Do your religious beliefs affect your political opinions? (Jesus, moral)

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by stephenw

I think my political beliefs frame my religious beliefs rather than the other way around. I was political way before I thought about religion. My politics are far-left. I am an anti-capitalist. I believe that all humans are equal regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, politics, religious beliefs,race etc. etc.
I am also a pacifist. This is a political stance.
Egalitarianism and non-violence inform my religious views

Did you simply decide to be far-left for the fun of it or were you drawn to the far-left because their views were in line with what your conscience held was true?

I don't see pacifism as a political stance. I see it as a stance of conscience, which to me means religious.

[doppelgänger]

Personally, I think that aesthetics - feelings that are deeper than the words and thoughts we use to organize our world and from which morality is constructed - determine both how we respond to and internalize religious symbolism and how we answer political and moral questions.

Faith is a gift from God, so that none may boast. Put another way, one can't think one's self into feeling different than the way one feels because thoughts, beliefs and ideas are a manifestation of feelings.

[stephenw]

Originally Posted by lilithu

Did you simply decide to be far-left for the fun of it or were you drawn to the far-left because their views were in line with what your conscience held was true?

I'm not sure that I decided my politics. I saw the sectarian nonsense that turned my country into a mess. My parents came from different sides and I think it was natural for me to develop an egalitarian point of view. I worked on the line in a factory for a long time and if we didn't have our union looking out for us we'd have been done over in the name of profit. Working confirmed the necessity of working class solidarity to me. I was drawn to the far left because people matter.

Originally Posted by lilithu

I don't see pacifism as a political stance. I see it as a stance of conscience, which to me means religious.

When I was growing up sectarianism, hatred and murder were rooted in the religious divide. Sectarianism turned me off religion for years. My pacifism is decidedly political. I am absolutely against violence as a means of gaining political objectives.

[BruceDLimber]

>Do your religious beliefs affect your political opinions?

In fact, my religious beliefs cause me to avoid partisan politics like the plague they are!

Peace,

Bruce

[Storm]

He's not talking about partisan politics, Bruce. He's asking about your stance(s) on pressing issues of the day.

[MidnightBlue]

Originally Posted by Storm

He's not talking about partisan politics, Bruce. He's asking about your stance(s) on pressing issues of the day.

Yes, he is.

And isn't the avoidance of partisan politics itself a political (though non-partisan) position?

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by MidnightBlue

Yes, he is.

MB thinks it's a sin to be a Republican.

It would be a lie to say that I'm not partisan. But I do try to remember that the GOP used to be the party of Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt, two of my favorite presidents. It's the issues to which I am loyal, not the party.

Originally Posted by MidnightBlue

And isn't the avoidance of partisan politics itself a political (though non-partisan) position?

Sure. Some people equate "political" with "partisan" as if "political" means Dem or Repub. We both know that "political" means anything having to do with social relationships and power. Humans are political animals. Even when they make a decision to avoid all social issues, they are making a political decision.