What is it about Republican ideas that is consistent with their interpretation of the bible?\n\nI ask this because of the pathetic, gutless silence of any christians who are Democrat.
208875
First, it is best to understand the belief systems of Fundamentalist Christians. They believe that everything is black or white. There should always be a definitive answer for situations, in order that they know where they stand with God and with others. \n\nFundamentalist Christians also believe in righteous living. If you do everything right, you will be rewarded. If you live a bad life, you will be punished. In essence it is the results that matter. Fundamentalist Christians also are conservative in their views and way of life. they operate under the belief, "if its' not broke don't fix it."\n\nThese beliefs line up well with the current belief system of the Republican party. The Republican party believes what is good for business, is good for the country. If someone is down and out, it is their own fault. If you work hard enough, you will live out the American Dream.\n\nSad to say this is not true. I read a report last night that says America now is dead last of countries where someone from the bottom rung of the ladder can move up to the top. This is a striking difference from the sixties where America was at the top rung of the ladder.\n\nWith this in mind, I caution that not all fundamentalists are this way as well as Republicans. It does take courage however, to admit that there is more than one answer to difficult situations. It takes a great deal of compassion to reach out to those who are oppressed and downtrodden. It requires determination, resolve, and fortitude to observe the need for and to make those changes necessary where situations dictate the need for this to occur in the life of individuals, communities and our country.
343191
Wow-very very true! I can't believe you picked up on that.I thought I was the only one. \n\nyou are very perceptive. Don't Libs understand that it's Christianity that makes them act that way?\n\neverybody listen to this guy-he knows what he's talking about.
618509
No, they should not vote for people who are adulterers, there is a difference in "are" and "were".  That said, what else have we running.  We can't not vote.  The democrats are even worse.  You have to remember too that a lot of people do wrong before they do right.  David was an adulterer and a murderer, but he repented and I'll bet He is with God, not the devil.  Paul persecuted Christians to the death, but look what a  great evangelist He turned out to be.  He was beheaded because he couldn't stop preaching  the Risen Christ!  Peter denied Jesus three times and then was the leader of them all after Jesus left.  Peter even chose to be crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to die upright like the Lod.  That shows me that we shouldn't judge.  God is never finished with us until He says it's over. We don't know if they have it straightened out with Him or not. I'd still rather vote for one  of them than vote for some Democrat  who is going to promote homosexuality and abortion!
331660
"...can it be backed up with scripture?"\n\nCertainly not; it's not Scriptural.  It's a pseudo-religious phrasing of an old conservative attitude.
467901
Evangelical fundamentalist are being used by the Republican Party. The Republicans know what this group of people believes and that they will all follow the leader. So even though the Republicans do all of the things that the EF are against, they hide that and try to scare the EF into thinking that a vote for a Democrat will be a vote for sin in a hand basket straight to hell.  \n\nI have never understood why anyone in the working class would ever vote for a Republican! But some are very gullible and just don’t understand politics. They are being used and none are so blind as those who refuse to see.
565504
that might have been contradicting to the ideas of some other author.  This way you can see how the Bible is tried to be manipulated by some shrewd persons. In that case where remains the authenticity of the Bible, where any body can modify any part of the Bible?
624549
It's sad you cannot post a question without being attacked by Christians that claim  to adhere to the words of the Bible, particularly "Judge ye that not be Judged" and "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." These so-called Christians should be ashamed for not allowing you to express your different Point of view in an open forum.  I think an even better point to make for these individuals who are willing to attack you in such a juvenile way is to quote my Kindergarten teacher “If you don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything at all." May whichever god you choose, even if it’s none, bless you all.
337128
Thanks for asking. I never get to talk about this.\n\nI am an active member of the United Church of Christ. I am Christian but I have little in common with the "Christians" that seem to be all over yahoo answers. The Christian "right" that spends so much of their time telling everyone how well they know the mind of God. (Another rant for another time, sorry)\nI believe that each person has their own relationship with God and therefore there own interpretation of his word. Sometimes reading the Bible is like reading a letter from God to me. Sometimes it's like reading a history book. I am to make my own choices about God's will for my life and do what I understand to be the right thing. There is no one to interpret for me. There is no one that will tell me what the rules are. Some churches are very clear on what to do and what not to do. What to believe and what not to believe. We don't have that. It's up to the individual to seek their own path. I sit in Worship with all kinds of people each week. Our Pastor is a woman, Our women’s fellowship leader is a very conservative person who teaches History at the local high school and voted for Bush. Our Sunday school teacher is a devoted Democrat and pro-choice advocate. I am somewhere in the middle. Each day must change. Each encounter with God brings new understanding and new questions. Most of us don't believe in hell and some of us believe in re-incarnation. The only "rule" is to be kind and helpful to your neighbor. Charity in all things. We are gay, straight, liberal, conservative, married and living together. Making room for everyone and working together can be a real challenge. Listening to God for myself and going the way he leads ME is harder than most people think.
543498
Amazing. I'm not the only one who recognizes this.\n\nThe world doesn't revolve around the Democrats and the Republicans: correct, however, there are several sects in the Democratic and Republican parties. They include, but are not limited to Moderate, Conservative, and Liberal Republicans; Moderate, Conservative and Liberal Democrats; as well as Liberal and Conservative Centrists, Independents, Anarchist, Libertarians, Reform and Green. The whole Liberal or Conservative thing is getting old.
262655
You're quite right - and you have to consider how many of these people ahd political agendas of their own to fulfill. If there is any more doubt - how about the fact that the Bible has been editted to include and exclude certain items?
19901
In short, many Christians are Repulicans because Republicans have embraced Christians as a voting power.\n\nThe reasons that most Christians are Republicans are not because of taxes, but because of abortion. In the 60s, there was no "Religious Right." Christian votes were split fairly quickly between parties, and the real divisions were geographic.\n\nIn the 70s, many Christians felt abandoned by the Democratic Party. The "Religious Right" as a voting power did not develop until the early 80s with the founding of the Moral Majority by Jerry Falwell. And it was really only until the 2000 election that they were recognized as a powerhouse and courted by the Republican party.\n\nBasically the Christians started voting Republican not because they felt that the Republicans were inherently better than Democrats, but because Democrats stopped paying attention to them and their interests.\n\nIf and when the Democratic Party actually starts recognizing and courting the Christian vote, which I believe they will no later than 2012, you'll begin to see a real change in the voting patterns of Christians.
173221
How long do you think it will be before a person or group successfully reassembles the bible to include recently discovered religious texts that they feel better suit modern times?\n\nNever.  For all practical purposes, the Bible as now been “set in stone.”\n\nWhat do you think about this?\n\nI believe that those who tend to be the loudest on this topic have either done the least amount of study or have very extensive time invested in their current belief.  Most claim as articles of fact pieces of information which are not true.  Less than one in one billion (if any) could give me that actual names of the men who met to determine which books and works were included in either Testament.  Yet they propose that these men were inspired by G-d to make these choices for all time.  They are seem to ignore that most works which were not included were systematically searched for and burned as heretical.  The mere fact that any remain after 2000 years is a miracle.\n\nWhat will the cultural/spiritual ramifications of this be?\n\nA continuation of our current position.  As beautiful as the KJV is to read, it is flawed.  This fact has been shown over and over again by scholars who do know the languages involved.  Yet look at the number of supporters that it has.  The sad part of this is that many who claim to understand the meaning of the KJV of the Bible (which is a very serious and metaphysical work) do not understand and cannot follow a simple Shakespearean play (which is light entertainment) that was written at about the same time.  What does this yell you about the ignorance of humans?  And ignorance is bliss.\n\nIf God is really solely responsible for the bible's contents why does he have hundreds of millions of Christians using different versions?  And how would a new version be any worse?\n\nThose humans who claim to be privileged to the plans or purposes of Divinity are deluded.  No human has that capability.  Only Divinity is perfect.  Humanity is arrogant, not understanding that the message is important, not the delivery of the message.  Those that must quote scripture for every answer (especially those claiming that it is the Word of G-d) are probably idolaters.  They have worshipped the written word instead of Divinity.  Each believing that they are right and all others wrong.  They are the cause of the fragmentation of the Church and people like them are usually too stubborn to see their own sins.\n\nA new version of the Bible is not needed.  These recently discovered and translated works should be made available to the widest reading audience for study and debate.  At least by those who are capable of understanding that Humanity did not have the message right then and still is lacking in understanding.  This is human nature.  Divinity is the only proper judge; and Divine Judgment, unlike human opinion and understanding, IS perfect.
231883
My dear sweet Gino...\n  It is I again. It did take me a while to answer this question but I had to do an extreme research on this question. Of the three my answer would have to be Donald Shaw and I would explain. It is obvious that the other two are slaves to the bible and are in capable of thinking logically for themselves. Truebeliever, I must admit, has been revolving himself around his one question that has been intelligently put yet instill when you responded, he did avoid answering you and insulted you instead.\n I picked Donald Shaw because his answers had the belief of Christians and the belief of something else I have not yet to understand. He contradicts himself a lot and promotes the hate of God instead of the love. Most of his answers have nothing to do with the question. I come to wonder...who side is he on?
476132
Not everyone holds this view.  Those that do are ignorant and highly misinformed.  Sadly, it has been my experience that some Christians hold this view.  Historically speaking, though, more violence and bloodshed has been committed in the name of Christianity than any other religion.\n\nOh, and please don't call *him* "Mr. Texas."  I'm a Texan and I find that highly insulting.  I'm part of a minority in Texas that didn't vote for the bastard.  ***Edit: Not a problem.  I understand completely why wrote that :)***
279047
If KKKarl Rove and Dick Cheney are God, and that's your view of your God. I have another vision of what God is and it is a Christian view. Warmongering and profiteering isn't in any scriptures in my Bible either.
559331
It dosen't matter so much WHAT they're thinking about it, as much as it matters that they ARE thinking about it.  Organized religion has always been & still is very corrupt.  They make up their own doctrines, misinterpret the Bible, or re-write it altoghether.  Because of a number of factors, I believe we need to interpret the Bible subjectively & remember the context (or discount it altogether).  It is a fact that The Bible reflects the political, societal & cultural ideals of that time. Not only that, but it was put together by Church officials who used their own beliefs & desires for total control to decide what got in & what got thrown out.  At least these issues have been brought to the forefront.  Question everything!!!
325096
great post, ranger.\n\nanother thing, too.  christians have difficulty admitting they are a cult.  they are a cult, that's true.\n\nand you are right.  this country was not based on christianity, or the Framers would have declared that in all of those instruments you described.  at least one of them!  \n\nit's amazing where chrisitians "claim" to see christianity, even where it doesn't exist!!\n\nthe idiot, above, who said "you have a self-esteem issue yourself" simply because you posed this question -- he just proved part of your point for you.  these people never cease to amaze me.  i can hardly wait to see how many call you "angry" just for posting these facts.  they'll try to make you look bad, so they can look better, in their own eyes.\n\nsome idiots will come back and try to say "this country is over 2/3 christian" blah blah blah...\n\nwell, guess what?  this country is mostly WHITE.  so, is the US a "White Country"??  get real, you morons!!!\n\nanother thing -- before you clueless cows come on here yakking about "IGWT" on our currency (and "under god" in the pledge of allegiance), let's rememebr it never showed up on our currency until the McCarthy-paranoia of the 1950's.  The comment in the pledge was also added in the 1950's.  Also, IGWT was only placed on a very few US coins right after the Civil War, almost 100 years after the country's founding.  So, that's also an invalid argument.  These things came later!\n\nI already predict that people will lie and claim that most of the Framers were xians.  And then, they'll use "quotes" from madison and jefferson and many others -- quotes that these Framers NEVER QUOTED and that you will not find anywhere in the Smithsonian.  These are all quotes that have been re-edited by Falwell and Co. to make things "look christian".  Been there, done that.  Keep trying, folks.  Like Ranger, I feel sorry for you for needing to go to such lengths to make your religion look better.  It's too bad that you must lie like that!