Carter Downplays Castro Succession Rumors

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Why is Jimmy Carter not a Christian? Am I missing something?

Nothing in this thread has proved is 'devout'. I don't doubt that he is Christian though.

There a lot of people who call themselves Christians.

What has he done that was not Christian that you guys are referring to? (Was there some story I missed?)

I think you will find that the primary reason many of the posters on this thread consider him to be less than devout is that he is a Democrat, a party associated with the murder of wittle babies in the womb.

You're an @ss sometimes.

I try.

[incanada1234 0]

Why is Jimmy Carter not a Christian? Am I missing something?

Nothing in this thread has proved is 'devout'. I don't doubt that he is Christian though.

There a lot of people who call themselves Christians.

What has he done that was not Christian that you guys are referring to? (Was there some story I missed?)

I think you will find that the primary reason many of the posters on this thread consider him to be less than devout is that he is a Democrat, a party associated with the murder of wittle babies in the womb.

You're an @ss sometimes.

I try.

I'm probably going to be banned now so can I change that to "your posts are sometimes assy"?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I think you will find that the primary reason many of the posters on this thread consider him to be less than devout is that he is a Democrat, a party associated with the murder of wittle babies in the womb.

You're an @ss sometimes.

I try.

I'm probably going to be banned now so can I change that to "your posts are sometimes assy"?

No worries, I didn't (and won't) report you. I been called worse. Come to think of it, usually by you

[*Robert* 2]

Why is Jimmy Carter not a Christian? Am I missing something?

Nothing in this thread has proved is 'devout'. I don't doubt that he is Christian though.

There a lot of people who call themselves Christians.

Boy, that makes someone's name immediately come to mind!

[chri'stina 190]

Jimmy Carter...

Now, as a Christian, how can you be regard a devout Christian in such a disrepectful way???

tsk, tsk. But I'm sure if you'd think he's a saint if he were only a Republican.

Here's what the former President has to say about the Christian Right:

Former President Jimmy Carter, America's first evangelical Christian president, still teaches Sunday school at his Baptist church in Plains, Georgia, and he and his wife, Rosalynn, continue their human-rights work in developing nations through the Carter Center at Emory University. In recent months, the Carters toured Togo, Ghana, and Mali to raise awareness of the public-health needs of those nations. In February, Carter spoke about the role of evangelical Christianity in democratic politics with Prospect writing fellow Ayelish McGarvey.

Republicans have been extremely successful at connecting religion and values to issues like the fight against terrorism, abortion, and gay rights. Democrats have been far less adept at infusing our issues -- compassion, help for the poor, social justice -- with any sense of religious commitment or moral imperative. Why do you think that is?

When I was younger, almost all Baptists were strongly committed on a theological basis to the separation of church and state. It was only 25 years ago when there began to be a melding of the Republican Party with fundamentalist Christianity, particularly with the Southern Baptist Convention. This is a fairly new development, and I think it was brought about by the abandonment of some of the basic principles of Christianity.

First of all, we worship the prince of peace, not war. And those of us who have advocated for the resolution of international conflict in a peaceful fashion are looked upon as being unpatriotic, branded that way by right-wing religious groups, the Bush administration, and other Republicans.

Secondly, Christ was committed to compassion for the most destitute, poor, needy, and forgotten people in our society. Today there is a stark difference [between conservative ideology and Christian teaching] because most of the people most strongly committed to the Republican philosophy have adopted the proposition that help for the rich is the best way to help even poor people (by letting some of the financial benefits drip down to those most deeply in need). I would say there has been a schism drawn -- on theology and practical politics and economics between the two groups.

What has attracted conservative Christians to a party that protects corporate interests and promotes an aggressive foreign-policy agenda? How do those square?

There is an element of fundamentalism involved, which involves the belief on the part of a human being that [his or her] own concept of God is the proper one. And since [he or she has] the proper concept of God, [he or she is] particularly blessed and singled out for special consideration above and beyond those who disagree with [him or her].

Secondly, anyone who does disagree with [him or her], since [he or she is] harnessed to God in a unique way, then, by definition, must be wrong. And the second step is if you are in disagreement with [his or her] concept of the way to worship, even among the Christian community, is that you are inferior to [him or her]. And then the ultimate progression of that is that you’re not only different and wrong and inferior but in some ways you are subhuman. So there’s a loss of concern even for the death of those who disagree. And this takes fundamentalism to the extreme. This is an element of the fundamentalist cause in this country. If you are a wealthy white man, then you are naturally inclined to think that the poor are inferior and don’t deserve your first consideration. If you are a wealthy white man, then you also take on the proposition that women are inherently inferior. This builds up a sense of prejudice and alienation that permeates the Christian right during these days.

.....................

How do you think the fundamentalist Christian right has misrepresented Christianity, as well as the democratic process?

Well, what do Christians stand for, based exclusively on the words and actions of Jesus Christ? We worship him as a prince of peace. And I think almost all Christians would conclude that whenever there is an inevitable altercation -- say, between a husband and a wife, or a father and a child, or within a given community, or between two nations (including our own) -- we should make every effort to resolve those differences which arise in life through peaceful means. Therein, we should not resort to war as a way to exalt the president as the commander in chief. A commitment to peace is certainly a Christian principle that even ultraconservatives would endorse, at least by worshipping the prince of peace.

And Christ reached out almost exclusively to the poor, suffering, abandoned, deprived -- the scorned, the condemned people -- including Samaritans and those who were diseased. The alleviation of suffering was a philosophy that was enhanced and emphasized by the life of Christ. Today the ultra-right wing, in both religion and politics, has abandoned that principle of Jesus Christ’s ministry.

Those are the two principal things in the practical sense that starkly separate the ultra-right Christian community from the rest of the Christian world: Do we endorse and support peace and support the alleviation of suffering among the poor and the outcast?

http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?sectio...;articleId=7572

you shouldn't politicize Jesus...I doubt he would fall exactly on either side. It's silly to try to make him out as an anti-conservative. Jesus stood for things that would be politically incorrect. It bothers me when people try to make Jesus out as this left wing hippy who ONLY preached about love and peace. They leave out his hard words of him being the only way to reach heaven, that he would offend people with his words, not just offending the religious leaders but also those who wanted nothing to do with him. People want to leave out the things he said that would be offensive to ALL, not just to the religious leaders of that day, and would definitley offend some liberal people in this day.

Matthew 10:

17"Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

21"Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Matthew 11:

20Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21"Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.[d] If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."

From the tiny examples above out of many I could post, looks like he not only preached peace, but also justice. That is who I serve willfully, who not only preached peace but also preached repentance and wanted people to live a holy lifestyle. Your post is just politics, and an agenda. I am not going to say whether Jesus would have been a Republican or Democrat, he would not agree 100% with either side I doubt. Who really agrees 100% with either side? I don't. I fall on the conservative side for many reasons but that does not mean I agree 100% with every policy..

As for incanada's original smilie that started Steve's comment, I would see that as a matter of poor taste, and nothing to do with her doing that against a fellow christian. But still not looking very good for her to do that as a Christian herself, even if Carter was an atheist. (sorry incanada, had to say it )

Edited August 4, 2006 by stina&suj

[Alex+R 0]

Here's what the former President has to say about the Christian Right:

(etc etc etc)

I think I like the Steven and Jinky/Carter brand of Christianity a lot more than other ones. But maybe that's because I just love murdering wittle babies in the womb?

[Veiled Princess 1]

Why is Jimmy Carter not a Christian? Am I missing something?

Nothing in this thread has proved is 'devout'. I don't doubt that he is Christian though.

There a lot of people who call themselves Christians.

What has he done that was not Christian that you guys are referring to? (Was there some story I missed?)

I think you will find that the primary reason many of the posters on this thread consider him to be less than devout is that he is a Democrat, a party associated with the murder of wittle babies in the womb.

You're an @ss sometimes.

Only sometimes?

[incanada1234 0]

I think you will find that the primary reason many of the posters on this thread consider him to be less than devout is that he is a Democrat, a party associated with the murder of wittle babies in the womb.

You're an @ss sometimes.

I try.

I'm probably going to be banned now so can I change that to "your posts are sometimes assy"?

No worries, I didn't (and won't) report you. I been called worse. Come to think of it, usually by you

It's a good thing you don't see what people say about you in PMs.

As for incanada's original smilie that started Steve's comment, I would see that as a matter of poor taste, and nothing to do with her doing that against a fellow christian. But still not looking very good for her to do that as a Christian herself, even if Carter was an atheist. (sorry incanada, had to say it )

Luckily NO one is perfect.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Jimmy Carter...

Now, as a Christian, how can you be regard a devout Christian in such a disrepectful way???

tsk, tsk. But I'm sure if you'd think he's a saint if he were only a Republican.

Here's what the former President has to say about the Christian Right:

Former President Jimmy Carter, America's first evangelical Christian president, still teaches Sunday school at his Baptist church in Plains, Georgia, and he and his wife, Rosalynn, continue their human-rights work in developing nations through the Carter Center at Emory University. In recent months, the Carters toured Togo, Ghana, and Mali to raise awareness of the public-health needs of those nations. In February, Carter spoke about the role of evangelical Christianity in democratic politics with Prospect writing fellow Ayelish McGarvey.

Republicans have been extremely successful at connecting religion and values to issues like the fight against terrorism, abortion, and gay rights. Democrats have been far less adept at infusing our issues -- compassion, help for the poor, social justice -- with any sense of religious commitment or moral imperative. Why do you think that is?

When I was younger, almost all Baptists were strongly committed on a theological basis to the separation of church and state. It was only 25 years ago when there began to be a melding of the Republican Party with fundamentalist Christianity, particularly with the Southern Baptist Convention. This is a fairly new development, and I think it was brought about by the abandonment of some of the basic principles of Christianity.

First of all, we worship the prince of peace, not war. And those of us who have advocated for the resolution of international conflict in a peaceful fashion are looked upon as being unpatriotic, branded that way by right-wing religious groups, the Bush administration, and other Republicans.

Secondly, Christ was committed to compassion for the most destitute, poor, needy, and forgotten people in our society. Today there is a stark difference [between conservative ideology and Christian teaching] because most of the people most strongly committed to the Republican philosophy have adopted the proposition that help for the rich is the best way to help even poor people (by letting some of the financial benefits drip down to those most deeply in need). I would say there has been a schism drawn -- on theology and practical politics and economics between the two groups.

What has attracted conservative Christians to a party that protects corporate interests and promotes an aggressive foreign-policy agenda? How do those square?

There is an element of fundamentalism involved, which involves the belief on the part of a human being that [his or her] own concept of God is the proper one. And since [he or she has] the proper concept of God, [he or she is] particularly blessed and singled out for special consideration above and beyond those who disagree with [him or her].

Secondly, anyone who does disagree with [him or her], since [he or she is] harnessed to God in a unique way, then, by definition, must be wrong. And the second step is if you are in disagreement with [his or her] concept of the way to worship, even among the Christian community, is that you are inferior to [him or her]. And then the ultimate progression of that is that you’re not only different and wrong and inferior but in some ways you are subhuman. So there’s a loss of concern even for the death of those who disagree. And this takes fundamentalism to the extreme. This is an element of the fundamentalist cause in this country. If you are a wealthy white man, then you are naturally inclined to think that the poor are inferior and don’t deserve your first consideration. If you are a wealthy white man, then you also take on the proposition that women are inherently inferior. This builds up a sense of prejudice and alienation that permeates the Christian right during these days.

.....................

How do you think the fundamentalist Christian right has misrepresented Christianity, as well as the democratic process?

Well, what do Christians stand for, based exclusively on the words and actions of Jesus Christ? We worship him as a prince of peace. And I think almost all Christians would conclude that whenever there is an inevitable altercation -- say, between a husband and a wife, or a father and a child, or within a given community, or between two nations (including our own) -- we should make every effort to resolve those differences which arise in life through peaceful means. Therein, we should not resort to war as a way to exalt the president as the commander in chief. A commitment to peace is certainly a Christian principle that even ultraconservatives would endorse, at least by worshipping the prince of peace.

And Christ reached out almost exclusively to the poor, suffering, abandoned, deprived -- the scorned, the condemned people -- including Samaritans and those who were diseased. The alleviation of suffering was a philosophy that was enhanced and emphasized by the life of Christ. Today the ultra-right wing, in both religion and politics, has abandoned that principle of Jesus Christ’s ministry.

Those are the two principal things in the practical sense that starkly separate the ultra-right Christian community from the rest of the Christian world: Do we endorse and support peace and support the alleviation of suffering among the poor and the outcast?

http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?sectio...;articleId=7572

you shouldn't politicize Jesus...I doubt he would fall exactly on either side. It's silly to try to make him out as an anti-conservative. Jesus stood for things that would be politically incorrect. It bothers me when people try to make Jesus out as this left wing hippy who ONLY preached about love and peace. They leave out his hard words of him being the only way to reach heaven, that he would offend people with his words, not just offending the religious leaders but also those who wanted nothing to do with him. People want to leave out the things he said that would be offensive to ALL, not just to the religious leaders of that day, and would definitley offend some liberal people in this day.

Matthew 10:

17"Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

21"Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Matthew 11:

20Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21"Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.[d] If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."

From the tiny examples above out of many I could post, looks like he not only preached peace, but also justice. That is who I serve willfully, who not only preached peace but also preached repentance and wanted people to live a holy lifestyle. You post is just politics, and an agenda. I am not going to say whether Jesus would have been a Republican or Democrat, he would not agree 100% with either side I doubt. WHo really agrees 100% with either side? I don't. I fall on the conservative side for many reasons but that does not mean I agree 100% with every policy..

As for incanada's original smilie that started Steve's comment, I would see that as a matter of poor taste, and nothing to do with her doing that against a fellow christian. But still not looking very good for her to do that as a Christian herself, even if Carter was an atheist. (sorry incanada, had to say it )

I appreciate what you are saying, Stina. Don't you think though that the Christian Right DOES politicize Jesus? Or are you talking about the Left trying to label him as liberal? In my opinion, that has been out of a reaction to the Christian Right who have effectively made most Christian Americans believe that the Republican Party is the Party of Christ. Carter pointed out that it wasn't until about 25 years ago that we had a shift among Christians towards more divisive politics. I hope you would agree with his assertion that as Christians, we should find commonality and most of all respect each one another. I know people in this thread have trivialized the abortion issue - but that is one of the biggest issues that has divided Christians. Anyhow, I hope we can have more of these discussions in a respectful manner.

Edited August 4, 2006 by Steven_and_Jinky

[VivaMexico 0]

Why is Jimmy Carter not a Christian? Am I missing something?

Nothing in this thread has proved is 'devout'. I don't doubt that he is Christian though.

There a lot of people who call themselves Christians.

Boy, that makes someone's name immediately come to mind!

Exactly! Jimmy Carter

[Veiled Princess 1]

Can we get back to the original issue here??? IS this supposed to mean that a former president of the US of A may take control of Cuba in the future??

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Can we get back to the original issue here??? IS this supposed to mean that a former president of the US of A may take control of Cuba in the future??

You're humor impaired, aren't you?

[Veiled Princess 1]

Can we get back to the original issue here??? IS this supposed to mean that a former president of the US of A may take control of Cuba in the future??

You're humor impaired, aren't you?

At times

Does that mean it's just a joke?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I been called worse. Come to think of it, usually by you

It's a good thing you don't see what people say about you in PMs.

I know

Can we get back to the original issue here??? IS this supposed to mean that a former president of the US of A may take control of Cuba in the future??

You're humor impaired, aren't you?

At times

Does that mean it's just a joke?

Explore the source site a little. You'll figure it out

[chri'stina 190]

tsk, tsk. But I'm sure if you'd think he's a saint if he were only a Republican.

Here's what the former President has to say about the Christian Right:

Former President Jimmy Carter, America's first evangelical Christian president, still teaches Sunday school at his Baptist church in Plains, Georgia, and he and his wife, Rosalynn, continue their human-rights work in developing nations through the Carter Center at Emory University. In recent months, the Carters toured Togo, Ghana, and Mali to raise awareness of the public-health needs of those nations. In February, Carter spoke about the role of evangelical Christianity in democratic politics with Prospect writing fellow Ayelish McGarvey.

Republicans have been extremely successful at connecting religion and values to issues like the fight against terrorism, abortion, and gay rights. Democrats have been far less adept at infusing our issues -- compassion, help for the poor, social justice -- with any sense of religious commitment or moral imperative. Why do you think that is?

When I was younger, almost all Baptists were strongly committed on a theological basis to the separation of church and state. It was only 25 years ago when there began to be a melding of the Republican Party with fundamentalist Christianity, particularly with the Southern Baptist Convention. This is a fairly new development, and I think it was brought about by the abandonment of some of the basic principles of Christianity.

First of all, we worship the prince of peace, not war. And those of us who have advocated for the resolution of international conflict in a peaceful fashion are looked upon as being unpatriotic, branded that way by right-wing religious groups, the Bush administration, and other Republicans.

Secondly, Christ was committed to compassion for the most destitute, poor, needy, and forgotten people in our society. Today there is a stark difference [between conservative ideology and Christian teaching] because most of the people most strongly committed to the Republican philosophy have adopted the proposition that help for the rich is the best way to help even poor people (by letting some of the financial benefits drip down to those most deeply in need). I would say there has been a schism drawn -- on theology and practical politics and economics between the two groups.

What has attracted conservative Christians to a party that protects corporate interests and promotes an aggressive foreign-policy agenda? How do those square?

There is an element of fundamentalism involved, which involves the belief on the part of a human being that [his or her] own concept of God is the proper one. And since [he or she has] the proper concept of God, [he or she is] particularly blessed and singled out for special consideration above and beyond those who disagree with [him or her].

Secondly, anyone who does disagree with [him or her], since [he or she is] harnessed to God in a unique way, then, by definition, must be wrong. And the second step is if you are in disagreement with [his or her] concept of the way to worship, even among the Christian community, is that you are inferior to [him or her]. And then the ultimate progression of that is that you’re not only different and wrong and inferior but in some ways you are subhuman. So there’s a loss of concern even for the death of those who disagree. And this takes fundamentalism to the extreme. This is an element of the fundamentalist cause in this country. If you are a wealthy white man, then you are naturally inclined to think that the poor are inferior and don’t deserve your first consideration. If you are a wealthy white man, then you also take on the proposition that women are inherently inferior. This builds up a sense of prejudice and alienation that permeates the Christian right during these days.

.....................

How do you think the fundamentalist Christian right has misrepresented Christianity, as well as the democratic process?

Well, what do Christians stand for, based exclusively on the words and actions of Jesus Christ? We worship him as a prince of peace. And I think almost all Christians would conclude that whenever there is an inevitable altercation -- say, between a husband and a wife, or a father and a child, or within a given community, or between two nations (including our own) -- we should make every effort to resolve those differences which arise in life through peaceful means. Therein, we should not resort to war as a way to exalt the president as the commander in chief. A commitment to peace is certainly a Christian principle that even ultraconservatives would endorse, at least by worshipping the prince of peace.

And Christ reached out almost exclusively to the poor, suffering, abandoned, deprived -- the scorned, the condemned people -- including Samaritans and those who were diseased. The alleviation of suffering was a philosophy that was enhanced and emphasized by the life of Christ. Today the ultra-right wing, in both religion and politics, has abandoned that principle of Jesus Christ’s ministry.

Those are the two principal things in the practical sense that starkly separate the ultra-right Christian community from the rest of the Christian world: Do we endorse and support peace and support the alleviation of suffering among the poor and the outcast?

http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?sectio...;articleId=7572

you shouldn't politicize Jesus...I doubt he would fall exactly on either side. It's silly to try to make him out as an anti-conservative. Jesus stood for things that would be politically incorrect. It bothers me when people try to make Jesus out as this left wing hippy who ONLY preached about love and peace. They leave out his hard words of him being the only way to reach heaven, that he would offend people with his words, not just offending the religious leaders but also those who wanted nothing to do with him. People want to leave out the things he said that would be offensive to ALL, not just to the religious leaders of that day, and would definitley offend some liberal people in this day.

Matthew 10:

17"Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

21"Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Matthew 11:

20Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21"Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.[d] If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."

From the tiny examples above out of many I could post, looks like he not only preached peace, but also justice. That is who I serve willfully, who not only preached peace but also preached repentance and wanted people to live a holy lifestyle. You post is just politics, and an agenda. I am not going to say whether Jesus would have been a Republican or Democrat, he would not agree 100% with either side I doubt. WHo really agrees 100% with either side? I don't. I fall on the conservative side for many reasons but that does not mean I agree 100% with every policy..

As for incanada's original smilie that started Steve's comment, I would see that as a matter of poor taste, and nothing to do with her doing that against a fellow christian. But still not looking very good for her to do that as a Christian herself, even if Carter was an atheist. (sorry incanada, had to say it )

I appreciate what you are saying, Stina. Don't you think though that the Christian Right DOES politicize Jesus? Or are you talking about the Left trying to label him as liberal? In my opinion, that has been out of a reaction to the Christian Right who have effectively made most Christian Americans believe that the Republican Party is the Party of Christ. Carter pointed out that it wasn't until about 25 years ago that we had a shift among Christians towards more divisive politics. I hope you would agree with his assertion that as Christians, we should find commonality and most of all respect each one another. I know people in this thread have trivialized the abortion issue - but that is one of the biggest issues that has divided Christians. Anyhow, I hope we can have more of these discussions in a respectful manner.

I guess some in the Christian right politicize Jesus, but in my experience it's more about comparing some bible principles to the policies of right/left. And those are some of the reasons I am a conservative. I do want to know what the bible says about issues, that does effect my stance. And I think many christians are the same way. I've personally never heard anyone call Jesus a Republican, but some show what his views would be on issues on both sides. In my opinion on certain issues he does fall more conservative. But I am sure you would have the opposite opinion.

I am conservative(whatever that really means anymore LOL, some may think I am a right-wing nut, whatev) and believe in helping the poor, giving to those who need, and loving people no matter who they are. That doesn't make me a liberal, it just makes me a human who wants to help others. People on both side have those feelings.And I know many others like me, who are helping others, adopting children, giving away money, but are Republicans. And yet I am sure you can find some liberals(whatever that means too LOL) who think nothing about helping the poor, and have other issues that are most important to them. And also you'll find conservatives who don't care. I don't think wanting to help the poor is enough to define an entire political stance, which is not just one view but many views on different subjects. I feel like I am rambling.