• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!
  • Welcome to our archives. No new posts are allowed here.

The Religious Left

calamity

calamity

Privileged
Supporting Member
DP Veteran
Monthly Donator
Joined
Feb 12, 2013
Messages
160,900
Reaction score
57,844
Gender
Undisclosed
Political Leaning
Centrist
The Religious who? Yeah. I know. Not a very vocal crowd that one. No loud mouths like Falwell, Robertson or Reed stirring up **** in that bunch.

So...one almost has to ask--are there any Lefties who are religious? And, if so---why do they stay mum?

Stats:

piechart_tribes.gif


Sure does look like the Religious Right is vastly outnumbered among all religious groups. Lefty Christians seem to number about the same as them--about 13% each. The other 74% seem to be a potpourri of various sectors and political tribes.

So why is the RR so politically powerful, the RL almost unheard of, and the nearly 80% left over nearly invisible?
 
I would argue that the religious left quietly participates in religious events because the extreme right has hijacked being religious. I assume that the majority of people attending church disagree with me politically.

I also assume that the majority of of people agreeing with me about politics don't want to hear about my religion.

Consequently, only a few close friends know my religious beliefs and rarely do I share my beliefs with anyone.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 
Whythink said:
I would argue that the religious left quietly participates in religious events because the extreme right has hijacked being religious. I assume that the majority of people attending church disagree with me politically.

I also assume that the majority of of people agreeing with me about politics don't want to hear about my religion.

Consequently, only a few close friends know my religious beliefs and rarely do I share my beliefs with anyone.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

hm so would you identify yourself as religious?
 
Whythink said:
I would argue that the religious left quietly participates in religious events because the extreme right has hijacked being religious. I assume that the majority of people attending church disagree with me politically.

I also assume that the majority of of people agreeing with me about politics don't want to hear about my religion.

Consequently, only a few close friends know my religious beliefs and rarely do I share my beliefs with anyone.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

So, flipping this a bit. It is reasonable to say that since the RR makes their religion so much a part of their politics, screaming that they are Christians! at the top of their lungs as they push a political agenda, we immediately associate those religious people with their politics. The other religious people are more private about their beliefs, even if they are vocal politically. So, we never make the connection.

That certainly makes sense to me.
 
Just another Lib trying to live Matthew 25. I don't get why those who profess to be Christians ignore that basic tenet of Christianity and the basis of Christianity and Evangelicalism.
 
Parrish said:
Just another Lib trying to live Matthew 25. I don't get why those who profess to be Christians ignore that basic tenet of Christianity and the basis of Christianity and Evangelicalism.
Click to expand...

IMO, there is a large divide between those who believe their good deeds matter and those who believe faith alone gets them the ticket to heaven. The former still hold to the writings, such as: love thy neighbor, feed the hungry, care for the sick, and worship quietly and in private. The latter rather stick their faith in everyone's face, crap on the poor, deny food to the hungry, ignore the sick, and do harm to any neighbor who dares toe a different line than them.
 
Most Jews are Left. But there is no Rabbinic Decree banning Orthodox Jews from the Right. I am a Conservadox Jew mostly on the Right.

But I am not 100% Right -- I believe in Welfare State.
 
Thank God for Jordan and Abdullah living the tenet "I was a stranger and you took me in," part of Matthew 25 manifested by Muslims and not many of America's Christians, calamity.
 
I would bet a disproportionate number of American blacks would be considered "religious left".
 
calamity said:
So, flipping this a bit. It is reasonable to say that since the RR makes their religion so much a part of their politics, screaming that they are Christians! at the top of their lungs as they push a political agenda, we immediately associate those religious people with their politics. The other religious people are more private about their beliefs, even if they are vocal politically. So, we never make the connection.

That certainly makes sense to me.
Click to expand...
I think that is exactly right. There is also the fact that the loud Evangelical voting block actually represents a significant portion of the voting population of certain states. Overall it may equal out in terms of religiosity, but it is more condensed in particularly areas whereas the religious left is scattered around everywhere.
 
I also believe it is a philosophical thing.

I should attempt to live as the bible teaches. However, it is not my philosophy that I should politically and socially demand and be judgemental towards those that don't.

My religious beliefs would never prevent me from baking someone a cake.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 
Whythink said:
I also believe it is a philosophical thing.

I should attempt to live as the bible teaches. However, it is not my philosophy that I should politically and socially demand and be judgemental towards those that don't.

My religious beliefs would never prevent me from baking someone a cake.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

but if they did, should you have that right?
 
_Sal said:
but if they did, should you have that right?
Click to expand...

I don't know. part of me says yes. But, then when I look at the laws on discrimination, I come to the conclusion that X person's religious right to not like someone's race, sex, orientation, etc. does not trump their legal obligation to serve everyone equally. But, it sure would be nice if the gay person just went to a more friendly baker.
 
Just observing how hostile some of the most prominent Leftist voices are to religion, it's not surprising they stay quiet.

It's absolutely not surprising here at DP.
 
_Sal said:
I would say, leftie believers would claim to be spiritual...

?

I no longer claim to be Christian but I am a strong "believer"
Click to expand...

That's interesting.

In what do you believe?
 
William Rea said:
Interesting response.
Click to expand...

Maybe you are not aware, but black protestants are not very supportive of gay marriage. Although, they are at least trending in the right direction, unlike white evangelicals.

imrs.php


They are actually getting worse.
 
Whythink said:
I would argue that the religious left quietly participates in religious events because the extreme right has hijacked being religious. I assume that the majority of people attending church disagree with me politically.

I also assume that the majority of of people agreeing with me about politics don't want to hear about my religion.

Consequently, only a few close friends know my religious beliefs and rarely do I share my beliefs with anyone.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Religion is about charitable unification and sharing.

Politics is about segmentation and divisive accusation.

The common ground shared is that members of either, once in a group, will go to war over nothing.
 
calamity said:
Maybe you are not aware, but black protestants are not very supportive of gay marriage. Although, they are at least trending in the right direction, unlike white evangelicals.

imrs.php


They are actually getting worse.
Click to expand...

Blimey calamity chill man, it was interesting for the point that it made about how black protestants in general view homosexuality however, I'm glad you put up the graph and elaborated on it. It is also interesting that homosexuality is not particularly popular in Africa.
 
calamity said:
piechart_tribes.gif
Click to expand...

That doesn't look like the 12 Tribes of American Politics, but a hot mess of religious generalities, marketing gobbledegook and ridiculous reliance on identity groups being the drivers of political behaviour. I'm no expert on US politics, but I can't believe that picture at all. Example: since there is a 'Black protestant' piece of pie, does that mean that the 'Religious Left' and 'Religious Right' are exclusively white? If not, what about the cross-overs? That pie chart is a figment of some academic's imagination.
 
calamity said:
So, flipping this a bit. It is reasonable to say that since the RR makes their religion so much a part of their politics, screaming that they are Christians! at the top of their lungs as they push a political agenda, we immediately associate those religious people with their politics. The other religious people are more private about their beliefs, even if they are vocal politically. So, we never make the connection.

That certainly makes sense to me.
Click to expand...

I cannot make this apply to a big part of the population. My Brother in law and sister are both born again Christians.

My Brother in law is a life long member of Union Households.

By habit, he is a Democrat and a Christian. His religious and political affiliations are both ingrained and strongly held.

He is also a wonderfully generous and inviting person as is my sister.

Because the Democrats were at one time the champions of the working man, he is a devoted Democrat with unshakable faith in them.

He does not see, at this time, the Democrat Party that exists today: the one that opposes his faith, his occupation and his life style.

Life long devotion is both admirable and curious to me.
 
SCitizen said:
Most Jews are Left. But there is no Rabbinic Decree banning Orthodox Jews from the Right. I am a Conservadox Jew mostly on the Right.

But I am not 100% Right -- I believe in Welfare State.
Click to expand...

Welfare state to what degree?

Should the State provide to all who want, all who need or just all.
 
Parrish said:
Thank God for Jordan and Abdullah living the tenet "I was a stranger and you took me in," part of Matthew 25 manifested by Muslims and not many of America's Christians, calamity.
Click to expand...

Is this manifested in the suicide bombings?

Until Trump brought them together to unify against Terror, the Majority Muslim States have not taken much time to denounce terror activities.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom