waybread
Well-known member
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Please follow Forum rules forbidding personal attacks and religious discrimination.
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If Jesus were alive in the US today, how would he relate to US politics?
Some quick background:
One particular strand in American politics today is that the far right* is the political repository of virtue; with the unfortunate corollary that "everybody else" is probably a leftist--with varying degrees of associated evil.
I have actually read statements on this Forum that what it means to be a leftist is to support Big Government. (For no discernable rationale, apparently.) On this forum, leftists have actually been called Marxists, communists, suppressors of freedom of speech, and people who "hate God."
[I have repeatedly stressed that I am a political moderate and independent, but nevertheless have been called a leftist by some forum members, and have been expected to support an egregious leftist position.]
*What I call the "far right" in American politics today would be exemplified by Republican House Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert, Senators Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley, and Trump supporters who still believe he won the election. Moderate Republicans (not far right) would include senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Mitt Romney. Some Republicans like House Reps. Liz Cheney and Peter Meijer are very conservative in their beliefs, but split with Trump on impeachment. The far right also has a strong attachment to Donald Trump, to the point where the Republican party today has been called "the party of Trump."
For a definition and discussion of "liberal," see:https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/liberal-meaning-origin-history
The political definition of liberal today basically means someone who supports social and economic progress for all, but is OK with government supporting that change if private initiative fails to alleviate the problem.
So-- a big hypothetical:
If Jesus were alive today, wouldn't his teachings be considered to be liberal?
I don't mean that Jesus would align with the rightwing caricature of leftists, support big government for its own sake, suppress free speech, &c. &, obviously. Those aren't even liberal causes.
I'm thinking of Jesus' telling his followers to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and visit the prisoner. He preached non-violence (turn the other cheek, as did Martin Luther King,) and a generally caring, loving approach to other people.
There is an argument to be made that Jesus asked for little more than personal charity at a time when the Roman empire exemplified Big Government. However, American history has shown that personal charity doesn't suffice to alleviate serious human suffering during times of economic crises, like the Great Depression. Even the Roman government distributed grain for bread to its citizens.
This OP is just a start: there's lots to discuss.
Please follow Forum rules forbidding personal attacks and religious discrimination.
-------
If Jesus were alive in the US today, how would he relate to US politics?
Some quick background:
One particular strand in American politics today is that the far right* is the political repository of virtue; with the unfortunate corollary that "everybody else" is probably a leftist--with varying degrees of associated evil.
I have actually read statements on this Forum that what it means to be a leftist is to support Big Government. (For no discernable rationale, apparently.) On this forum, leftists have actually been called Marxists, communists, suppressors of freedom of speech, and people who "hate God."
[I have repeatedly stressed that I am a political moderate and independent, but nevertheless have been called a leftist by some forum members, and have been expected to support an egregious leftist position.]
*What I call the "far right" in American politics today would be exemplified by Republican House Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert, Senators Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley, and Trump supporters who still believe he won the election. Moderate Republicans (not far right) would include senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Mitt Romney. Some Republicans like House Reps. Liz Cheney and Peter Meijer are very conservative in their beliefs, but split with Trump on impeachment. The far right also has a strong attachment to Donald Trump, to the point where the Republican party today has been called "the party of Trump."
For a definition and discussion of "liberal," see:https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/liberal-meaning-origin-history
The political definition of liberal today basically means someone who supports social and economic progress for all, but is OK with government supporting that change if private initiative fails to alleviate the problem.
So-- a big hypothetical:
If Jesus were alive today, wouldn't his teachings be considered to be liberal?
I don't mean that Jesus would align with the rightwing caricature of leftists, support big government for its own sake, suppress free speech, &c. &, obviously. Those aren't even liberal causes.
I'm thinking of Jesus' telling his followers to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and visit the prisoner. He preached non-violence (turn the other cheek, as did Martin Luther King,) and a generally caring, loving approach to other people.
There is an argument to be made that Jesus asked for little more than personal charity at a time when the Roman empire exemplified Big Government. However, American history has shown that personal charity doesn't suffice to alleviate serious human suffering during times of economic crises, like the Great Depression. Even the Roman government distributed grain for bread to its citizens.
This OP is just a start: there's lots to discuss.