Religion and Politics (Jesus, punishment, Earth, Kingdom, birth control)

[LCMS Sprecher]

I would also note that there are more adoption parents here in the United States than there are kids for. It also goes back to responsiblity. You end up in an abortion situation because you were messing around when shouldn't have been. Those people should also take responsiblity for their actions. The U.S. has become a quick fix nation. Mess your life up, well we can fix your problem in a couple weeks and you will never have to worry about it again. That is the mantra of today which adds to the greater expansion of abortions.

[LeaderNotFollower]

Well you're right. But remember that abortion is a big deal. I don't know if it's as quick a fix as you think. In many situations, women that have had an abortion experience depression and other mental problems. The problem with Americans, as you quite rightly pointed out, is that we are lazy. And, we often do not accept responsibility for our actions.

I believe sex is a recreational activity. Why else would God/evolution have made it pleasureable to us. You know only humans and dolphans receive pleasure from the act of sex. All other animals do it purely from instinct, and only to reproduce. Sex being enjoyable is a sign that it was not just intended for procreation. So this being the case, humans need to be able to prevent conception at certain times, which is fine. But the key to regulated legal abortion is education. If schools were free to education their students about sex, birth control use would go up, and abortions would go down. And I know some people love the argument that if we teach children about sex, they will do it. The message I have for those people is to get their head out of the 1950s. The age that people are having sex these days is getting younger and younger, and this is because of a lack of education. Keeping sex education out of schools is what is driving the number of abortions and teenage mothers up. Ah, I've vented.

[LCMS Sprecher]

Indeed, God made sex enjoyable. However, he also made it as a gift to be shared between a husband and a wife.

[LeaderNotFollower]

Marriage is, quite completely, a human invention. And was developed because men needed someone to care for their children when they were out hunting or farming or such. Marriage is for having children and raising a family. Before you get married, your activities are opened to you.

[Ceridwen018]

I do not believe in abortion, but I do support birth control whole-heartedly. I agree with LeaderNotFollower-- kids need to be taught this stuff! I started a thread of birth control and how it is banned by the Catholics, etc.

I don't think that sex is a purely recreational activity-- for me it has strong emotional ties, but I suppose that this type of thing would vary from person to person, depending on personality.

[Mr Spinkles]

Leader--

You're comparison of a human fetus to a parasite is a bit of a stretch, especially considering the fact that a fetus does contribute to survival...namely, the survival of our species!

As to the topic of this thread-- you are right, there are many contradictions with Republicans and Democrats. For example, believing in the freedom to carry firearms is technically a 'liberal' view ('individual rights' over 'greater good of society')....but obviously our political parties don't think so--the Dems don't like guns, and the Republicans love 'em.

In fact, the Iraq war is a gigantic, hypocritical flip-flop for many Americans. After no WMD's were found to truly justify a 'self-defense' argument, many conservatives started claiming to support the Iraq war on the grounds that we are 'doing the right thing' by selflessly coming to the defense of an oppressed people......however, this has traditionally been a liberal view (remember liberals think the U.S. should use more of its resources for helping people in global hotspots, even if it is not really in our interests to do so).

In the same token, liberals have come out against America going out of its way just to help the Iraqis when Saddam did not appear to be a direct threat to us....this is traditionally conservative thinking (traditional conservatives generally don't think the U.S. should waste resources in pointless conflicts around the globe unless there is a clear, selfish reason to do so).

[LeaderNotFollower]

Mr Sprinkles:

All good points. A lot of it has to do with the ability, or lack of ability, to concede. These days the conservatives seem to be having that problem a lot, but it tranfers from both parties throughout history. When no WMDs were found, all the conservatives had to do was say: "We were wrong." But no, not in American, that could never happen. And unfortunately, I think a lot of Democrats are against the war just because Republicans are for it. Oh well, we should just bring back the Populist Party.

[Ardhanariswar]

"Therefore, I believe, in congruence with my church, that God has given the government the right to carry out capital punishment. "

hmm...perhaps. but what if you lived in a communist country??

i still believe that its God's judgement on the sinner, not ours. afterall, our judicial system is not perfect. as i mentioned, look at O.J. simpson.
life in prison seems a lot reasonable. then when they die, they can face the true 'death' of never seeing God in eternal paradise, or whatever.

[LCMS Sprecher]

Communist governments and their persecution is a prime example of how our world has been tainted by sin. However, we must consider, did Jesus did not submit to Pontius Pilate (a pagan ruler) when faced with execution. Our world is not perfect because sin taints it. God gives governments power to extend their authority over their subjects for the subjects protection. When I a government abuses these powers it either needs to be reformed or destroyed and a new one put in its place.

[LeaderNotFollower]

Gerani:

"i still believe that its God's judgement on the sinner"

If it's God's judgement call on guilty humans, why don't we have more criminals dropping dead? Why do we have innocent people in prison? Why would God let a criminal live, and possibly go about commiting more crimes, on earth, if He were really the true judge?

LCMS:

"When I a government abuses these powers it either needs to be reformed or destroyed and a new one put in its place."

Don't you think the American government is abusing its powers by killing people, when that would, in theory, be God's judgement call? Why haven't we been distroyed yet (although, our distruction might be in the near future)?
Plus don't you think that this sin, that apparently is everywhere, kind of puts a negative light on life? Wouldn't life seem a little more pleasent if we pinned sins on individuals and not gave it a presence in the world?