This article was co-authored by Dan Cady is an assistant professor of history at California State University, Fresno. He publishes on the history of the American West, music, and religion.
The results from a recent poll published by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life (Tea Party and Religion - Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life) reveal what social scientists have known for a long time: White Evangelical Christians are the group least likely to support politicians or policies that reflect the actual teachings of Jesus. It is perhaps one of the strangest, most dumb-founding ironies in contemporary American culture. Evangelical Christians, who most fiercely proclaim to have a personal relationship with Christ, who most confidently declare their belief that the Bible is the inerrant word of God, who go to church on a regular basis, pray daily, listen to Christian music, and place God and His Only Begotten Son at the center of their lives, are simultaneously the very people most likely to reject his teachings and despise his radical message.
Jesus unambiguously preached mercy and forgiveness. These are supposed to be cardinal virtues of the Christian faith. And yet Evangelicals are the most supportive of the death penalty, draconian sentencing, punitive punishment over rehabilitation, and the governmental use of torture. Jesus exhorted humans to be loving, peaceful, and non-violent. And yet Evangelicals are the group of Americans most supportive of easy-access weaponry, little-to-no regulation of handgun and semi-automatic gun ownership, not to mention the violent military invasion of various countries around the world. Jesus was very clear that the pursuit of wealth was inimical to the Kingdom of God, that the rich are to be condemned, and that to be a follower of Him means to give one's money to the poor. And yet Evangelicals are the most supportive of corporate greed and capitalistic excess, and they are the most opposed to institutional help for the nation's poor -- especially poor children. They hate anything that smacks of "socialism," even though that is essentially what their Savior preached. They despise food stamp programs, subsidies for schools, hospitals, job training -- anything that might dare to help out those in need. Even though helping out those in need was exactly what Jesus urged humans to do. In short, Evangelicals are that segment of America which is the most pro-militaristic, pro-gun, and pro-corporate, while simultaneously claiming to be most ardent lovers of the Prince of Peace.
What's the deal?
I've heard some claim good works are of less importance but that's not what Jesus preached.
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I'll believe corporations are persons when Texas executes one.: LBJ's Ghost
It is amazing, I wonder how christians can after claiming to follow jesus then claim that health insurance companies should be able to refuse to allow someone to buy coverage because they had been sick before, do they really believe jesus would side with them, really? we are talking about a system that would only have a touch of socialism, jesus would very likely be for something far closer to full socialism of our medical system.
I have argued with christians that directly argued a wealthy individual is worth more then a poor individual and should receive better care..... do they even know the story about jesus and the prostitute?
It's quite sickening how Christians don't understand their own faith and only want to believe what serves their own interests.
have argued with christians that directly argued a wealthy individual is worth more then a poor individual and should receive better care..... do they even know the story about jesus and the prostitute?
That was a concept I understood by age 16. I was very surprised when a former employer tried to explain human worth according to bank account size. Perhaps some New Age Nazi will emerge to claim the wealthy deserve monarchy status?
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I'll believe corporations are persons when Texas executes one.: LBJ's Ghost
Redframes, I just noticed your avatar. I bought red frames for my last pair of glasses. I wanted some facial color. Living in a rain forest leaves me too pale.
On my way home after picking up my glasses two separate women stopped me to compliment the frames. Last week an asst. manager at a local store did too.I think red frames are great!
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I'll believe corporations are persons when Texas executes one.: LBJ's Ghost
yeah i get quite a few compliments when I wear mine, they unfortunately popped a lens day before yesterday so im dealing with purple. still awesome.
to keep slightly on topic, id like to point out the difference between Christians and religious people.
Christians, as a whole, tend to the more crazy trapezoidial views of religion.
Still technically a rectangle, but its so wango'd and bent out of shape that you dont really recognize it.
Religious people, truly religious people, dont necessarily follow any particular book or code. They have a very fluid idea of religion/spirituality and whatnot. They are a much more accommodating group.
Christians understand their faith perfectly fine, they choose to force it into a shape to fit their unnatural ideals. It's sad really.
Religious people, truly religious people, dont necessarily follow any particular book or code. They have a very fluid idea of religion/spirituality and whatnot. They are a much more accommodating group.
Christians understand their faith perfectly fine, they choose to force it into a shape to fit their unnatural ideals. It's sad really.
I agree from having watched spiritually developed people attend to life. God's laws are often as simple as WWJD. Maybe parents, maybe schools or maybe growing up in the society of nice people all around me gave me a foundation for doing the right thing.
It was when I tried to include other's definitions of what that was that it became blurred and unnatural. From meat on Fridays to Limbo to other sliding scales of church policy I watched certain damnation fall out of church favor in several instances.That was man changing man's laws but attributing them to God.
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I'll believe corporations are persons when Texas executes one.: LBJ's Ghost
yeah i get quite a few compliments when I wear mine, they unfortunately popped a lens day before yesterday so im dealing with purple. still awesome.
to keep slightly on topic, id like to point out the difference between Christians and religious people.
Christians, as a whole, tend to the more crazy trapezoidial views of religion.
Still technically a rectangle, but its so wango'd and bent out of shape that you dont really recognize it.
Religious people, truly religious people, dont necessarily follow any particular book or code. They have a very fluid idea of religion/spirituality and whatnot. They are a much more accommodating group.
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, then...........
Christians understand their faith perfectly fine, they choose to force it into a shape to fit their unnatural ideals. It's sad really. We have a winner!
Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and then.
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A nobody telling everybody about Somebody.
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