Politics and Religion Don't Mix

People love to put labels on other people so they can then be kept in their proper boxes for the sake of argumentation, stereotyping and ultimately erroneous extrapolation.  Unfortunately, it does not work that way. It is not uncommon in this media frenzied country we live in to constantly hear that if you are a Christian then you are both Conservative and a Republican.  Likewise, if you are a non-Christian then you are labeled a liberal Democrat or Progressive.  Let's look at these labels and their respective boxes into which they are often put.

Label number one: Christians are Republicans and Republicans are Christians. While it is true that many Christians identify with the more "traditional" values that Republicans espouse, at the same time most Capitalists are Republicans and shun government meddling in private business because it stifles unbridled greed that many Capitalists are motivated by.  That flies directly in the face of what the Bible teaches.  Their identification with Republicans has nothing to do with values, but rather with economics and the profit motive.  In fact, the Bible says that the greedy will not enter the coming Kingdom.  Christians are also not to desire (lust after) money because it can become one's master and thereby a false God.  The Bible says "blessed are the poor", which describes a majority of the Democrat party.  But hang on, aren't Christians supposed to be the blessed ones?  Blessed Republicans, blessed Democrats? Clearly that box will not hold both labeled groups.

Label number two: Liberals are Democrats and Democrats are Liberals.  While it is true that many Liberals embrace a more "open minded" approach to most issues, shunning many "traditional" beliefs and social constructs, it is also true that most African Americans and Hispanics identify themselves as Christian or Catholic yet at the same time they almost always vote Democrat.  They actually view the Democrat party as more compassionate than the "Big Money" Republicans who want to ride the backs of the poor with low wages to fatten their wallets with an insatiable greedy appetite for more profit at their expense.  But wait, isn't compassion for the poor a central tenet of Christianity?  So, if all Christians are Republicans and Republicans are greedy Capitalists something does not add up.  Of course the oft heard mantra from Liberals is how hypocritical Christians are, which explains their contradictory belief in the Bible and membership in the Republican party concomitantly.  But wait again, a huge majority of the Democrat party identifies themselves as Christian or Catholic.  Boy, this is getting difficult.  Clearly, that box does not hold both labeled groups either.

Label number three: Republicans are narrow-minded uneducated Bible thumping morons. To be sure, many Christians misuse the Bible, have a serious misunderstanding of Biblical principles and are guilty of believing what they are told to believe without knowing why.  But, keep in mind that most of the successful business leaders in this country, with college degrees, are Republican.  Also, remember that many of our most prestigious higher education institutions have an underlying religious framework.  Notre Dame, Loyola, Boston College... anyone? Empty that box.

Label number four: Democrats are the "progressive" thinkers, the academics...the "Enlightened" ones.  To be sure many academics are Democrats as are many scientists, but to say the whole party is thus is untrue.  Remember, the largest voting blocks of the Democrat party are low income, uneducated, blue-collar workers.  Besides, you don't get rich and become a Republican by being uneducated and stupid. Box...emptied.

So, as you can see, upon further scrutiny the broad brush that is often used to paint these lines of demarcation,  resultant labels and box placement is simply nonsense.  The simple fact is that to a large degree, politics and religion have little in common other than cursory issues.  I know, I know Republicans want to ban abortion because God does not want us to murder.  But, keep in mind that Democrats want us to share the wealth (some call it socialism) and help those less fortunate, which is also a Biblical principle.  Both parties attract all sorts of people. The labels are mostly arbitrary and serve an agenda.  And, what do we do with the Jews?  They are a deeply religious people, believe in the same God as Christians, are usually well educated, affluent and are business owners, yet most are Democrats.  They should all be Republicans if the labels are correct.  These boxes are getting messy!

My own position is simple.  I dislike all political parties.  I believe they are our undoing as a nation. They pander to whatever group they can to garner the most votes in the next election cycle.  No individual (with the exception of maybe Rush Limbaugh) can be classified as 100% Liberal or Conservative.  I may be fiscally conservative and socially liberal or vice versa.  I may even be socially conservative on some issues but not others.

Truth is often found somewhere between the extremes.  So, let's stop labeling everyone, placing them in neat little boxes for easy disposal and start listening, understanding and loving each other.