Webster6 Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Wishing only gets you so far. How far has praying gotten you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lockout Casualty Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 As opposed to your ideology? My ideology? Voting Conservative: not the Christian thing to do Why author Michael Coren's Christian faith will keep him from voting Conservative in the upcoming federal election. I will not be voting Conservative at the forthcoming election. Not because I am committed to party politics — far from it — and nor because I am convinced of the righteousness of any particular politicians — I am certainly not — but for one very simple reason. I am a Christian. Yes, I will not be voting Conservative because I am a Christian. I appreciate that this might sound shocking and run counter to the now familiar religious and political narrative but that’s an equation established only in the past 40 years and only in the United States. It has no foundation in either theology or government. Up until the 1960s American Catholics traditionally voted Democrat and in Britain the Labour or Liberal Party was the home of evangelicals. In Canada our most famous social democrats were Tommy Douglas and Jack Layton, the first an ordained minister and the second a man deeply shaped by his faith. It was only when the twin issues of abortion and gay rights began to dominate the political agenda of the Christian right that the unnatural alliance of conservative and Christian began first to develop and then to dominate. Within a generation we had the jarring scene of followers of the social and economic revolutionary Jesus giving time and money to parties committed to military spending, immigration controls, reduction in help to the poor and harsh, often thoughtless words about their opponents. My own conservative credentials began to evaporate more than 18 months ago when I embraced equal marriage and once the door is unlocked it has a habit of opening wide. The journey from legalism to love, or religion to relationship, isn’t directly political as such and it’s dangerous and facile to overly politicize faith. But it’s also downright naïve to think that religion and politics have no mutual hinge. Cue the usual attacks because someone has dared to change his mind, as though evolution is a sin and ideological and spiritual stubbornness a virtue. Back to the basics. There are many fundamentals at play from a Christian point of view that are relevant but I’ll name just four. Stewardship of the environment, care for the poor and marginalized, the pursuit of peace, and personal integrity. In terms of environmental protection and ecological concern the argument is almost axiomatic. Contrary to how even other conservative parties and administrations have behaved, the Harper government has allowed ideology to triumph over scientific reality and has empowered deniers who are not given table-room elsewhere. I interviewed many of them over the years and while they’re not always the big oil puppets their opponents claim, they are generally politicians more than experts. The poor and marginalized? The government’s taxation policies have reversed a long-standing tradition of redistribution and have encouraged the perception that tax is a burden rather than a duty. We’ve heard too much about “the other” and of the so-called undeserving and this is as un-Christian as it is un-Canadian. We share therefore we are. As for peace, let’s take the single example of the Middle East. The government’s unquestioning support for Israeli policies surprises even Israelis, half of whom are extremely critical of the Netanyahu regime. Supporting Israel is not the same as supporting everything a particular Israeli government does and if we genuinely care about a stable and peaceful future for everybody in the region we will encourage compromise, the removal of settlements and the empowerment of progressive rather than reactionary movements. Rather the Prince of Peace than any kings of the arms trade. When it comes to personal integrity, democracy is best served when politicians feel uncertain and this government has taken power for granted for far too long. Beyond senators on trial and hidden payments there is simply an overwhelming sense of power at any cost and that bruises the body politic beyond recognition. There used to be a fashion for Christians to attach “What Would Jesus Do?” stickers to the back of their cars. Not my sort of thing at all but in that He repeatedly spoke up for the poor, criticized the wealthy, condemned the judgmental, welcomed the stranger and lauded the peacemaker, perhaps we have a few clues to the answer. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/09/08/voting-conservative-not-the-christian-thing-to-do.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dral Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 ya would love for them to be leaders of our beloved nation. A Canada mostly under God's law and values would be beautiful. I just through up in my mouth... A Canada completely void of any kind of religion mostly under scientific values would be beautiful... we'd probably rule the world in 20 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Ambien Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 It was coffee man, I tainted the cup prior to filling it with liquid. Like you never did stupid crap when you were a teen. Oh wait, you are probably still a teen. And yes Mr A, you nailed it. If we are taking these people in, they must go through the same process as anyone else. Fair is fair. Besides.. countries that can't even pay their bills without taking in more debt shouldn't be taking in refugees when it's well known they will be a large taxpayer hit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Ambien Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 I just through up in my mouth... A Canada completely void of any kind of religion mostly under scientific values would be beautiful... we'd probably rule the world in 20 yearsScience has values.. that's a good one. As you can see liberalism confuses their personal biases for science. Liberals' religious attempt to automatically give their views credence without ever having to prove themselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dral Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Fair is fair. Besides.. countries that can't even pay their bills without taking in more debt shouldn't be taking in refugees when it's well known they will be a large taxpayer hit. countries that can't pay their bills without taking in more debt shouldn't be electing leaders who don't know how to balance a budge simply because of the name of the party he's leading.... ESPECIALLY when that bill can be paid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Ambien Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 countries that can't pay their bills without taking in more debt shouldn't be electing leaders who don't know how to balance a budge simply because of the name of the party he's leading.... ESPECIALLY when that bill can be paidI agree. 100% Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dral Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Science has values.. that's a good one. As you can see liberalism confuses their personal biases for science. Liberals' religious attempt to automatically give their views credence without ever having to prove themselves. I know I'm going to regret this... but why can't science have values? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Ambien Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 I know I'm going to regret this... but why can't science have values? Science is math not morals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aGENT Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Science is math not morals. Values exist outside of both science and religion. Whether people / a person has values or not has little to do with what science or religion they practice. And science is not math. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dral Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Science is math not morals. That's pretty simplistic... Just because Science teaches someone to be objective doesn't mean it is without morals... there are quite a few values that are taught by the pursuit of science... curiosity (a big one religion frowns upon), honesty, responsibility, perseverance, open-mindedness, objectiveness, critical thinking.... not many values I'd rank higher then on that list... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Ambien Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Values exist outside of both science and religion. Whether people / a person has values or not has little to do with what science or religion they practice. Personal values were just directly associated with science. This is a rather huge problem when people confuse their morals with science. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heretic Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 My ideology? Voting Conservative: not the Christian thing to do Why author Michael Coren's Christian faith will keep him from voting Conservative in the upcoming federal election. I will not be voting Conservative at the forthcoming election. Not because I am committed to party politics — far from it — and nor because I am convinced of the righteousness of any particular politicians — I am certainly not — but for one very simple reason. I am a Christian. Yes, I will not be voting Conservative because I am a Christian. I appreciate that this might sound shocking and run counter to the now familiar religious and political narrative but that’s an equation established only in the past 40 years and only in the United States. It has no foundation in either theology or government. Up until the 1960s American Catholics traditionally voted Democrat and in Britain the Labour or Liberal Party was the home of evangelicals. In Canada our most famous social democrats were Tommy Douglas and Jack Layton, the first an ordained minister and the second a man deeply shaped by his faith. It was only when the twin issues of abortion and gay rights began to dominate the political agenda of the Christian right that the unnatural alliance of conservative and Christian began first to develop and then to dominate. Within a generation we had the jarring scene of followers of the social and economic revolutionary Jesus giving time and money to parties committed to military spending, immigration controls, reduction in help to the poor and harsh, often thoughtless words about their opponents. My own conservative credentials began to evaporate more than 18 months ago when I embraced equal marriage and once the door is unlocked it has a habit of opening wide. The journey from legalism to love, or religion to relationship, isn’t directly political as such and it’s dangerous and facile to overly politicize faith. But it’s also downright naïve to think that religion and politics have no mutual hinge. Cue the usual attacks because someone has dared to change his mind, as though evolution is a sin and ideological and spiritual stubbornness a virtue. Back to the basics. There are many fundamentals at play from a Christian point of view that are relevant but I’ll name just four. Stewardship of the environment, care for the poor and marginalized, the pursuit of peace, and personal integrity. In terms of environmental protection and ecological concern the argument is almost axiomatic. Contrary to how even other conservative parties and administrations have behaved, the Harper government has allowed ideology to triumph over scientific reality and has empowered deniers who are not given table-room elsewhere. I interviewed many of them over the years and while they’re not always the big oil puppets their opponents claim, they are generally politicians more than experts. The poor and marginalized? The government’s taxation policies have reversed a long-standing tradition of redistribution and have encouraged the perception that tax is a burden rather than a duty. We’ve heard too much about “the other” and of the so-called undeserving and this is as un-Christian as it is un-Canadian. We share therefore we are. As for peace, let’s take the single example of the Middle East. The government’s unquestioning support for Israeli policies surprises even Israelis, half of whom are extremely critical of the Netanyahu regime. Supporting Israel is not the same as supporting everything a particular Israeli government does and if we genuinely care about a stable and peaceful future for everybody in the region we will encourage compromise, the removal of settlements and the empowerment of progressive rather than reactionary movements. Rather the Prince of Peace than any kings of the arms trade. When it comes to personal integrity, democracy is best served when politicians feel uncertain and this government has taken power for granted for far too long. Beyond senators on trial and hidden payments there is simply an overwhelming sense of power at any cost and that bruises the body politic beyond recognition. There used to be a fashion for Christians to attach “What Would Jesus Do?” stickers to the back of their cars. Not my sort of thing at all but in that He repeatedly spoke up for the poor, criticized the wealthy, condemned the judgmental, welcomed the stranger and lauded the peacemaker, perhaps we have a few clues to the answer. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/09/08/voting-conservative-not-the-christian-thing-to-do.html Nice cut and paste.....now who else used to do that? No, I'm talking about your post that I replied to - it was bad form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Ambien Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Nice cut and paste.....now who else used to do that? Lemme guess.. someone else I had blocked before they got banned and registered a new name called Lockout Casualty? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaBamba Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 countries that can't pay their bills without taking in more debt shouldn't be electing leaders who don't know how to balance a budge simply because of the name of the party he's leading.... ESPECIALLY when that bill can be paid This is hilarious, look at each parties economic agenda and get back to us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lockout Casualty Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Nice cut and paste.....now who else used to do that? No, I'm talking about your post that I replied to - it was bad form. Cut and paste? It was an article that seemed relevant to both the ongoing discussion and the thread overall. Wasn't aimed at you... though I guess the meme does have a lead in. Just the best I could do on short notice. Anyway, bad form it is. Just stating my opinion, I'm not asking you to agree, or even understand it. So who used to post articles with a link? Must be unique on CDC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heretic Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Cut and paste? It was an article that seemed relevant to both the ongoing discussion and the thread overall. Wasn't aimed at you... though I guess the meme does have a lead in. Just the best I could do on short notice. Anyway, bad form it is. Just stating my opinion, I'm not asking you to agree, or even understand it. So who used to post articles with a link? Must be unique on CDC. If your "opinion" is "Christians say the dumbest things", then you need to keep that to yourself as that's not an "opinion" - that's hate. (okay, maybe a hateful opinion). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugor Hill Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Science has values.. that's a good one. As you can see liberalism confuses their personal biases for science. Liberals' religious attempt to automatically give their views credence without ever having to prove themselves. Holy crap man. This has nothing to do with liberalism or what not. I seriously believe that the first thought you have in your head when you wake up in the morning is "how do I trash liberals and immigrants today?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugor Hill Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 That's pretty simplistic... 'Simplistic' is what you expect from simplistic people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inane Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Holy crap man. This has nothing to do with liberalism or what not. I seriously believe that the first thought you have in your head when you wake up in the morning is "how do I trash liberals and immigrants today?" The whole notion of 'liberals' as he belittles is ridiculous anyway. His constant childish and meaningless generalizations are so stupid, I've never seen someone so insecure in their beliefs they have to endlessly trash others to feel good about themselves. It's pitiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.