I am a Christian who is also a registered Democrat. In many evangelical churches today and I suspect many conservative Catholic circles as well, being a Democrat is seen about as positively as owning a strip club. Christians need to recognize that no one political party has the right answers on questions of morality. I think that Democrats take the more Christian approach in dealing with the less fortunate. There are numerous references in the Bible to helping to poor and healing the sick. Cutting funding for the medically needy is not the most Christ-like approach in my view. Trickle down economics advocated by the Republican Party is basically social Darwinism. Isn't it ironic that many who object to teaching Darwinism as fact in the science classroom will enthuasiastically buy into a party that makes "survival of the fittest" its economic credo ? At the same time, I think that many Christians have some legitimate complaints about the direction that the Democratic Party has gone. Supporting late term abortion and affirming homosexuality as a positive lifestyle (through allowing gay marriage or civil unions with tax benefits) incompatible with Christianity (and most other religious traditions) although I do oppose discrimination against gays and lesbians in the workplace and housing. Democrats need to be more receptive to those who are pro-life and believe in traditional marriage.
I hope that the Democratic Party will have more dialogue with evangelical Christians and conservative Catholics. Activists in the Democratic Party tend to have a very secular or liberal religious outlook so it would help for Democrats to meet with some individuals with a different perspective. Personally, I do not think that dialogue is ever a bad thing. While I am generally pro-life, I welcome attempts at open lines of communication between pro-life and pro-choice individuals. A group of women who were activists on opposing sides of the abortion issue met regularly and found that they were able to find some common areas of agreement although none changed their view on the issue. The same was true of some evangelical Christians who met with gay activists. Both recognized that while on different sides of a serious moral issue that neither were ten feet tall monsters with horns. Republicans and Democrats can debate the issues passionately, but it doesn't hurt to have some civility. To be able to effectively persuade others to your point of view, you first have to be able to listen and understand what the other person believes. The main problem with our political system today is that too many people have stopped listening and have let Rush Limbaugh (or Michael Moore) do their thinking for them.
Some interesting perspectives on religion, society and politics
Exchange of views between Democrats and Republicans on religion and politics.
http://tinyurl.com/apnua
Article by a Democratic activist who is also a Christian evangelical.
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/155/story_15582_3.html
America's leading evangelical Christian publication.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ctmag/features/issues/
A leading voice for liberal mainline Protestant Christians.
http://www.christiancentury.org
Evangelicals for Social Action - a moderate to mainstream liberal evangelical Christian group.
http://www.esa-online.org
National Catholic Report - Catholic newspaper that is often favorable to Democrats. Excellent weekly Washington column by Joe Feuerherd.
http://www.nationalcatholicreporter.org/washington/
Terry Mattingly explains why traditional Catholics are abandoning the Democratic Party and how we can win them back.
http://tmatt.gospelcom.net/column/2004/08/25/
Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention headed by Dr. Richard Land. I don't agree with all of their views, but it is a very well done site.
http://www.erlc.com
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
Some excellent points here, I love the irony you mentioned about the Republican Party practicing social Darwinism, such inconsistencies are common among all political groups.
as an Christain Republican we agree on many key issues. But trying to use the word of God as a reasion to institute goverment socal programs falls short. Nowhere in the Bible does it say people should be rich. It doesnt even say we should be well off. It is a blessing to be poor on earth and rich in spiritual gifts. The Word of God advicates individuals giving to the poor and makes no mention of government supporting the poor. To sum up my point, Jesus's teaching is directed to the individual and not to the government. If you give all your money to poor that is good and Christ-like thing, if everyone was like you then the world would be better off. If the government takes your money and gives it to the poor then there really is no charity.
I'd also recommend Mainstream Baptist (http://mainstreambaptist.blogspot.com).
Also, the Christian Alliance for Progress is trying to do exactly what you suggest - confront the hard religious right with the truth of Christ's teachings.
http://blog01.kintera.com/christianalliance/
XT
Thanks for adding the links. I think that the Mainstream Baptists and Christian Alliance for Progress are raising a voice that needs to be heard.
Post a Comment