Religion Experts Ask How Jesus Would Vote

[MARALE]

I thought this was interesting. I have a very religious cousin who listens to Falwell. I need to send her this. I am sure if Jesus was political, he would be very liberal and would care more about the poor than the "homos" roaming the earth.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=716&e=7&u=/ap/20040818/ap_on_re_us/jesus_vote

[Webster Green]

1. I think JC would write in a vote for Kucinich (n/t)

[Rose Siding]

2. Oh, no. Jesus was a Green!

*who would never have threatened a Dem win :)

[stanwyck]

49. There are hundreds

of references throughout The Bible about protecting the earth. We just don't hear much about those parts of the gospel from our fundie friends. They're too busy checking out other people's sex lives.

[THUNDER HANDS]

3. I think ol' JC would probably not vote

I think he'd be too busy healing lepers and people with bad sunburns, like me.

Besides the fact that he wasn't American, either, and couldn't vote.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

44. Nice squirrel.

Who would he vote for?

The guy who was most nuts?

[tandot]

4. "If ever there were a bleeding-heart liberal, it was Jesus Christ,"

<snip>
The Rev. Timothy Tutt, pastor of United Christian Church in Austin, declined to say whom he will support in November, but balked at the perception that Bush is the only choice for people of faith.

"As I read the Scriptures and as I understand faith, God's side is the group that's feeding the poor, caring about children, making sure that people have enough food to eat — not killing others," said Tutt, who opposes the war in Iraq.
<snip>


I couldn't agree more with that. People who claim to be Christian and still support Bush are as hypocritical as he is.

[MARALE]

9. I agree

I am not sure if he was a prophet of the messiah, but he cared about the people, not the church. And I don't think he would support this war or the pResident.

[Mokito]

46. "The Church" didn't even exist when JC formulated his philosophy.

Christianity as a dogmatic institutional religion only began to take form in 325 A.D. with the first council of Nicea, almost 300 years after Jesus Christ died.

[tlcandie]

5. He would probably have moved to New Zealand or somewhere

and given up on the self-righteous or moved in to live with some of the indigenous people.

[w4rma]

32. I don't think Jesus would have given up. (nt)

[tlcandie]

39. Hehe ... in THE book it says if they will not receive you then to

dust off your sandals and move on. :shrug: I think you misunderstand what I'm saying. Given up on the self-righteous, but not on the rest and I still bet he would live somewhere like New Zealand or with indigenous people!

:hug:

[0rganism]

53. He lived in Roman-occupied Palestine, I doubt the US would freak him out

even in our current imperial condition.

He would pay his taxes, heal the sick, feed and clothe the poor, and refrain from judging others.

[chuck555]

6. I could be wrong,

but I think Jesus was apolitical. Let Ceaser have his trip,mine is much more important. The dali ama says so to. Religion or believe or what ever is too important to be debased in the political world.

[tlcandie]

11. I agree...

Those who truly are trying to help the people aren't interested in the politics or power and greed.

It's a grassroots, people thing or nothing IMO and it starts with the less fortunate and those who are shamed by the self-righteous and rich.

[Lizzie Borden]

52. Christ was very political...

He was a rebel in the best sense of the word. Remember Jesus in the temple with the money-changers? That was a political act. He died for political reasons. After all it was the Roman Government who crucified him for speaking up. He was a rabble rouser. They saw him as a threat. IMO if he were here today, he'd be in prison.

[0rganism]

55. Nah, his "crimes" were religious heresies

The money changers were in the temple to help people from outlying areas tithe correctly. The dove-sellers were selling sacrifices per the laws of Moses. By kicking them out, he was interfering in the practice of the Israelite religion in occupied Jerusalem.

Furthermore, he attracted a cult following who regarded him over and above tradition. He went around declaring himself God incarnate and offering himself as a sacrament. Did this matter to the Romans? It's hard to imagine that the Romans would give a crap about the religious tenets of the locals, but it was pissing off the priests and that would make governing a bit trickier for the regional governor.

The Gospels show the political authority, Pilate, trying to figure out what the hell is wrong with these people he has to govern.

"For he (Pilate) was aware that the chief priests had delivered Him up because of envy." Mark 15:10

"And Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, 'I find no guilt in this man.'" Luke 23:4

Basically, Pilate executes Jesus to appease the Jewish religious leaders, not because Jesus is a dangerous political revolutionary.

Of course one could argue that the priesthood constituted the political force in a theocracy, but that theocracy was only indirectly empowered at the time.

[DivinBreuvage]

61. I'm not sure Pilate would have found the priests particularly tricky

He provoked Jewish outrage once by raiding the Temple treasury to build an aqueduct, and people came out to protest. Pilate disguised some of his troops as civilians and sent them to mingle with the crowd, and when the signal was given the soldiers beat the crap out of the protestors. Later on the Samaritans launched a religious revolt and Pilate crushed it so ruthlessly that even the Roman government felt he had gone too far and recalled him.

Biblical whitewashing aside, I don't think Pilate crucified Jesus because the priests demanded it. I agree with you that the priests probably felt he threatened their position and wanted him dead, but in that case couldn't they have had him stoned to death? I think Pilate crucified Jesus because Pilate wanted him dead, either because he was becoming too much of a popular idol or saying things he shouldn't have been saying, or in some other way making Pilate think he was a direct threat to Roman power.

Some people theorize that the claim of descent from King David was not just for the sake of Messianic fulfillment but a serious political claim: that Jesus was in fact saying, I am the rightful King of Israel. I'm not sure I go that far in my own belief, but I do think he was making more trouble in those days than the Gospels are willing to admit.

[Blue_Roses]

7. Bush uses this issue to play to his base

and also as a wedge issue--I've always heard look at a man's fruit that he bears to see if he is "fruitfull" or not. By the actions of Bush's stupid policies, he ain't "fruitfull." That should speak volumes there, since he only SAYS what people want to hear

[Ganja Ninja]

8. JC would most likely have been charged with a felony ...

at some point for consorting with prostitutes or for just speaking his mind. He would then have his name purged from the voter rolls and would be denied his right to vote.

[colonel odis]

10. good point. today's pharisees would try to do away with jesus

same way they did 2,000 years ago.

myself, i can't understand how people of faith could support bush. the man is without morals and is figurehead for a gang of thieves whose greed and selfishness is sending this country down the toilet at lightning speed.

[FlaGranny]

14. They are extremely gullible -

all they need to hear are "I'm a born again Christian." They consider the words themselves proof of the fact and will ignore actions showing otherwise. Sometimes I think that they believe that God will not allow a person to utter those words unless they are sincere.

Carla Fay Tucker said she was "born again," and Bush laughed at her. Maybe this proves my point that he's not "born again," because if he was, that alone would have made him believe Carla when she said those words, and he would have "forgiven" her.

[fishwax]

30. They certainly would

A Woody Guthrie song comes to mind, particularly the first and last verses ...

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ was a man who traveled through the land,
A hard working man and brave.
He said to the rich "Give your goods to the poor."
But they laid Jesus Christ in His grave.

Jesus was a man, a carpenter by hand,
His followers true and brave,
One dirty little coward called Judas Iscariot
Has laid Jesus Christ in His grave.

He went to the preacher, He went to the sheriff,
He told them all the same,
"Sell all of your jewelry and give it to the poor,"
But they laid Jesus Christ in his grave.

When Jesus come to town, all the working folks around
Believed what He did say,
The bankers and the preachers they nailed Him on a cross.
Then they laid Jesus Christ in His grave.

The poor workin' people, they followed Him around,
They sung and they shouted gay,
The cops and the soldiers, they nailed Him in the air,
And they laid Jesus Christ in His grave.

Well, the people held their breath when they heard about His death,
And everybody wondered why,
It was the landlord and the soldiers that he hired,
To nail Jesus Christ in the sky.

This song was written in New York City,
Of rich man, preacher and slave,
But if Jesus was to preach like He preached in Galilee,
They would lay Jesus Christ in His grave.

[fob]

40. So Jesus was a communist! No wonder the neo-fascists kill in his name

that prevents his use as a true man of the people.

[Supormom]

21. JC would be ushered directly to a Free Speech Zone

And would be considered "a person of interest" by Ashcroft.

[LeftyChristian]

12. The last few paragraphs

I feel the last few paragraphs are dead on. Although it is a great comfort to know that Jesus was champion of the poor and needy (ie. Democratic Party), he was apolitical. John 3:16 describes His most important role on earth, while all of His teachings and actions were a great example of how He thought we should treat each other.

I think Jesus would have been a thorn in the side of both major parties.

[Liberal Veteran]

13. This should tell you how Jesus would vote...

On defense :Jesus said "Love your enemies." and "Blessed are the peacemakers." If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5:44; 5:9; 5:39.)

On social programs: "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven." (Matthew 19:21.)

On rugged individualism and the pursuit of self-interest : "Love your neighbor as yourself." "So in everything, do to others as you would have them do to you."(Matthew 22:39; 7:12.)

On financial success: "Truly, I say unto you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven." "You cannot serve both God and Money." (Matthew 19:23; 6:24.)

On the philosophy that "greed is good" : "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." (Luke 12.15.)

On paying taxes : "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." (Matthew 22:22.)

On crime and punishment : "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (John 8:7; Matthew 7:1,2.)

On money-hungry televangelists : "In the temple courts found men selling cattle, sheep and doves and other sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. (John 2:14,15.)

On the free lunch : "Taking the five loaves and two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves ... The number of those who ate was about five thousand men " (Matthew 14.19,21.)

On the perks and privileges of power : "After that, into a basin, and began to wash the disciples, feet the towel that was wrapped around him.,, (John 13:5. poured water . drying them with

On moral absolutes : "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?" "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." (Matthew 12:11; Mark 2:27.)

On family : "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters - yes, even his own life - he cannot be my disciple." Also : "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?' Pointing to his disciples, he said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers." (Luke 14:26; Matthew 12:48,49.)

On race relations : In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus praised the morality of a hated foreigner over his own countrymen. (Luke 10:30-37.)

On the superiority of one's native country : "These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions : 'Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.'" (Matthew 10:5,6.)

On letting others pull themselves up by their own bootstraps :When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will repaid at th resurrection of the righteous." (Luke 14:13,14.)

[kwolf68]

16. good list

.

[rkc3]

18. Obviously bush has another bible to quote from. Good list.

[concord]

20. Thank you

I enjoyed reading that.

[Sweet Freedom]

37. Matthew 6:24

"Matthew 6:24" should be a protest sign. How perfect that message is for *: "You cannot serve both God and Money"

[jdj]

47. Interesting, now they are spinning Jesus. (last few paragraphs)

"Jesus was not one to take sides on political issues," said Derek Davis, director of the J.M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies at Baylor University in Waco.

While there were obviously no Democrats or Republicans during the time of Jesus, different groups vied for attention, including the fundamentalist Pharisees, the aristocratic Sadducees, the spiritually devout Essenes and the revolutionist Zealots.

"Interestingly, Jesus never sided with any of these groups but remained above such earthly disputes," Davis said. "This does not mean we should do the same. He was God. We are mere humans."

what a crock of bull! "remained above earthly disputes" my ass: (Had he done this he never would have been crucified in the first place.)

"And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all
them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the
tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold
doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be
called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of
thieves."
Matthew 21:12-13, KJV

"And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to
Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and
sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when
he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out
of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out
the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto
them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my
Father's house an house of merchandise."
John 2:13-16, KJV

"And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple,
and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the
temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and
the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer that
any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he
taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall
be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have
made it a den of thieves."
Mark 11:15-17, KJV

[AirAmFan]

60. Thank you! I've saved your post to a file--it's a 'keeper'

Your list brings back what I learned in Sunday School! I'd forgotten about the 'values' I learned as a child and how theiy shaped my political views. I shudder to think what kids learn in Jerry Falwell's Sunday Schools. Surely these verses are verboten.

Why isn't there EVEN ONE TV evangelist who preaches sermons from these well-known verses?

Is there a religious publication that would print an anrticle based on your post today? I remember Dorothy Day's 'Catholic Worker', where your list of Bible verses would have fit right in.

Do you have any related URLs? Where did you get your list?

[AngryOldDem]

63. Thanks for This

I am mulling over writing a guest column for my archdiocesan newspaper about how I can support Kerry and still consider myself to be a good Catholic. Your list is just what I was looking for to get started. I was afraid the piece would begin to sound too political, and it would be deep-sixed. These verses are perfect to frame my argument in "more acceptable" terms.

Many, many thanks.

:hi:

[greenohio]

73. Separation of Church and State?

I'm an atheist. I never looked at the Biblical premises to support progressive views. Wouldn't implementing these items via the government would be legislating morality?

[Inland]

15. Doesn't matter. Satan controls the Supreme Court and Congress.

Here comes the apocalypse!

[quaoar]

17. Jesus hung out with tax collectors

So I'm sure the Republican Party would run attack ads against him: "Jesus wants to raise your taxes. Just look at who he associates with."

And then a group financed by Richard Sciafe -- Apostles for the Truth -- would run ads saying Jesus never performed any miracles and that the holes in his hands were self-inflicted.

[rkc3]

19. Self-inflicted wounds - well, he was a carpenter wasn't he?

Great commentary on the assholes running the bush campaign.

[livetohike]

22. Jesus would vote Liberal

The Beatitudes from Matthew:

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 3)
Blessed are the meek: for they shall posses the land. (Verse 4)
Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Verse 5)
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. (Verse 6)
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Verse 7)
Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. (Verse 8)
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Verse 9)
Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 10)

[JVS]

23. As a transient with no fixed address, I doubt he could register

I doubt he would care a lot either. He didn't seem to mind Pilate or the Roman occupation.

[Mike Daniels]

24. He would have been apolitical

He may have had liberal leanings in his sense of compassion but he also expected people to be accountable for their behavior- "Go and sin no more" - so he would have had that law and order and self-responsibility thing going on for the conservative side.

[saigon68]

25. the better question---WHO WOULD JESUS KILL IN IRAQ ???

[shadu]

33. That will be tonight's topic of discussion at Ye Olde Inn

[nolabels]

42. Sounds enlightening

http://unquietmind.com/tburger/totalitarian120.html
(the link is to a cartoon page with the Taxi, it also has few other giglers too)

[Zorra]

26. Bu$h would have Jesus thrown in Guantanamo as soon as he heard

he was back.

From "The Grand Inquisitor" by Fyodor Dostoevsky:

"In it, it is Christ who appears on the scene. True, He says nothing, but only appears and passes out of sight. Fifteen centuries have elapsed since He left the world with the distinct promise to return ‘with power and great glory’; fifteen long centuries since His prophet cried, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord!’ since He Himself had foretold, while yet on earth, ‘Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven but my Father only.’ But Christendom expects Him still. . . .
snip-----
"This particular visit has, of course, nothing to do with the promised Advent, when, according to the programme, ‘after the tribulation of those days,’ He will appear ‘coming in the clouds of heaven.’ For, that ‘coming of the Son of Man,’ as we are informed, will take place as suddenly ‘as the lightning cometh out of the east and shineth even unto the west.’ No; this once, He desired to come unknown, and appear among His children, just when the bones of the heretics, sentenced to be burnt alive, had commenced crackling at the flaming stakes. Owing to His limitless mercy, He mixes once more with mortals and in the same form in which He was wont to appear fifteen centuries ago. He descends, just at the very moment when before king, courtiers, knights, cardinals, and the fairest dames of court, before the whole population of Seville, upwards of a hundred wicked heretics are being roasted, in a magnificent auto-da-fé ad majorem Dei gloriam, by the order of the powerful Cardinal Grand Inquisitor. . . . He comes silently and unannounced; yet all—how strange—yea, all recognize Him, at once! The population rushes towards Him as if propelled by some irresistible force; it surrounds, throngs, and presses around, it follows Him. . . . Silently, and with a smile of boundless compassion upon His lips, He crosses the dense crowd, and moves softly on. The Sun of Love burns in His heart, and warm rays of Light, Wisdom and Power beam forth from His eyes, and pour down their waves upon the swarming multitudes of the rabble assembled around, making their hearts vibrate with returning love. He extends His hands over their heads, blesses them, and from mere contact with Him, aye, even with His garments, a healing power goes forth. An old man, blind from his birth, cries, ‘Lord, heal me, that I may see Thee!’ and the scales falling off the closed eyes, the blind man beholds Him. . . . The crowd weeps for joy, and kisses the ground upon which He treads. Children strew flowers along His path and sing to Him, ‘Hosanna!’ It is He, it is Himself, they say to each other, it must be He, it can be none other but He! He pauses at the portal of the old cathedral, just as a wee white coffin is carried in, with tears and great lamentations. The lid is off, and in the coffin lies the body of a fair girl-child, seven years old, the only child of an eminent citizen of the city. The little corpse lies buried in flowers. ‘He will raise thy child to life!’ confidently shouts the crowd to the weeping mother. The officiating priest who had come to meet the funeral procession, looks perplexed, and frowns. A loud cry is suddenly heard, and the bereaved mother prostrates herself at His feet. ‘If it be Thou, then bring back my child to life!’ she cries beseechingly. The procession halts, and the little coffin is gently lowered at His feet. Divine compassion beams forth from His eyes, and as He looks at the child, His lips are heard to whisper once more, ‘Talitha Cumi’—and ‘straightway the damsel arose.’ The child rises in her coffin. Her little hands still hold the nosegay of white roses which after death was placed in them, and, looking round with large astonished eyes she smiles sweetly. . . . The crowd is violently excited. A terrible commotion rages among them, the populace shouts and loudly weeps, when suddenly, before the cathedral door, appears the Cardinal Grand Inquisitor himself. . . . He is a tall, gaunt-looking old man of nearly fourscore years and ten, with a stern, withered face, and deeply sunken eyes, from the cavity of which glitter two fiery sparks. He has laid aside his gorgeous cardinal’s robes in which he had appeared before the people at the auto-da-fé of the enemies of the Romish Church, and is now clad in his old, rough, monkish cassock. His sullen assistants and slaves of the ‘holy guard’ are following at a distance. He pauses before the crowd and observes. He has seen all. He has witnessed the placing of the little coffin at His feet, the calling back to life. And now, his dark, grim face has grown still darker; his bushy grey eyebrows nearly meet, and his sunken eye flashes with sinister light. Slowly raising his finger, he commands his minions to arrest Him. . . .
snip-----
"The day wanes, and night—a dark, hot, breathless Spanish night—creeps on and settles upon the city of Seville. The air smells of laurels and orange blossoms. In the Cimmerian darkness of the old Tribunal Hall the iron door of the cell is suddenly thrown open, and the Grand Inquisitor, holding a dark lantern, slowly stalks into the dungeon. He is alone, and, as the heavy door closes behind him, he pauses at the threshold, and, for a minute or two, silently and gloomily scrutinizes the Face before him. At last, approaching with measured steps, he sets his lantern down upon the table and addresses Him in these words:

" ‘It is Thou! . . . Thou!’ . . . Receiving no reply, he rapidly continues: ‘Nay, answer not; be silent! . . . And what couldst Thou say? . . . I know but too well Thy answer. . . . Besides, Thou hast no right to add one syllable to that which was already uttered by Thee before. . . . Why shouldst Thou now return, to impede us in our work? For Thou hast come but for that only, and Thou knowest it well. But art Thou as well aware of what awaits Thee in the morning? I do not know, nor do I care to know who Thou mayest be: be it Thou or only Thine image, to-morrow I will condemn and burn Thee on the stake, as the most wicked of all the heretics; and that same people, who to-day were kissing Thy feet, tomorrow at one bend of my finger, will rush to add fuel to Thy funeral pile. . . Wert Thou aware of this?’ he adds, speaking as if in solemn thought, and never for one instant taking his piercing glance off the meek Face before him."

http://www.blavatsky.net/blavatsky/arts/GrandInquisitor.htm

[MaryBear]

27. He wouldn't vote.

He'd be in Gitmo for being a middle easterner.

[frylock]

28. absentee

[maxrandb]

29. He Would Be Crucifued By Those In Power

Before he could vote....er, wait...he already was crucified.

Funny thing about Legal Elections. Jesus doesn't have a vote.

[Charlie Brown]

31. He wouldn't vote

He'd go the Pacifist Church route in that in voting for anyone you're inevitably supporting some form of aggression or corruption. The only safe thing to do is drop out.

[w4rma]

34. sarcasm? (nt)

[faithnotgreed]

35. as someone who loves Christ i agree He wouldnt be political. but i

think that with the sheer outrage going on, He would travel straight to the millions of people who are being so deeply hurt by this administration.
because where there is evil dressed in sheeps clothing, that is where i think Christ would be compelled to go. and i think we know where that is

so He would end up right at the steps of the white house. He would bring along concepcion (another woman we saw in f 9/11 who was camped out near the white house because her son had died in the war she said, and who was speaking to lila lipscomb when that harsh woman showed up to say it was all staged)

so with Jesus and lila and concepcion and the harsh woman and maybe michael moore and al franken and fox news but definitely millions of others, * would hear and see something far more powerful than what he heard a few weeks back while he was in a church in maine... and from what we heard, * wasnt too comfortable in that scene at all! and the pastor "only" challenged them to give up their possessions to the poor and questioned their place with God (i love that pastor)

then, * would see what and who God truly is... maybe * would have a saul moment

so * would have to change his name, and leave behind washington politics and corporate america and put all his resources to helping those he tried to (and did) hurt. and his final words to the country would be that he didnt really want to be a dictator after all...

this story didnt go as i planned but i can dream...

Jesus wouldnt vote i dont think but in an incredible way He is the activist of all activists

[noonwitch]

36. Jesus would discuss the issues, then tell people to vote their conscience

He would never endorse a particular candidate.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[tom_paine]

41. What an insult to Moe Howard, one of the greatest comedians ever!

Moe Howard was THREE TIMES THE MAN Bunnypants* is.

[MARALE]

45. I liked him too

Sorry, but this picture just tickled my funny-bone. BTW I love you web site and it helped get me more active in the Democratic movement.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

43. Would he vote at all?

I imagine if he did, he'd vote for some obscure independent liberal candidate rather than one of the major parties.

(sorry...first posted in the dupe thread)

[Disturbed]

50. Govt.

Don't most Christians, Right Wing, Independent, Left Wing and others believe in an ultimate Monarchy, where Jesus Christ would be the King? Don't they call him the King of Kings? Wouldn't,in their beliefs, Jesus be God's representative on this planet because Jesus is God's only begotten son? Jesus wouldn't be voting because he would be the King of the entire planet ruling over all people no matter what they profess their religion is. It seems that the Christians believe that all other religions would cease and that people would drop any other belief in lue of Jesus being their King.

The various Christian beliefs are quite confusing.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

54. I doubt Jesus would even vote for himself...

It's his well-intentioned, but misguided followers who make Jesus out to be so arrogant.

Upon further thought, I feel quite certain that Jesus wouldn't vote at all. He'd most likely suggest that we govern ourselves.

[Swamp Rat]

48. I asked Jesus about this. He told me that he won't vote.

Then he got on his Harley, spun out, did a wheelie and took off for Mexico. :smoke:

[pa28]

51. DU'ers sometimes confuse this issue.

There is nothing in the new testament that even remotely resembles the greed, hypocrisy and hatred that characterizes the far right. Real Christians are out there and they are our friends. Many others on the "Christian Right" are badly misinformed or badly misled on the idea of what Jesus really stood for.

[kayell]

57. Agreed. I am firmly convinced there is no such thing as a god, but the

words of Jesus as recorded are mostly a good and sensible guide to living a caring life. He certainly was a wise man, whose ideas are well worth reading. I fail to understand how so many people can justify such hate in the name of Jesus and call themselves his followers.

Of course most of them will refer to the OT or Paul or Revelations to make their points, rather than what Jesus himself is recorded as saying.

[kayell]

56. I wandered over to FR earlier today to see how they were taking this.

Now that my stomach has settled down, and I've had a thorough shower I can tell you a bit about their reaction. (at least the first 50 posts, I couldn't handle more)

Of course they contend that Jesus would vote solidly Repuke. The interesting thing was that only a few people there cited passages from the bible to prove why they thought Jesus would approve of their hate filled ways. The cites were almost all OT, although one fellow quoted Paul. Not a single quote from the man himself. Apparently there was nothing suitable.

[DivinBreuvage]

62. Extremely astute observation, Kayell. In fact our pastor (very liberal)

once said that a study had shown that the more fundamentalist a denomination is, the less likely its leaders are to cite Christ and the more they rely on the Old Testament or on Paul (Paul's ethic differing significantly from Christ's).

[SoCalDem]

58. Jesus would not vote.. I see him as a non-partisan

He moved around a lot, and probably had no stable address..He probably had no birth certificate either..:) He would be an "undocumented alien" , these days.. They would put him on a bus and dump him on the other side of the border... or send him to Guantanamo (he's arabic looking, speaks a "funny sounding" language, dresses in robes..) He would be a TERRORIST suspect.. No lawyer,no nothing.

[hansolsen]

59. Like to be there when Shrub meets St. Peter at the Pearly Gates

I don't know how Jesus would vote in the election, but I'll bet he would have voted no on the Iraq War.

I'd love to hear Bush defend his life choices on capital punishment, wars of aggression, targeted assassinations, corporate greed, and lies piled on lies. I also happen to assume that big time Bible thumpers on earth, who prove to be great hypocrits in practice, have their sentence in Hell tripled -- stands to reason, don't you think??

[donco6]

64. Write in, of course. eom

[Gingersnapsback]

65. "Jesus is a liberal" is my argument with the bible stompers

[donco6]

66. Bible stompers - good one!

Bible "thumpers" I've heard, but Bible stompers is a new one.

[Gingersnapsback]

67. With or without religion,

you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.
Steven Weinberg (1933 - ), quoted in The New York Times, April 20, 1999

[Geo55]

68. He'd probably give a knowing smile

and go into his "render onto Caeser what is Caesar's" bit...
then ask why we need this little political circus so that we can live in harmony and peace.....

then he'd go find Shrub and beat the crap outta him for screwin' with his rep.

[yelladawg]

69. If he were here

There wouldn't be an election.

[reggaehead]

70. This is a trick question

Ripe for any "sovereign" religious body to exploit. However, I choose to weigh in. Jesus was and is "progressive" personified. He was fearless in exposing classism and fraud inherent in the Romam Political (spiritual) structure. Jesus, the Philosopher is a man that I have great respect for. On his very word sex-workers got a union. But, he was also a man of the people. That turning water into wine thing. That had a little help. I personally believe the tobacco was spiked. (if indeed they even smoked tobacco 2000 years ago.) Especially when good bud was so plentiful. But really, the very idea of giving a man a fish vs. teaching a man to fish is progressive. I dont think John Kerry would be JC's first choice. But, given todays politically charged atmosphere. That choice is a no-brainer. Christ for kerry 2004. Or face the aftermath!

[Ghetto_Boy]

71. He couldn't vote he would be an Israeli.

[LittleWoman]

72. God is not a Republican or a Democrat

Sojourners ( a Christian ministry to combine spiritual renewal and social justice) is planning to run a ad in the New York Times to counter the hijacking of God by the right wing.
<http://go.sojo.net/campaign/takebackourfaith>
 (partial text)
We believe that claims of divine appointment for the President, uncritical affirmation of his policies, and assertions that all Christians must vote for his re-election constitute bad theology and dangerous religion.

We believe that sincere Christians and other people of faith can choose to vote for President Bush or Senator Kerry - for reasons deeply rooted in their faith.

We believe all candidates should be examined by measuring their policies against the complete range of Christian ethics and values.

We will measure the candidates by whether they enhance human life, human dignity, and human rights; whether they strengthen family life and protect children; whether they promote racial reconciliation and support gender equality; whether they serve peace and social justice; and whether they advance the common good rather than only individual, national, and special interests.
We are not single-issue voters.

We believe that poverty - caring for the poor and vulnerable - is a religious issue. Do the candidates' budget and tax policies reward the rich or show compassion for poor families? Do their foreign policies include fair trade and debt cancellation for the poorest countries? (Matthew 25:35-40, Isaiah 10:1-2)

We believe that the environment - caring for God's earth - is a religious issue. Do the candidates' policies protect the creation or serve corporate interests that damage it? (Genesis 2:15, Psalm 24:1)

We believe that war - and our call to be peacemakers - is a religious issue. Do the candidates' policies pursue "wars of choice" or respect international law and cooperation in responding to real global threats? (Matthew 5:9)

We believe that truth-telling is a religious issue. Do the candidates tell the truth in justifying war and in other foreign and domestic policies? (John 8:32)

We believe that human rights - respecting the image of God in every person - is a religious issue. How do the candidates propose to change the attitudes and policies that led to the abuse and torture of Iraqi prisoners? (Genesis 1:27)

We believe that our response to terrorism is a religious issue. Do the candidates adopt the dangerous language of righteous empire in the war on terrorism and confuse the roles of God, church, and nation? Do the candidates see evil only in our enemies but never in our own policies? (Matthew 6:33, Proverbs 8:12-13 )

We believe that a consistent ethic of human life is a religious issue. Do the candidates' positions on abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia, weapons of mass destruction, HIV/AIDS-and other pandemics-and genocide around the world obey the biblical injunction to choose life? (Deuteronomy 30:19)

We also admonish both parties and candidates to avoid the exploitation of religion or our congregations for partisan political purposes.

By signing this statement, we call Christians and other people of faith to a more thoughtful involvement in this election, rather than claiming God's endorsement of any candidate.

This is the meaning of responsible Christian citizenship.