How can you be "Republican" and "Religious"?

Question

I'm not trying to start a flame war, this is an honest post, and if you are a Religious Republican, please try and answer honestly. I used to be a Republican, growing up in a conservative family. My own issues were: My father saying you have to take care of yourself, pull yourself up by your bootstraps, total free-market capitalization, etc. Then, every Sunday he would take us to church (AND Sunday School!) where we were told to "care for our fellow man", show sympathy and compassion, charity, etc. This created a lot of internal conflict with me and finally I gave the BOTH up, religion AND politics and am now an independent, leaning left (mainly because of religion!)

So now, how does a church-going Republican, after being preached to about compassion, taking care of the less-fortunate, being charitable...how does a person like this go home and fight for health-care for poor people, especially in a nation that can spend trillions on war, farm subsidies, foreign aid, etc? How can a church-going Republican drive home after church and pass poor people on the street who can't afford rehab or get the operation they need to see better? Anyway, this is why I left the GOP and became independent. My dad hates it, but I feel it is because of him! He made me go to church and learn compassion, and I felt the GOP was NOT compassionate. So if you are a hardcore religious neocon, how can you justify denying healthcare to poor people when the bible tells to you?

Answer 1

I like turtles...not trying to start a war here...

Answer 2

You are very mislead , get your facts and try again , I dunno anybody who doesn't want the best for people . Sorry if you need support on your perspective but I do not share it.  

Answer 3

Giving willingly is different from being taxed. What you are setting up here is a comparison between charity and theft.

Answer 4

Many conservatives are charitable.  In fact more so then liberals.  Dems want to keep people back and poor so they can control them for their votes.  Lots of Dem programs are scams.

Answer 5

Republicans believe in private charity, not over-sized government bureaucracy that takes money away from people to help the people they select. Besides if the Democrats who reside in some of the wealthiest cities in American are oh, so compassionate, all they have to do is write a check, but they don't, they just whine and moan.

Answer 6

Some day, you will understand you father's wisdom.  But for now you must learn it the hard way on your own.

What you will find is that government programs "seem" to help and make some people feel better about themselves.  

Your dad does help his fellow man through tithing and other charitable donations.  

If you listen to the Left - they will criticize Republicans as cold and callous because we don't agree with a plan for the government to simply provide for citizens who should provide for themselves (as our creator intended).  BTW studies have shown that Republicans donate more to charity than Democrats even when Dems earn more money.

When you have children, you will have to endure the "pain" of watching your child struggle - but that is life and that is how they grow.  Would you ever learn to walk and run if no one ever let you fall or skin a knee?  

Can you honestly believe that giving people things without working for them is a good practice?  

Imagine if (instead of what you described growing up) you observed a dad who didn't work much, he just got a check for food, utilities, and housing.  He soon realized he "couldn't afford to work because he wouldn't be elegible for more government programs like your school lunches, or medicaid.   Imagine where you'd be today not seeing someone work hard and make tough decisions about NOT buying the new car yet or waiting to make a big purchase?  I submit that it is not right to make people so dependant on the government that they can no longer survive on their own (I've seen these people - there is nothing but despair and defeat in their eyes).  

It is not that we want to deny any of these things to anyone -- but no one has a "right" to most of these things - our Founding Fathers realized that you had the right to the "Pursuit of happiness" (not simply happiness).

People come to this country every day with nothing and and barely speaking english.  They work hard and become successful -- how can you explain that?    

I'd challenge you to spend some time volunteering in a religious based support center as well as a government run operation.

I believe after those experiences, you will understand your dad better and I guarantee he'll be proud of your journey.

Answer 7

being compassionate is helping someone who is down and out.  Such as, if I decide to give someone that is in need $20 to help them on a temporary basis.  Your version of charity is putting a gun to my head, through the IRS and making me give someone my money.  That isn't charity, I have no control over it, there is a huge buearocracy that administers it and it is laden with fraud.  

In this country the bottom 50% of tax payers pay less than 4% of the tax burden.  I don't know what percentage of these is actually a drain or a negative on the system but a lot more of them exist than should.  This federally subsidized (with taxpayer money) charity is fraudulently creating a welfare class.

Voting to give someone my money doesn't make you a better person.  I prefer to find and fund my own charities.  Why don't you find yours and leave my money alone.

You don't see the difference because you don't want to see it.

fs

Answer 8

alot easier then being a Democrat and religious!

I don't know where your dad was coming from, but I think you might have misunderstood it (and as a kid that's easy to do!).

We can be caring & compassionate, work for charitys etc.  Of course we feel awful about the people with no homes, no food, etc...but alot of us can't afford to help them either!  Jesus said that the poor will always be with us.  If I was one of the wealthy republicans, I would be helping them.  But I'm not.  At times I can't take care of our own problems.  But, I'm a republican because:

They are against abortions (it's murder)

They are against homosexuality (Jesus said it's an abomination to Him.  But even though we hate the sin, we still love the sinner)

They do more to protect our country (we haven't had another attack - and I believe the 1st one was Clintons fault, it wouldn't have happened if he'd taken Bin Laden when he had the chance!)

What's always been "bad" or "good" the democrats have switched around.  They call what's always been "bad" as now "good", and anything that used to be "good" is now "bad".  Exactly what the Bible told us would happen!

I won't bore you with more, but I would never consider being a democrat...their values are completely different then mine, in fact I don't think they have any!

Answer 9

Well, most Republicans believe that its the church itself who should give to the poor and aid people in need. The Republicans want the government to be less controlling. But the problem is: not every church is truly following the right path. And church people are human just like anyone else. Where there are humans, there is greed, hypocrisy, gossip or slander ect. Jesus himself said that man will be held accountable for every word he speaks! I wonder how many people have read that? There is nothing wrong with being a Christian and a Republican. There is nothing wrong with being a Christian and a democrat. Its all about God's law. His law is far more important than the law of the land. Politics is corrupt on both ends. But there are some good people in politics. Just like there are good and evil people who sit in the church. We all expect the church to be perfect, sad to say not everyone who claims to be a Christian actually is! A true Christian will follow God's law according to the word.  

Answer 10

If the democrats solutions to poverty works then why is it after 50 years of welfare the poverty level is virtually identical to what it was pre welfare? (source check the us census stats for last 50 years ..easy to google)

The answer is it doesnt work it just ensures future voters. It as far more caring and compasionate to help some one rise above then pay them to stay where they are.

Answer 11

Wealthy Republicans donate to charity at the same rate that wealthy Democrats do. 65% of Republicans attend church, 35% of Democrats do. Republicans dislike welfare as it perpetuates poverty and strips people of work ethics.

Answer 12

Did you ever stop to consider how much DAMAGE has been done to GENERATIONS of people (mostly black) thanks to "Welfare"?

Did you ever think that the BEST WAY to help poor people, is NOT to give them HANDOUTS, but to build an economy where they could find WORK... and work hard and get PROMOTED.... and INCREASE their salary.....

Answer 13

Your believing the Democrat hype.

Not one is keeping the poor from care or wants them to starve. Any thing other than that is just a lie. No one goes with out heather care in the US no one.

Iam in heath care and we do not trun any one away because of the lack of cash.

I just believe it is better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish.

In other words you help him become a worker and not living to the next hand out.