How do republicans call themselves christians when they would sell their mothers for a buck?

[hrmjustin]

You hear people like Hannity and other people of his ilk saying I have to take my faith to my politics. They use this on abortion, gay rights, and euthanasia. But when it comes to the poor they say Jesus meant that we have to privately give to the poor. Well I am sorry but if you are going to take your faith to your politics than you have to take the whole faith with you to all of your politics. We can all disagree with each other about gays, abortion, and end of life issues when it comes to Christianity's opinion on these issues, but Jesus's opinion on the rich and the poor are very CLEAR.

[rurallib]

1. any resemblance between American Christianity and Jesus Christ

is purely coincidental and accidental.

[hrmjustin]

3. unfortunatly i have to agree with you.

I can see it in my own limitations.

[rustydog]

2. Because they know they don't have to live what they preach...They all know

they are telling ignorant, bigoted, hateful, hurtful people what they want to hear and validate their prejudices...today's Republican, Christian, family-values conservative is a walking contradiction.
the fact they get elected and reelected proves their electorate is dense as a concrete walkway.

[Scootaloo]

4. Because for most people, "Christian" is a tribal identifier and not a practice

Same for most religions, honestly.

For slightly fewer people, religion is also an excuse. I've noticed that religious morality tends to provide exceptions to ethical behavior. So for people who want to hate others, but can't find an ethical way to do this, religion gives them that excuse. The Phelpsians who know it's unethical to scream hatred at someone's funeral, but who believe that Paul's letters grant them exception. The Jihadist who knows it's wrong to murder, but accepts it as truth when his favorite Imam says "except when...". The Jewish family who would never touch someone else's candybar, but believe it when their scripture tells them someone else's land is really theirs to take. The Hindu who knows that democracy and equality are the foundation of his nation's new prosperity, but who finds authorization to keep the dalit underfoot because of religious caste systems.

[hrmjustin]

7. It is so sad but very true. n/t

[hrmjustin]

5. And what about guns How do christians love guns? Never understood that.n/t

[daaron]

10. Good question. Love to hear someone answer that one. nt

[Scootaloo]

11. Because it's too damn much work to hammer the things into a plowshare?

[atreides1]

6. It's called...

...Buffet Christianity!

[no_hypocrisy]

8. Compartmentalism and hypocrisy.

Nothing more elaborate than that.

[dmallind]

9. And on the issue of aid to the poor they are scripturally correct

Jesus said nothing at all about state support of the poor, and every example of help to the poor he recommended was a private action.

Politically they are wrong of course. Giving the poor a safety net, training and assistance is the right thing to do from any universalized ethical system's point of view, as well as beneficial to long term economic wellbeing for society as a whole. It's just not scriptural that government should do this.

[hrmjustin]

13. yes that ios correct but as i said if you take your...

...faith with you to your politics you take your whole faith. But jesus never said anything on the state.

[daaron]

14. Secular gov't was an alien concept circa 0 CE.

The Romans were the dominant governmental system vying with Temple Judaism and the Davidic monarchy and tribal structure. They were promoting Sol Invictus - in practice, the apotheosis of the monarch, as with Pharaohs and some Caesars, Emperors, Kings, etc., which obviously would clash strongly with the messianic basis of Judean theocracy, centered in Jerusalem - already a thinly-but-7-times-veiled form of apotheosis, itself, probably derived in antiquity from the Egyptian model (and codified in the stories of Joseph, Moses, and Joshua).

Theocracy vs. theocracy, and when Mithras met Yehoshua... smooshed together in Africa... a most excellent prototype was born. Superman.

[raouldukelives]

16. I think they are scripturally wrong.

Jesus may not have said anything about state support for the poor but he did say to support the state. Render unto Caesar. If the state asks you for money and it has its face on it give it back to them. Don't quibble. Don't cry. You really don't want it anyway. Money is the root of all evil after all.
Every example was indeed a private action and if the people in charge of the state lived by Christianity they would extoll its teachings and place the last first and bless our enemies. In business. politics or wherever they may find themselves. Instead they are Christians on Sunday and worshipers of the golden calf M-F.

[Liberal Veteran]

12. Prosperity Gospel.

The belief that God blesses those who please Him by showering wealth on them. Those who are not blessed have obviously displeased God.

[hrmjustin]

15. The prosperity Gospel is a perversion of christianity.

people who believe this need the head examined.

[Bake]

17. They're like the Ferengi ... PROFIT is the Prime Directive!

Screw all that other stuff ...

Bake

[Initech]

18. That's because a good 90% of "Christians" are really just in name only.

If they actually questioned their beliefs like Carrie Underwood did last week (just an example) instead of taking what their preachers say literally this world would probably be a far better place.

[Xolodno]

19. I had a so-called....

...Bible based and doctrine sound "Christian" (by his own admission) call me a fool recently. I didn't say anything, but Matthew 5:22 comes to mind.