes a case with which I generally agree: basically, change or die. Here are some highlights:
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As a result of the skepticism of Reformation-era religious leaders, church polity underwent unsettling and significant changes. This coincided with challenges to church perspectives from science and enlightened thought.

The ELCA needs to engage, once again, in vigorous dialogue about modern thinking and religion. Conversations with church colleagues suggest that, for many of us, postmodern thinking challenges notions of unscientific religious dogma. Specific religious doctrines and practices seem increasingly irrelevant to many of our educationally sophisticated, technologically advanced young people. Declining attendance implies disengagement from the church.

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Conservative organizations and denominations often cling to outmoded concepts, traditional styles or homophobic ideas that are rejected by many modern critics.

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A parishioner recently said, "I believe the Bible is God's word, not God's words." But what does God's word say if the words are inaccurate or outside of scientific conceptualization?