Reading the bible, I automatically focus on passages that are meaningful to me (like most people, i assume). Several have jumped out that validate my career choice as a social worker. A few prophets have spoken in the name of god saying that we should work for what is right and just in the world, therefore, I’m doing what god wants me to do. I further belive that the democratic party agenda is that which is most directly in line with the teachings of christ. Make sense?
Anyway, I want to hear from people what passages from the bible or other religious writings make them believe that they should be democrat, republican, libertarian, Independent, communist, whatever.
I think DDG is right. As a Christian, my conscience and my understanding of scripture does not allow me to easily identify strictly with either the Democrat, Republican, or any other political platform that I’ve seen.
For example, on some issues – abortion most notably, but also the size of government, “gay” rights, welfare reform and some fiscal policies, I fall squarely in the Republican camp. Until recently, I’ve always considered myself Republican (don’t all good little evangelicals?)
But on other issues - the environment, gun control, taxes, education – I identify much more with the Democrats.
So what do I do? I actually have to think about who I vote for! I can’t just vote the party line. I look at each candidate and decide what are the most important issues for office that the person is running for. I usually have to compromise: this guy is pro-life; but he won’t gut drill oil in a wildlife preserve. That guy may be in favor of affirmative action but at least he backs gun control.
Not all Christians are going to have the same position on these issues that I do, but I think it’s important not to identify ourselves as simply Dem or G.O.P. We have a different mandate.
A lot of people see the liberal (and lately Democrat has come to imply liberal) stance on individual rights as impeding their right to practice their religious beliefs – which, of course, it does not, merely their assumed right to impose behaviors they consider proper on everyone else. But due to this misinterpretation, a lot of Christians, particularly those belonging to religiously conservative denominations, tend to affiliate with the Republican Party.
Like you, greck, I find most of the Democratic stance on issues more in keeping with the teachings of Christ than most of the Republican stance – and in particular the party’s nearly-seventy-year-old stance in favor of compassion on the underprivileged. But I’d draw your attention to two extremely valid points that Skammer made:
[quote]
So what do I do? I actually have to think about who I vote for! I can’t just vote the party line. I look at each candidate and decide what are the most important issues for office that the person is running for. I usually have to compromise…
{major snippage}
We have a different mandate.[/quuote]
Though I tend to differ from Skammer on what views to take on several issues, including those he mentioned, what he said in that quote is directly on target.
