Lecture on Socialism and Orthodoxy

Hermit76 said:

I don't think they do. Dwight Eisenhower warned of the effect of the Military Industrial Complex that would grow unchecked. Though it crosses the aisle, the Republican party perfected it into a system. Reagan utilized the discontent of fundamentalists in the 1970s to push him into the presidency in 1980. When you read the whole history of that mess you realize that there is nothing particularly "Christian" about them.
That doesn't mean you can't vote for either side. I just think we have to be honest and understand that as Orthodox Christians we accept no ecumenical, pluralistic, Protestant, or secular government as being "Christian".

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I'm talking about the individuals rather than the party as a whole.

David Cabrera said:

I'm talking about the individuals rather than the party as a whole.

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I know plenty of democrats that are more faithful, pious christians (even Orthodox ones) than I am

AMM said:

I know plenty of democrats that are more faithful, pious christians (even Orthodox ones) than I am

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Where do you live?
In Texas, most Democrats I met are anti-Christian kind of people.

David Cabrera said:

Where do you live?
In Texas, most Democrats I met are anti-Christian kind of people.

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I’m on the east coast.

Trying to say that only one of the major parties has a Christian history/background is false. They both do, and have both abandoned it in different ways. I do think more traditional Christians lean Republican than Democrat, because the Dem platform is more openly hostile to the profession of traditional Christian teaching, especially regarding sexuality and the family, but the major parties both promote policies - in tandem even - that oppose what Christians in general and Americans in particular always used to think wrong.

rusmeister said:

Trying to say that only one of the major parties has a Christian history/background is false. They both do, and have both abandoned it in different ways. I do think more traditional Christians lean Republican than Democrat, because the Dem platform is more openly hostile to the profession of traditional Christian teaching, especially regarding sexuality and the family, but the major parties both promote policies - in tandem even - that oppose what Christians in general and Americans in particular always used to think wrong.

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agreed. while individual Democrats and Republicans are devout Christians, the parties on the whole are not (especially through the lens of Orthodoxy).

Democracy as a whole is an unchristian institution. Just the fact that democracy adds to the gospel it's own self professed dogmas about inalienable rights from our Creator such as the "pursuit of happiness", defines marriage in new ways based on cultural development and adds to or rescinds what are human rights based on the economic wealth of a nation proves this.

buzuxi02 said:

Democracy as a whole is an unchristian institution. Just the fact that democracy adds to the gospel it's own self professed dogmas about inalienable rights from our Creator such as the "pursuit of happiness", defines marriage in new ways based on cultural development and adds to or rescinds what are human rights based on the economic wealth of a nation proves this.

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that's not foundational to democracy

buzuxi02 said:

Democracy as a whole is an unchristian institution. Just the fact that democracy adds to the gospel it's own self professed dogmas about inalienable rights from our Creator such as the "pursuit of happiness", defines marriage in new ways based on cultural development and adds to or rescinds what are human rights based on the economic wealth of a nation proves this.

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I don't know why some claim stuff like Free Speech and Freedom of Religion are God's given rights. Where was that in Scriptures?

I think what is foundational to democracy is "all men are created equal". That's extremely important, and is a Christian idea.

Chesterton said:

I think what is foundational to democracy is "all men are created equal". That's extremely important, and is a Christian idea.

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"All men are created equal" is kind of vague.

Which is something is not even present in current society, let's say an immigrant wants to become US President, he won't even if he becomes a citizen.

David Cabrera said:

"All men are created equal" is kind of vague.

Which is something is not even present in current society, let's say an immigrant wants to become US President, he won't even if he becomes a citizen.

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except being President is not a right of anyone. we are created equal with respect to rights under the law. this is why marriage isn't a right.

ArmyMatt said:

except being President is not a right of anyone. we are created equal with respect to rights under the law. this is why marriage isn't a right.

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Wasn't the 14th amendment used to provide "marriage equality"?

David Cabrera said:

Wasn't the 14th amendment used to provide "marriage equality"?

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if it actually did, polygamy wouldn't still be illegal.

ArmyMatt said:

if it actually did, polygamy wouldn't still be illegal.

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Well, Polygamy has never had a lot of "rights activists". Isn't that what Obergefell v. Hodges decided anyways?

The United States is unique in that we’re citizens not subjects. We believe our rights are inalienable and God-given from the foundation of the world. Our rights cannot be infringed upon by man since they are from God Himself. The Democrats and their socialist ilk believe the opposite. Our rights exist at the whim of their politburo ideals. Instead of citizens giving $$$ out of the charity and love of their hearts, government takes citizens’ $$$ and forces charity. St. John Chrysostom tells us that charity gives the giver as much grace and blessings as the receiver who is down on his luck. Socialism has no soul, no Christ, and only one goal——power.

The Republicans have acquiesced far too many times to the liberals and many have been exposed as globalists.

While Rus is right in principle overall, I’m voting Republican across the board because our Republic depends on it at this point in history. Socialism cannot and will not win. I’d rather have civil war.

David Cabrera said:

Well, Polygamy has never had a lot of "rights activists". Isn't that what Obergefell v. Hodges decided anyways?

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Kinda. The SCOTUS doesn't really get to make laws, though. That's not their job. So Obergefell v Hodges didn't legalize polygamy any more than Loving v Virginia legalized same sex marriage, if that makes sense

AMM said:

Kinda. The SCOTUS doesn't really get to make laws, though. That's not their job. So Obergefell v Hodges didn't legalize polygamy any more than Loving v Virginia legalized same sex marriage, if that makes sense

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I mean about same-sex marriage being a "right". I wouldn't be surprised if Polygamy would become legal though.

David Cabrera said:

I mean about same-sex marriage being a "right". I wouldn't be surprised if Polygamy would become legal though.

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Ah I see. Then yes, that's right. The Court ruled that the right to marry was a fundamental liberty since it's related to personal autonomy

I'd also not be surprised, and I rather expect there to be cases in the courts relating to polygamy in the next few years