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Originally Posted by Igzy
Why just Christians? Why not also atheists or liberals or conservatives or Muslims, or any group with an opinion?
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I have the same problem when those people push agendas that would insist on their position to the exclusion of mine (where mine is not unrighteous).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Igzy
I think you are losing sight of the point that this is a democracy. Ultimately we are not going to get anything that is not the will of the majority, because ultimately that's what politicians respond to.
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Like I said to ZNP, I have not said to avoid the political arena. I have warned in favor of a different approach.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Igzy
You might say we do have laws most people don't like.
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I don't think I ever said that. I'm sure that there are laws that some people don't like.
But responding forward to at least one of your comments later in the post, there are many issues in which people find themselves in favor of a certain way but not sufficiently to oppose others who have reasons (whether we like them or not) to take a different position. A lot of it falls inside of the "it only hurts me" category, or is a matter "in private without harm to others." There are people who would like to outlaw public displays of romantic or lustful expression between members of the same sex. I find it repulsive. But unless it is of a nature that I would similarly deny such public display between a "normal" couple, I believe that it should not be outlawed. Just an example. That is very different from just not being bothered enough to want to change them. I find a just reason to refrain from such action (writing a law) as a matter of tolerance.
I do not see Christians being able to simply force their desires on others. But if Christians were to become the majority voting force (and managed to all be on the same page — doubtful) there are still many things that, in love for neighbor, that we should not do even though we could.
It might be that insisting on opening schools back up to prayer over the PA each morning is really too much — unless we are also going to permit an Islamic, Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist, etc., prayer, and a brief statement from the resident atheist.
Same for returning the 10 commandments to prominent display in capitol and court buildings. I don't think it is a problem to allow it. But it might be.
It gets murkier as you start into the laws that are so religiously and politically charged. Abortion. Homosexuality. EEOC. Even immigration laws.
I think you can get to more significant restrictions on abortion. Even to a rationale for restricting government funding of it due to the general outrage of to significant a part of the population against the practice. But if you think you can make it simply go away and not slam the Christian influence in the process — and find the repercussions severe when we cease to be the majority — then you are mistaken.
The issue is not what is possible, but what is prudent.
And it is not to refrain from politics.