Conservatives/Tea Party/Fox News and Christianity

[Crazedclerkthe2nd]

Ok so this sort of combines elements of two separate discussion forums we have on here but it's more political than religious so I think this is the more appropriate place for it.

It seems to me like Christianity has become a more notable force in politics in the past couple of years and even more so recently. Most of the tea parties are made up of Christians (many open their meetings with a prayer) and Glenn Beck is unabashedly a believer and says on his TV show many times how important God is to our lives (in his view of course).

Also Fox News in general presents a highly conservative, pro christian worldview. Not that this is a new development but I think the landscape has changed a little bit.

The tea parties are now THE dominant force in conservative politics and, seeing as how they are comprised mainly of Christians, suddenly religion is starting to take a big, big role in the politics of the United States.

That's a bit worrisome for me because these tea party groups who claim to be supportive of the kind of America "The Founders" wanted also seem to champion of a heavily christian version of politics.

The founders were most spiritual men and did turn to some Christian beliefs when writing the constitution, they ultimately did not intend for the United States to be an officially Christian country.

I'm not quite sure how this will all play out. There was a story posted on fox news yesterday relating the claim that remnants Noah's ark were apparently found on Mount Ararat. The majority of the comments in that thread were incredibly pro-Christian.

Also, Oklahoma just passed a state law requiring doctors to provide a detailed description of the fetus to any woman who wants to get an abortion, I believe these women must also undergo a psychiatric evaluation before an abortion can be permitted. Again, heavily Christian views influencing politics.

For the record I am a Christian, but I am a full supporter of separation of church and state.

[Hobbs]

Well, I don't see what's wrong with a woman needing a psychiatric evaluation. That's not really a Christian concept; unless you can prove that said evaluation is being pushed for Christian-based reasons. For the most part, I'd say the rest is true, and I definitely get annoyed at the people who call for us to be an official Christian nation.

[HYHYBT]

A caution that Baptists, at least, used to know (back when Grandaddy was a pastor) and have since forgotten: the separation between church and state cannot long exist one-way. If you insert religion into government, all too soon you'll find government interfering in your religion. And there's no reason to assume you'll still be in control of the government when that time comes.

[Kimmik]

Well, I don't see what's wrong with a woman needing a psychiatric evaluation. That's not really a Christian concept; unless you can prove that said evaluation is being pushed for Christian-based reasons. For the most part, I'd say the rest is true, and I definitely get annoyed at the people who call for us to be an official Christian nation.

The problem lies in the fact that they want the Evaluation because abortion is a sin and they dont want people to do it. So they try to make it as difficult as possible since they cant straight out law it.

I would agree to the evaluations if at the same time women AND men that were expecting also need evaluations. Requiring a Psych evaluation is just trying to throw a stumbling block in the way of a woman who wants an abortion.

[smileyeagle1021]

A caution that Baptists, at least, used to know (back when Grandaddy was a pastor) and have since forgotten: the separation between church and state cannot long exist one-way. If you insert religion into government, all too soon you'll find government interfering in your religion. And there's no reason to assume you'll still be in control of the government when that time comes.

The LDS Church is starting to learn that in Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City is now a Mormon minority city and for too long the Mormons used the government to impose their beliefs on others (and still do at the state level) and the non-Mormons in the city are tired of it and are now starting to support city council candidates who are willing to legislate against the church. I don't remember which candidate it was, but during the last city elections there was one person who ran on the promise of never again allowing the Church to do a land grab from the city, that never again would city owned land be sold to the Church. Park City had candidates that ran on the basis of "we'll force anti-discrimination laws onto church owned businesses". (for the record, I fully support this position).
It's not a question of if the governments in Utah will start to interfere with the church, it's a question of when and how harsh.

[gremcint]

So a mentally unstable woman will not be allowed an abortion and we end up with her having the child? I fail to see that as a good thing.

[guywithashovel]

It seems to me like Christianity has become a more notable force in politics in the past couple of years and even more so recently. Most of the tea parties are made up of Christians (many open their meetings with a prayer) and Glenn Beck is unabashedly a believer and says on his TV show many times how important God is to our lives (in his view of course).

What I find interesting about this is that there are also religious groups supporting health care reform. Those groups think God and Jesus love Obama and are all for the reform taking place, and the teabaggers think Jesus and God hate Obama and want heath care reform to be thrown out like last year's garbage. Both groups are just as convinced that God and Jesus are on their side and that they are 100% right. Personally, I would think that an all-powerful deity would be able to communicate his opinions a little bit better than that.

[jedimaster91]

Personally, I would think that an all-powerful deity would be able to communicate his opinions a little bit better than that.

The world's not listening for something like that. Nor are many willing to change their lives and behavior to coincide with what the answer might be.

[Fryk]

It'd be very difficult to ignore an ALL POWERFUL deity if he REALLY wanted to get his/her message across.

[bunnyboy]

What I find interesting about this is that there are also religious groups supporting health care reform. Those groups think God and Jesus love Obama and are all for the reform taking place, and the teabaggers think Jesus and God hate Obama and want heath care reform to be thrown out like last year's garbage. Both groups are just as convinced that God and Jesus are on their side and that they are 100% right. Personally, I would think that an all-powerful deity would be able to communicate his opinions a little bit better than that.

Eh it's more on the side of both of them thinking of Jesus/God in their own terms... you know soft idolatry.