Why God is not Republican (854 hits)
Category: Politics -> RepublicansRating: 0.17 on 28 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Enter The Midnight (View user info) at 2004-12-14 00:29:37 EST
All too many people associate Christianity with conservative politics, or more accurately, Republicans. Not all Christians are Republicans, in fact, a good number (like Senator Kerry) are Democrats. However, most Christian political organizations, special interest groups and lobbying firms are steadfastly Republican, and this gives the impression that Christians are Republicans--which means they're either rich and white or hillbillies. One, these stereotypes are not true, and two, not every conservative view is necessarily Christian. In fact, some are retrogade to Christianity's most basic beliefs.
I will admit that on many social issues, Christianity seems to align itself with conservatism--mostly on morals. For example, the value of the life of the unborn, policy on gay marriage, and God in the government arena, or even regulation of promiscuity. While most fundamental Christians would agree on these issues, these same Christians will stand with Republicans on issues that quite frankly are better represented by Democratic ideals.
Take the environment, for example. Most "environmentalists" are considered liberal--the people who want to regulate pollution, hunting and protect wildlife and flora from oil drilling, oil spills, global warming and the other evils of human progress. I will stand and say that since in the Christian tradition, God gave man domain over the whole of creation, that it is our responsibility to protect it. Every environmental policy and regulation is likely a good thing--our environment takes precedence over economics and profits. We should keep God's world clean and beautiful for future generations, not drill it for oil incessantly, allow species to go extinct or hunt and fish until there is nothing left. It is our responsibility to clean up after ourselves and take care of the world that has been given to us. This is why Democratic environmental policy is more aligned with Christianity than Republicans are.
Secondly, take the income tax structure and welfare. Most Republicans like low income tax for the rich and little welfare. I tell you this is not what Christianity would prescribe for a government. Jesus taught that we are to help the poor. What corporation or rich man will help the poor voluntarily? No one! The rich man will hoard his possessions. I would not say taxes on the wealthy should be sky-high, but they do need to pay their share of the wealth. If they hold 80% of the wealth, they should pay 80% of the taxes. And the poor and needy are to be helped by those who can afford it. The government's welfare program helps those in need, financed by the people who made money and don't really need it anyway. In an ideal world, the rich would willingly help the poor, but in our greedy reality, they will not--so the government steps in and helps them. I salute those rich people and corporations that do help the poor.
Third, take gun control and war. Conservatives hawkishly brandish gun freedom and pre-emptive war. Jesus, on the other hand, taught peace on Earth. Christians are to advocate peace, not fighting, though there can be grounds for a just war. Pacifism is not the answer--that's just taking bullying. Gun control is a good thing, because things that kill are not conducive to peace. This sounds rather hippie-ish, I know, but Christianity is not to take peace that far. We are to strive for peace when possible, but resort to a just and minimal war when necessary.
The most divisive social issue concerning Christianity today is gay rights. The Bible is quite clear on its opinion of homosexuality, but our government is a secular government, and Jesus taught to love all mankind. Killing gays, or any form of gay-bashing, is not within a Christian's right to judge. Gays should be afforded equal protection from our government, and the ability to form legal bonds within the government, but churches should not (1) be forced to accept this, only tolerate it, and (2) not be forced to perform marriage ceremonies for gays if it is contrary to their beliefs. Churches should, on the other hand (1) accept gays into their congregations when they have a desire to worship, and (2) treat gays as humans made in the image of God.
Presuming the Bible is the authoritative Word of God, it is easy to see that in these five areas, Christianity is hardly limited to being conservative or Republican. A blend of the two parties, or moderate, is where most of Christianity's ideals lie. This enhances all of our abilities to reach compromises and live the way God would have us live without being divisive of those who do not hold our beliefs, and to show that our religion is not the religion of the Republicans.
User Reviews
Submitted by Sherman (user info) at 2005-02-24 01:30:54 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
No Comment
Submitted by SpikeGoddess (user info) at 2004-12-14 13:03:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
MARY MAGDALENE WAS NOT A PROSTITUTE!!!!! Listen, I'm not some Da Vinci Code thumping fanatic here, but the historical fact is that Mary Magdalene was a wealthy woman who was a chief benefactress of Jesus's mission. Those disciples who gave up all of their possessions to follow Jesus had to eat somehow, you know? Nowhere in the text of the Bible does it say that Mary Magdalene was a "whore". She is conflated with the unnamed adultress that Jesus saves from stoning and the repentant woman who anoints Jesus's feet and weeps on them. Neither of those women are Mary Magdalene. Don't believe me? Read the Bible.
Now, on to the post. Any truly spiritual person wouldn't try to claim religious morality as the sole domain of one political party or the other for reasons of political gain. While the Republicans have done this more successfully the Dems are certainly willing to try their best to do the same thing. Unlike Mary Magdalene, politicians whore out their professed spirituality to win votes. Obviously, this has nothing to do with legitimate doctrine taught by religions.
And for those to whom this may be a shock---many Catholics are Democrats. Catholics tend to be liberal on social justice issues and there are many more pro-choice Catholics than you think.
Submitted by Sassmasterr (user info) at 2004-12-14 12:46:42 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
ROOSTER - when the Bible said "it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.", it was speaking of a walled city. there was an emergency entrance/exit that was always open. this opening was very small so at night, a large band of invaders could not easily enter, they had to come in one at a time. the opening had the nickname of "the eye of the needle." it was hard to get through but it could be done.
Jesus taught that we should take care of the poor and feeble (those who could not take care of themselves). the "we" part is important. that job was commissioned to the local church. that's what the offerings were mainly going towards. the govt. never had anything to do with his inerrant plan.
Teephphah covered many things very well. *kudos*
According to the Bible, homosexuality is a sin. God never rained down fire and brimstone on cities that practiced blatant shrimp eating. that was only for the Hebrew people (His people), the pagans/Gentiles could do as they pleased.
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2004-12-14 12:39:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by TheMidnight12AM (user info) at 2004-12-14 12:08:33 (#)
Ranking: 0
5. I never said cease all oil drilling. Those materials were put there for a reason--for us to use. But to drill in a wildlife refuge? That seems a little much.
or maybe it's a test. "are you really going to destroy every little piece of
that beautiful planet i gave you... over greed?"
come on now. we can go to the outer reaches of our solar system, we can manipulate
DNA, and we have created technology to think for us... with all of the progress we have made in the last 20 years alone you're telling me we still need to strip this planet bare for
oil? come on. it's all about the money.
Submitted by Teephphah (user info) at 2004-12-14 12:20:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
That's true, in a completely secular society . . . and it is arguable if that is what we really are.
But your point was that JESUS would go a certain way on a certain issue. At least that was supposed to be the point of the post. But here you switch to saying that these rights come from the fact that we live in a secular society. That's a different argument altogether and quite separate from a WWJD analysis.
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2004-12-14 12:15:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Actually, here is the other +1.
I really like this post. It brought up points I had not thought of and it was
well thought out.
Submitted by TheMidnight12AM (user info) at 2004-12-14 12:08:33 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Hmm...interesting responses here.
1. Jesus wasn't a hippie. That was Joseph and his coat of many colors.
2. Jesus wasn't a liberal--this is correct. To some he was a radical revolutionary, to others a spiritual leader. His purpose was to save, not to judge, though, so the spiritual leader is closer, but on a grander scale.
3. The "mistakes" are simply disagreeements. It depends on your paradigm and your interpretation of Christianity. I'm going for a fairly literal interpretation of the Bible on these particular areas (as opposed to Genesis 1, for example).
4. Gays do have equal rights, because the concept of sin is a misnomer in a secular society. Like it or not, they will get their way. And the Bible is clear in the New Testament on homosexuality as well, though I'd have to look up the exact verses.
5. I never said cease all oil drilling. Those materials were put there for a reason--for us to use. But to drill in a wildlife refuge? That seems a little much.
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2004-12-14 11:45:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
http://www.ubersite.com/m/14974
it's relevent
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2004-12-14 11:29:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
what Zandy said
Submitted by Zandy1123 (user info) at 2004-12-14 10:43:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by your_brown_eyed_girl (user info) at 2004-12-14 01:04:23 (#)
Ranking: -1
Kerry is Catholic you retard.
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Oh man...that made me laugh pretty hard. Silly silly...
But for real, I liked this post.
I often see people with WWJD bumper stickers paired with Bush-Cheney stickers and it sickens me.
Hmm...what would Jesus do? Strike pre-emptively against a sovereign nation? Carpet bomb large cities and kill tens of thousands of civilians? Treat gays as third-class citizens? Kill abortion-rights providers/activists? Encourage economic policy that favors the rich over the poor?
no.
Jesus would do none of those things.
Republicans USE religion as a tool to get what they want...it's as simple as that.
Submitted by jgreening (user info) at 2004-12-14 10:28:21 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Jesus was a hippie.
Submitted by Rokinroj (user info) at 2004-12-14 10:17:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Let's also not forget that Jesus had long hair and wore Birkenstocks. Very non conservative of him.
Rokinroj
Submitted by whataefag (user info) at 2004-12-14 09:20:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2004-12-14 08:03:52 (#)
Ranking: 0
Who cares?
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I kind of do. Although, eh, fuck it ... I really don't.
Submitted by Teephphah (user info) at 2004-12-14 09:03:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
So close and yet so far. I'll give you the war-mongering pre-emptive war thing. But the rest of your points are a little skewed.
It doesn't follow that God gave us the world to use for our benefit and therefore we should NOT drill for oil. There are concepts of good stewardship that come into play, but complete abstinance in this regard is not called for.
Likewise, loving the sinner, but hating the sin does not mean that gays should be entitled to legal bonds.
And while Jesus told Peter that he who lives by the sword shall die by the sword, he never explicitly told him that he could not own a sword. Jesus wasn't a proponent of sword control. Nothing in the Bible about background checks or waiting periods.
Keep trying though.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2004-12-14 08:03:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Who cares?
Submitted by Jungle_Jimanee (user info) at 2004-12-14 06:45:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Here here.
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2004-12-14 06:15:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I wrote you off as a far right-wing ideologue a while ago.
Nice to see I was partially wrong. At least you think about these things.
I still think religion should play no part in politics or government.
Submitted by Dervel (user info) at 2004-12-14 06:04:58 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
"And God does not care for your benevolence
Anymore than he cares for the lack of it in others
Nor does he care for you to sit
At windows in judgment of the world He created
While sorrows pile up around you
Ugly, useless and over-inflated"
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
-2 For being very dull.
Submitted by tech-junkie (user info) at 2004-12-14 03:27:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by your_brown_eyed_girl (user info) at 2004-12-14 01:04:23 (#)
Ranking: -1
Kerry is Catholic you retard.
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What a fucking tool.
Submitted by tech-junkie (user info) at 2004-12-14 03:26:21 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by domenad (user info) at 2004-12-14 01:42:26 (#)
Ranking: 0
Mmmm, fair enough, I suppose, but neither is Jesus a liberal, as some liberals are so fond of saying. "But he helped the poor!" Yes indeed, he helped the poor, and he counseled others to help the poor. He did not, however, leverage any government to confiscate money from others to help the poor.
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Ditto
Submitted by domenad (user info) at 2004-12-14 01:42:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Mmmm, fair enough, I suppose, but neither is Jesus a liberal, as some liberals are so fond of saying. "But he helped the poor!" Yes indeed, he helped the poor, and he counseled others to help the poor. He did not, however, leverage any government to confiscate money from others to help the poor.
Submitted by Arrrrrrrrrr (user info) at 2004-12-14 01:40:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
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Submitted by your_brown_eyed_girl (user info) at 2004-12-14 01:04:23 (#)
Ranking: -1
Kerry is Catholic you retard.
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Isn't she adorable.
Submitted by RoosterCogburn (user info) at 2004-12-14 01:18:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Catholics ARE Christians, you retard.
Now that that's out of the way, your argument is right - no widely accepted forms of Christology lend themselves to conservatism - but you made some mistakes along the way. One being that the Bible, in fact, is NOT clear on homosexuality, unless you're talking about the leviticus passages which call homosexuality an abomination...and then it goes on to list eating shrimp as an abomination of the same magnitude.
It is clear from even a cursory reading of the Gospels that Jesus would not stand for the self-righteous assholes who represent the Christian right today. One of his closest companions was Mary Magdalene (a whore) and he said something to the tune of "it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven."
Submitted by IcyBlackHand (user info) at 2004-12-14 01:10:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Because I showed I should pay more attention while writing comments
Submitted by IcyBlackHand (user info) at 2004-12-14 01:08:55 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
Wrong on something things, right on others.
Submitted by your_brown_eyed_girl (user info) at 2004-12-14 01:04:23 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
Kerry is Catholic you retard.
Submitted by wardy (user info) at 2004-12-14 01:02:13 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
shut up.
Submitted by PyroBeast (user info) at 2004-12-14 00:57:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Peace, love and acceptance.
Never forget that Jesus was a hippie, not a gun carrying gay killer.