iamisaac
New member
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2005
- Messages
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- Location
- Philadelphia
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Slightly Liberal
Please dont read this unless you intend on finishing it, thanks:
I am writing this in an effort to find answers to some major questions about Christianity, morality and politics. I want to say that though some of what I say may sound sarcastic or tongue-in-cheek, I am being as sincere as I can be. I want to learn more about morals and Christian beliefs because, the more I look around, the more I think that I am misguided. I go to Church and I love my church family very much. However, it seems like a different world than the one in which I live. By that, I mean what is preached as moral values inside the church is demeaned by so many “moral” people outside its walls.
To understand better where I’m coming from, I must explain my current beliefs. I am under the impression as a Christian, that Jesus Christ was the embodiment of God and is the only perfect “human being” that ever graced this planet. I also was taught in church that, following this logic, we should do everything in our power to strive to be like Jesus. One example of this ideology that comes to mind is the saying “What Would Jesus Do?”
This is where I become confused. I don’t understand why conservatives act as the moral party, which by default makes liberals the immoral party. I see this in a number of issues. Firstly, I question the way in which conservatives are so quick to cut funding for welfare, healthcare and other similar government programs. I understand the notion that people want lower taxes and that giving “hand-outs” is an unpopular way to spend tax dollars. But why isn’t this a moral value. If I remember my church lessons correctly, Jesus helped the downtrodden and those who needed help the most but when the democrats strive to do the same thing, it’s discussed negatively. (I know many conservatives will reply to that statement with one that begins “Yes, but...”) Why is it any different?
I understand the issue of abortion is a profoundly difficult and important moral decision. I honestly am not at a point in my life where I know exactly where I stand on that issue. However, I don’t understand how someone can be “pro-life” and “pro-capital punishment?” I would explain this question but I wish not to insult the intelligence of this post's readers.
Another issue quite prevalent now is of course the war in Iraq. I can’t quite understand why this is not considered a moral issue. Why were none of the Christian rights groups protesting this war? What is morally correct about this war, which has no justification? Is this how Jesus would have handled the situation? If not, then what gives us the right as Christians to determine that our invasion of Iraq was justified? Is the issue of gay marriage a more important battle for Christians to be fighting than our “moral” president starting a war? Would Jesus support a president who is responsible for the deaths of over 25000 mothers, fathers, sons and daughters?
I would like to close by again stating that I am being very sincere in all the questions posed. I hope that someone could provide me with the answers I desire, because as I said, I am confused and though I have some strong convictions, I need clarification as to these Christian values and their place in society. I am still most baffled by the question, “What Would Jesus Do?” Would Jesus support this war? Would Jesus support war at all? Would Jesus cut aid to people living in poverty and to people without health care? With the money we spent on the war in Iraq, we could have funded world hunger relief efforts for seven years and saved millions of lives. Instead, we have destroyed countless thousands. Is this moral because the man who made the decision is a “devout Christian?”
Thank You for taking the time to read this lengthy post,
Isaac
I am writing this in an effort to find answers to some major questions about Christianity, morality and politics. I want to say that though some of what I say may sound sarcastic or tongue-in-cheek, I am being as sincere as I can be. I want to learn more about morals and Christian beliefs because, the more I look around, the more I think that I am misguided. I go to Church and I love my church family very much. However, it seems like a different world than the one in which I live. By that, I mean what is preached as moral values inside the church is demeaned by so many “moral” people outside its walls.
To understand better where I’m coming from, I must explain my current beliefs. I am under the impression as a Christian, that Jesus Christ was the embodiment of God and is the only perfect “human being” that ever graced this planet. I also was taught in church that, following this logic, we should do everything in our power to strive to be like Jesus. One example of this ideology that comes to mind is the saying “What Would Jesus Do?”
This is where I become confused. I don’t understand why conservatives act as the moral party, which by default makes liberals the immoral party. I see this in a number of issues. Firstly, I question the way in which conservatives are so quick to cut funding for welfare, healthcare and other similar government programs. I understand the notion that people want lower taxes and that giving “hand-outs” is an unpopular way to spend tax dollars. But why isn’t this a moral value. If I remember my church lessons correctly, Jesus helped the downtrodden and those who needed help the most but when the democrats strive to do the same thing, it’s discussed negatively. (I know many conservatives will reply to that statement with one that begins “Yes, but...”) Why is it any different?
I understand the issue of abortion is a profoundly difficult and important moral decision. I honestly am not at a point in my life where I know exactly where I stand on that issue. However, I don’t understand how someone can be “pro-life” and “pro-capital punishment?” I would explain this question but I wish not to insult the intelligence of this post's readers.
Another issue quite prevalent now is of course the war in Iraq. I can’t quite understand why this is not considered a moral issue. Why were none of the Christian rights groups protesting this war? What is morally correct about this war, which has no justification? Is this how Jesus would have handled the situation? If not, then what gives us the right as Christians to determine that our invasion of Iraq was justified? Is the issue of gay marriage a more important battle for Christians to be fighting than our “moral” president starting a war? Would Jesus support a president who is responsible for the deaths of over 25000 mothers, fathers, sons and daughters?
I would like to close by again stating that I am being very sincere in all the questions posed. I hope that someone could provide me with the answers I desire, because as I said, I am confused and though I have some strong convictions, I need clarification as to these Christian values and their place in society. I am still most baffled by the question, “What Would Jesus Do?” Would Jesus support this war? Would Jesus support war at all? Would Jesus cut aid to people living in poverty and to people without health care? With the money we spent on the war in Iraq, we could have funded world hunger relief efforts for seven years and saved millions of lives. Instead, we have destroyed countless thousands. Is this moral because the man who made the decision is a “devout Christian?”
Thank You for taking the time to read this lengthy post,
Isaac