Is God as Mean as the Republicans?

[Rhiannon12866]

Is God as Mean as the Republicans? Somehow I Just can’t see Jesus with a "Kick Their Ass, Take Their Gas" Bumper Sticker.
August 3, 2003

A BUZZFLASH READER COMMENTARY

A Letter to Republicans from a Buzzflash Reader:

I keep seeing bumper stickers that say, "United We Stand." However, saying it doesn’t make it true. I think we are about as divided as I have ever seen us. Just pick any current issue and ask a Democrat then a Republican what they think and you’ll get surprisingly different answers. But I’m trying to look at the larger picture here. I want to know what is the main difference between us, people who are Democrats (or progressives) and you, people who are Republicans (or conservatives)?

I want to know the real biggy, the one that is at the very root of how we feel about all the issues. And I’ve thought and thought about it and do you know what I come up with? It’s a gut feeling more than a descriptive word. And the only word that can accurately be attached to that feeling is "mean."

http://www.buzzflash.com/buzzscripts/buzz.dll/content

[zonmoy]

1. if you dont think that god is mean then you should

read both the old testement and the book or revelation. in the first god orders genocide of the native peoples of palistine then in the other one he tortures people forever merely for not jumping through the hoops he sets up.

[MarianJack]

2. However...

Jesus came to refute much of what is in the Old Testament!

As Thomas More says in "A Man For All Seasons", "...only God is pure love throughout.":loveya:

By the way, I don't disrespect others on this board. I'd appreciate not being flamed for my Christianity & Catholicism.;-)

[donco6]

6. Actually, Jesus said,

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished (Matt. 5:17,18 NASB)

Doesn't sound like he got rid of the law to me.

[MarianJack]

8. The Law

He was addressing those who thought that he was going to lead a revolution. His message has nothing to do with hating or killing as the robertsons & falwells of the world do. Many of his statements and teachings do refute and contradict the harshness of the Old Teatament.

[donco6]

17. So, like, did God change his mind?

What was the point of the Old Testament, then? If Jesus' purpose was to come and show people why the OT was wrong, then why do we even recognize its existence?

[nyrnyr1994]

20. Great line from movie "Last Temptation of Christ":

Man: So did God change His mind on the Law?

Jesus: No, He feels that your hearts are now ready to hold more...

[Vitruvius]

28. DIRECT LINK TO BUZZFLASH ARTICLE:

http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/03/08/03_mean.html

[Dem2dend]

10. All was accomplished

by his death and ressurection.

At that point the rules of the Old Testament were abolished, only those who don't believe that Christ was the Messiah are still "following the rules" except.... they've stopped slaughtering animals for attonment, they've abandoned the feast days....

They have modernized their religion by ignoring things that don't make sense anymore (because the Messiah has come and they are no longer necessary). Some people see the truth and refuse to accept.

(Sort of like Alger Hiss story)

[Liberator_Rev]

14. Actually, his most important contributions were POSITIVE &

LIBERAL.
We "Liberals Like Christ" invite you to see just how Liberal, kind and lovable Jesus actually was, in contrast to the leader that most "Conservative Christians" follow, i.e. Paul of Tarsus : http://www.LiberalsLikeChrist.Org/Christlike .,
and in contrast to some of the "Old Testament", which presents some pretty negative and all too human pictures of God:
http://www.LiberalsLikeChrist.Org/about/problemswithGOD.html .

[GayboyBilly]

3. Could you be...

A Republican in sheeps clothing?

[quilp]

4. Republicans like persons. Democrats like people.

On a personal level Republicans tend to be kinder to individuals they actually know than Democrats. The problem is it is also a case of "out of sight out of mind". They don't mind being rich in a poor country as long as there are "charities". They will give, but they won't share. Democrats want a "just society" where personal
"charity" is not needed. "Where there is justice there is no need for charity". In an odd way Dems want people to be more independant than Republicans. So that a "citizen's social rights" function as the representative of an individual who sees the need for assistance to another individual.

[Rhiannon12866]

22. I believe that Democrats, or liberals if you'd rather, are more

compassionate than Republicans, who tend to be more conservative.

Take these political forums as a good example. DU has The Lounge. How many posts are there where someone asks for information? Someone is looking for help in finding a source or link or help with a computer problem. DUers always come through.

Think of the number of posts where someone is in trouble and needs advice or support. Someone has a health problem. Should he/she go to the emergency room? Has anyone else experienced this? Someone may have experienced a death in the family or of a close friend. They come to DU first and report back with how they are feeling. If they don't, people start looking for them. These help and support threads tend to be the longest and often are kicked for days.

Also, think of the number of animal posts. Someone may have a problem, medical or behavioral, with a cat/dog/bird/rat. It doesn't matter; DU cares and responds with information, sympathy, compassion.

In contrast, Free Republic has no equivalent of The Lounge. The last time I looked at that forum, there were Clinton-bashing threads, still discussing Monica Lewinsky. Move On! And I ran across an anti-animal post. It shocked me, because I am so used to DU.

So you tell me who has more compassion. From what I can see, Democrats win, hands down.:shrug:

[Dem2dend]

9. Define the "hoops he sets up"

n/t

[zonmoy]

18. lets see

according to the way my families church believes. you have to believe the bible is literally true except for certain obvious exagerations. and you have to only listen to and believe biblical viewpoints which interestingly correspond exactly with the religious rights viewpoint. and of course if science and reason contradict the bible science and reason are wrong.

[LiberalLibra]

19. This is basically the same conclusion I came to because "God" is......

....either lieing about the "free will" thing or about his "God so love the world......" thing.

[donco6]

5. Let's see what the Bible says:

What's in store for the nonbeliever: "And another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, 'If any one worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; and the have no rest day and night those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name" (Rev. 14: 9-11).

Somehow, I don't think I would enjoy heaven that much knowing that there are millions of people suffering eternal burning torment, the smoke of which is visible to all. So, I'm leaning toward the "God is mean" camp.

[zonmoy]

7. precisely

I think that god has done plenty to prove that he is actually evil and not good as he and his puppets claim.

[Dem2dend]

11. God is mean

He set up a system of moral dos and don'ts when, if followed, will make each person more responsible. In the secular world these rules tend to crimp our style because they diminish the activities we believe will complete us.

We have chosen to reject His authority and He gives us free will to do so. He also promises a penalty for disobedience. Often the penalties happen naturally just as when someone attempts to break a physical law, other times there are penalties that come in the course of time.

If we obey the guidelines set up, things won't be easier, but they will begin to make sense.
Many people doubt the existance of God because it allows them the freedom to live by their own set of rules . (In my opinion)

[donco6]

16. So, for example, AIDS is the natural "penalty"

for going against "God's law" and expressing your sexuality?

What a load of crap.

[Cassandra]

30. Make up your mind

First you say: "At that point the rules of the Old Testament were abolished, only those who don't believe that Christ was the Messiah are still "following the rules" except.... they've stopped slaughtering animals for attonment, they've abandoned the feast days...."
Now you say: "He set up a system of moral dos and don'ts when, if followed, will make each person more responsible."

What happened to the rules? Were they abolished or are they still there? If God replaced one set of rules with another set of rules, doesn't that make him fallible?

[Mark David]

33. We're definitely giving the Almighty a run for His money!

As a newcomer to the DU website, I'm really excited about the prospect of contributing to fascinating, if volitile, discussions like this one.

There's so much vitality, passion, and conviction expressed--and respectfully, for the most part!--on behalf of so many viewpoints. And while I don't mean to be discourteous to the Christian adherants among us, I must convey my surprise at the discovery that--at least among those bloggers present, if not for the DU community at large--the Almighty appears to be almost as popular as Howard Dean! Who'd have thunk it? (If we carry on like this, we might even put some churches to shame!!!)

Now while I can't personally attest to the fallibility of Mr. Dean, I'm inclined to concur with Cassandra's comments above as regards the lack of foresight exhibited by the Almighty. He admits, you see, in Genesis 6:6, that after creating man, it was necessary to repent because we've turned out to be such an obstreperous and cantankerous lot. But while He might be ambivalent and a bit morose about the redeeming attributes of the human race, DU is certainly doing its part in keeping things lively! Like former Congresswoman Pat Schroeder used to say, bad publicity is better than no publicity!

You can only wonder if the big Webmaster in the sky is having a belly heave at all these goings on! As for me, heaven is kickin' back with a bunch of snacks, some light jazz, the fragrant scent of poupourri wafting accross the room, and my favorite website--DU of course!--on the boob tube, as I delve into the next delicious topic!

[Rhiannon12866]

34. Welcome to DU, Mark David!

I hope that your enthusiasm doesn't wane after you have been here a little longer! Only kidding. Yes, DU is a great place. I consider myself very fortunate to have found it and to find myself among such kindred spirits. You are right that the discussion is usually excellent here; not much gets by these folks. Occasionally there is rancor, but, for the most part, everyone is united in wanting to bring about ``regime change'' at home. I am glad that you found us. You are very welcome here and I am honored that you chose my thread for one of your very first posts!
:toast:

[MandM]

12. UNITED does that mean IN AGREEMENT?

United We Stand implies there is no room for diverse opinions.

heck, check out www.tvspy.com, a website for broadcast news professionals, if you want to see how right wing viewpoints are routinely shouting down those of progressives.

[Resistance Is Futile]

13. God meaner than Republicans

Just ask the Canaanites or the residents of Sodom and Gamorrah.

While there are an increasing number of Rethugs who believe in using genocide to remove their opponents, the party has not put these wishes into practice.

Yet.

[Liberator_Rev]

15. May I recommend my post # 14 above in reply to # 13 as well

.

[Rhiannon12866]

21. I think what the writer meant to emphasize was more the inherent

meanness she has seen on the part of Republicans than the inherent goodness of God or Jesus. I didn't mean to provoke a religious debate. I have seen this attitude also, and thought she had a good point.:shrug:

[Forkboy]

23. that meanness in republicans

was my first political thought.I was 9 or 10 and watching the news with my dad,and I asked him "Why are the republicans mean to people?".

In the follwing 25 years or so I still haven't figured out why...I just know they are.

[Rhiannon12866]

24. This was a very perceptive observation for a child.

Perhaps you were already a nascent Democrat. What was your dad's answer?

I agree with you. In my post #22, I went into the particulars.

[Forkboy]

25. if I remember right my dad said

"Because they don't like poor people" or something to that effect.I had a cool table-hockey game at the time and figured we weren't poor...I had this cool game!

Little did I know how poor we were :)

[Rhiannon12866]

26. You were not poor. Your dad led you along the right path

I admire him for his wisdom and you for your precociousness. And you did have a cool game!:-)

My dad never mentioned politics with me, except once, when he compared me unfavorably with a rising young Republican attorney he had come to know through his Republican circles. I could already see that this guy was bad news and, sure enough, he was eventually forced from his job as District Attorney, under a cloud.

My dad was a kind man, but a benighted Republican. But he was far from stupid. I like to think that if he could see Bush* & cabal in action, he would have condemned them.

You are lucky to have the dad you do and such a defining-moment of a memory. Thanks for sharing it.:-)

[Vitruvius]

27. "Men create their God in their own image" -- so

the Rethugnican God is a mean sociopathic thief & murderer.

Jesus' God is not. Which is why the Rethugs would execute Him again if He came back. And George W. Bu$h* would sign His death warrant with gusto.

Want to know what the Rethugs's ethics & souls are like? Look at their vision of God.

Vitruvius

[meow2u3]

29. Re: Men create their God in their own image

the Rethugnican God is a mean sociopathic thief & murderer.

Does this mean the Rethug "God" is actually Satan? Sure sounds like it.....

Picture of whom the Rethugs worship :evilfrown:

[DoYouEverWonder]

31. Once you realize

that you are god, you start to find you don't get in bad moods as much anymore. God is not some omnipotent being that is outside of us. God is inside and outside of everyone and the sooner people get hip to that fact, the better off we all will be.

According to gnostic christianity, Abraham was deceived by a fallen angel. In other words, Abraham blew it and picked the deceiver instead of the real god to follow. It explains a lot about society when you realize that most people are not following god, even though they think they are. You can usually tell they have been deceived, because they have forgotten that god is within them.

Since the beginning of time, there have been evil people who are more than willing to take advantage of such people. They attain great wealth and power by controlling their followers who willingly shirk personal responsibility, because it is 'easier' to let someone else tell them what to do and when to do it.

[Rhiannon12866]

32. Like David Koresh and Waco, you mean? Or Jim Jones?

Interesting and profound thoughts; thanks for sharing them.:-)

I believe that when someone says that God is speaking personally to them, it's time to run the other way. The two I already mentioned are prime examples, but Bush*, who claims that God told him to attack Iraq, is the most current. Under ordinary circumstances, if anybody else made this claim, they would be closely monitored and put on anti-psychotic medication!:crazy: