The Left Hand of God

[gc]

Is it just me or does the bible (the new testament at least) seem to preach more left-wing values such as giving to the poor, tolerance for others and forgiveness? So why are many Christians on average more right-wing?
Has anyone read "The left hand of god: Taking back our country from the religious right" by Michael Lerner? I haven't yet, but I'd like to, and I saw his interview on cbc's the hour. From what I understand the book is about this topic of right wing vs. left wing religious values.

 

[Finder]

I think the bible was extremely radical left for it's time and still to this day has many left wing princibles... but also many social right ring princibles as well. I really don't think you can group the bible into either wing really.

 

[Machjo]

I don't think Jesus intended to be partisan at all, honestly.

 

[Jay]

Is it just me or does the bible (the new testament at least) seem to preach more left-wing values such as giving to the poor, tolerance for others and forgiveness? So why are many Christians on average more right-wing?

I'm just not convinced that the left has some monopoly on "giving to the poor, tolerance for others and forgiveness".

Did Jesus believe in giving to the poor or taking your money from you and creating social programs with it?

Did Jesus believe in tolerance towards people or making laws that put people in jail for things they said?

Forgiveness isn't something the left can say they own either, why I find leftists to be very unforgiving and compromise isn't in their vocabulary.

Would Jesus support abortion?

Does the left support Jesus as King of the Earth? I think if Jesus came back the left would crucify him again straight away again.

Would Jesus support the herd mentality or would Jesus support individualism?

Would Jesus support freedom or dictatorships?

Would Jesus support race quotas?

Would Jesus support religion/culture being removed from schools because some people decided it was best if the government paid for schools?

I don't think the left understands where he was coming from, but like to pretend they identify with him because they believe in a behemoth federal government and socialism. I think they are dead wrong.

Has anyone read "The left hand of god: Taking back our country from the religious right" by Michael Lerner? I haven't yet, but I'd like to, and I saw his interview on cbc's the hour. From what I understand the book is about this topic of right wing vs. left wing religious values.

On the CBC? You've got to be kidding me.... :lol:


Would Jesus support throwing other people's money at the CBC so they can propagate leftism in Canada? I highly doubt it.

 

[missile]

This is too easy The old testament is Rightist and the New,leftist.

 

[gc]

I think missile hit the nail on the head, the old testament seems to be more right wing, the new testament seems to be more left wing.

I'm just not convinced that the left has some monopoly on "giving to the poor, tolerance for others and forgiveness".

Did Jesus believe in giving to the poor or taking your money from you and creating social programs with it?

What is wrong with social programs, it is one method by which the government gives to the poor. Is there a better way for the government to give to the poor, and if so how?

Did Jesus believe in tolerance towards people or making laws that put people in jail for things they said?

I'm not sure what this is in reference to. I consider myself more left-wing, and I don't believe in putting people in jail for what the say, unless it inspires violence. Of course I can't speak for all lefties, so you'll have to be more specific about who put who in jail and for what.

Forgiveness isn't something the left can say they own either, why I find leftists to be very unforgiving and compromise isn't in their vocabulary.

Once again, can you be more specific?

Would Jesus support abortion?

I'm not sure how Jesus would feel about abortion, because there is nothing written about it in the new testament. In the old testament it says thou shall not kill, but doesn't define whether abortion is murder. I also think that even if Jesus was against abortion in principle, I don't think he would necessarily want the government to make it illegal. Read John 8:3 to 8:11.

Does the left support Jesus as King of the Earth? I think if Jesus came back the left would crucify him again straight away again.

I don't think it was the left that crucified him in the first place, according to the bible it was the pharisees who seemed to be more right-wing than left-wing but I suppose that is debatable.

Would Jesus support the herd mentality or would Jesus support individualism?

Again I don't know what this has to do with right wing vs. left wing values, so could you be more specific?

Would Jesus support freedom or dictatorships?

Would Jesus support race quotas?

See above.

Would Jesus support religion/culture being removed from schools because some people decided it was best if the government paid for schools?

I'm not sure how Jesus would feel about school because as far as I can remember school is not mentioned in the bible.

I don't think the left understands where he was coming from, but like to pretend they identify with him because they believe in a behemoth federal government and socialism. I think they are dead wrong.

A large government is neither right wing or left wing (unless you go to the extreme like communism). Right wingers believe in big government through more laws like making marijuana posession and same-sex marriage illegal. Lefties believe in big government through more taxes to pay for social programs. Neither one believes in larger government, just different. I don't mind paying slightly higher taxes if it means helping those less fortunate than me, but I don't believe that marijuana/same sex marriage should be illegal.

Has anyone read "The left hand of god: Taking back our country from the religious right" by Michael Lerner? I haven't yet, but I'd like to, and I saw his interview on cbc's the hour. From what I understand the book is about this topic of right wing vs. left wing religious values.

On the CBC? You've got to be kidding me.... :lol:

Would Jesus support throwing other people's money at the CBC so they can propagate leftism in Canada? I highly doubt it.

I don't see what the CBC has to do with it. The left hand of good is a book, not a program on CBC. I merely saw an interview with him on "the hour". Whether the CBC is impartial or not is a debate for a different thread, although even I have to admit that "the hour" is very left wing, but once again I don't see how that is relevant. I don't think Jesus would care how the government spends it's money "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caeser's, and unto God the things that are God's"

 

[LittleRunningGag]

Would Jesus support the herd mentality or would Jesus support individualism?

Of course he would support herd mentality, that's what religion is all about.

 

[Jay]

I appreciate your response GC, but I'm not going to get into the finer details of it all at the moment save this....

I don't think it was the left that crucified him in the first place, according to the bible it was the pharisees who seemed to be more right-wing than left-wing but I suppose that is debatable.

It is debatable but in light of what the Pharisees were up too I think we can clearly say the Pharisees were the "liberal" ones.

Lets take Mathew 15 as an example:

Matthew 15

1Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,

2Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

3But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

4For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

5But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;

6And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

7Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

8This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

9But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

I think the Pharisees were the "leftists" and Christ told them so. Then they killed him for it. Christ stood up for the "law" as it was delivered; the Pharisees invented traditions and taught them as laws.

I guess it is all in how you look at it, or where you start from.

 

[darkbeaver]

The position of organized religions should not be considered
at all for any subject except religion. Wheather or not the cults have a left or right orientation politically is beside the point, religion is the wrong vehicle to carry any position forward. Basically what I'm saying is that the business of religion is to promote dogma above all else. Tolerance, science, social progress, education, liberal thought, human rights etc; all have been sacrificed to serve religion at one time or another. There will be no progress for the people of this planet untill we remove religion as a player in human social developement.

 

[Jay]

Just like in Russia and China.

You had your chance and you screwed it up real bad.

 

[darkbeaver]

Re: RE: The Left Hand of God

I don't think Jesus intended to be partisan at all, honestly.

The evidence leaves no doubt that he most definetly was partisan, you cannot possibly advocate for social change without being partisan.

 

[The Project Man]

Both

The bible is written to appeal to all opinions.

The almighty powerful hand of the waring god.

Then you have the charismatic hero at the end which appaels to the other side.