As a religious conservative.... I couldn't agree more. I am so tired of the conflation of politics and religion. It is SO ridiculous. Despite being a Christian, I am so tired of people calling the USA a "Christian Nation". blergh. Separation for a reason people... I got boo'd out of the republican caucus in 2008 for suggesting we should discuss fiscal responsibility and foreign policy and drop the ridiculous conversation around gay marriage and abortion. My comment "Let's stay out of each others' wombs and bedrooms" was the last straw for a lady in the back... who felt the need to Boo me... in a tiny elementary school classroom... with maybe 40 people in attendance. I quit the party that week. When I realized that the people around me cared more about that crap, and less about actually governing, I knew it was time to go.Wouldn't it be nice to have actual conservatives supporting actually conservative principles? Having debates about methodologies and numbers, rather than whether the 10 Commandments should be on City Hall?
Thanks for commenting. It is nice to hear a Christian actually support genuine conservativism, rather than what the bible-thumping Christian-right has redefined as "conservative". Do Christian understand the irony of calling themselves "conservative", and then legislating what people can do in the bedroom? Creating more laws, legislating behavior, that are practically unenforceable, is pretty much the polar opposite of the original meaning of "conservative", as one who chooses inaction until action is warranted.
even worse.... do they realize that Jesus (allegedly) spent his life giving to the poor, sick, and needy? Do they understand that being rich and prideful is the opposite of the purpose of a "christian" life? Do they understand that Jesus hung out with "sinners" like adulterers? Nope... and I could get all judge on people who get it wrong... but then I'd fall into the same self-righteous trap that they do. The reality is.... religion shouldn't be in government or politics... period. My beliefs help shape who I am... but that's true of every person regardless of their faith, or lack thereof. The ten commandments aren't a terrible set of rules to govern one's self by.... but they shouldn't be the basis for a modern government. You know... 13 Thou shalt not kill. 14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. 15 Thou shalt not steal. 16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s Those are pretty solid rules that could apply to self and society, you know? like - it's just not cool for me to murder anyone. And I don't want people stealing my crap... so go ahead and figure out a way to work those into your rules/laws...but: 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. These all require some kind of believe in god... which, in a country with "freedom of religion", should not be forced on anyone. And as such... shouldn't be on city hall walls, or schools, etc. just my $0.0212 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
There needs to be some kind of vast interfaith effort to brand anyone who does something shitty in the name of god as a heretic, not a 'true' believer, what have you. Something like the C.S. Lewis idea that all good acts, even done in the name of the devil, bring glory to God, and all evil acts, even done in the name of God, bring glory to the devil. I don't think it will happen though. The book says to stone gay people to death, but you go to jail for doing that so we'll decide to not bake cakes for them.