Personally conservative but tolerant

[Nemo Neem]

I'm somewhat in a conundrum, too.

I'm a United Methodist, in seminary to be a pastor, and the UMC advocates very strong social justice issues a conservative wouldn't dare to touch. Yet, I believe in them and want to fight for them, although I do it in a moderate, temperate way.

I am a conservative in my heart. I'm conservative politically, fiscally, and orthodox in my views. So I'm something of an "enemy" here in Boston. I believe being moderate is my best choice right now and my worldview and future ministry will be trying very hard to create a bridge between liberal and conservative views.

I do have to say that here in Boston, sometimes people make you feel guilty for being a conservative. I've softened a lot over the years. I've become more open-minded and I now understand things I didn't understand before. Jesus taught me to love my neighbor as myself, and that's a mantra I try to live by.

 

[Albion]

I'm somewhat in a conundrum, too.

I'm a United Methodist, in seminary to be a pastor, and the UMC advocates very strong social justice issues a conservative wouldn't dare to touch. Yet, I believe in them and want to fight for them, although I do it in a moderate, temperate way.

I am a conservative in my heart. I'm conservative politically, fiscally, and orthodox in my views. So I'm something of an "enemy" here in Boston. I believe being moderate is my best choice right now and my worldview and future ministry will be trying very hard to create a bridge between liberal and conservative views.

I do have to say that here in Boston, sometimes people make you feel guilty for being a conservative. I've softened a lot over the years. I've become more open-minded and I now understand things I didn't understand before. Jesus taught me to love my neighbor as myself, and that's a mantra I try to live by.

There's nothing about conservatism that is not tolerant or moderate. I'd argue that both of those qualities are quite characteristic of conservatism (if not every person who considers himself to be conservative or "a Conservative"--by which I don't mean to refer to you).

 

[Nemo Neem]

There's nothing about conservatism that is not tolerant or moderate. I'd argue that both of those qualities are quite characteristic of conservatism (if not every person who considers himself to be conservative or "a Conservative"--by which I don't mean to refer to you).

Thanks. But conservatives get a bad name. It's almost as if you belief in something that is remotely conservative, then you're the Devil Incarnate. I think that's a little unfair. I'm all about being tolerant and understanding of people's beliefs and lifestyles; but don't tell me that what I believe is wrong or that I'm some kind of evil person.

 

[Marius27]

Thanks. But conservatives get a bad name. It's almost as if you belief in something that is remotely conservative, then you're the Devil Incarnate. I think that's a little unfair. I'm all about being tolerant and understanding of people's beliefs and lifestyles; but don't tell me that what I believe is wrong or that I'm some kind of evil person.

By the same token, Conservatives shouldn't be telling moderate/liberals that they're wrong and an evil person. I see lots of conservatives take the "I'm right, you're wrong, the Bible says it" attitude, which I find pretty obnoxious.

 

[Nemo Neem]

By the same token, Conservatives shouldn't be telling moderate/liberals that they're wrong and an evil person. I see lots of conservatives take the "I'm right, you're wrong, the Bible says it" attitude, which I find pretty obnoxious.

Absolutely! In fact, I've been critical of conservatives as of late because they shoot themselves in the feet for they preach legalism instead of preaching love and grace.

 

[JCFantasy23]

So I just posted a response to a thread in the liberal forum, but I thought I'd share this here, since some of you might be in the same boat. I am a Christian (Catholic/Anglo Catholic) who lives an almost fundamentalist personal life (rarely drink, don't swear, dress modestly, ect.) However I am very tolerant, or at least try to be, of other peoples lives. I believe that LGBT people have absolutely every right to legal marriage, that social welfare and caring for the poor is vital, and although I am pro-life, I understand abortion is a complex issue.
My dilemma is: conservative Chritians see me as not being serious about my faith, and frankly sometimes their intolerance can make me uncomfortable. Where as liberals are frightened of me because I can come off as conservative

Trust me, you're not alone. I consider myself serious about my faith and more traditional in worship. I don't consider myself liberal personally - however, I just don't see why Christians should have the say so in a lot of marriage decisions since we have the separation of church and state. I see that God Himself will honor what he thinks is a valid marriage in his eyes. And I am anti-abortion, it's just that I am also against too much government control. This does not make me a lesser Christian, I'm just looking at it as a legal and government issue. The same can be said for the horrible debate of assisted patient suicide. I was reading such heartbreaking stories on it yesterday. I am for less government control and more personal accountability on a lot of issues, which some people misunderstand as a Christian that it makes me too bending with my views, when that's not the actual case. So I repeat, trust me that you're not alone. We are to all work out our salvation before God.

 

[Albion]

Thanks. But conservatives get a bad name.

Of course they do. That's thanks to the campaigning of Liberals. That's why the chair of the DNC can say that Marco Rubio is a Nazi sympathizer, why the Democrat Senate Majority Leader can lie through his teeth and say that Mitt Romney didn't file tax returns for ten years, and why every run of the mill Liberal can say, without any shame, that there were no WMD in Iraq even though their guy Obama went on to draw that infamous and meaningless "red line" demanding that Assad turn them over!

It's almost as if you belief in something that is remotely conservative, then you're the Devil Incarnate.

That's the idea, all right.

I think that's a little unfair. I'm all about being tolerant and understanding of people's beliefs and lifestyles; but don't tell me that what I believe is wrong or that I'm some kind of evil person.

I understand, but that's politics for you.

 

[Albion]

Trust me, you're not alone. I consider myself serious about my faith and more traditional in worship. I don't consider myself liberal personally - however, I just don't see why Christians should have the say so in a lot of marriage decisions since we have the separation of church and state..

The answer to that is that they are citizens and voters no less than those who want to change the laws. Being a Christian doesn't invalidate your citizenship, and a person is perfectly within his rights to favor -- or disfavor -- any legislation on the basis of whatever meets with his own ethical code. For some, it's the Bible; for others, it's whatever they think is "fair."

 

[JCFantasy23]

The answer to that is that they are citizens and voters no less than those who want to change the laws. Being a Christian doesn't invalidate your citizenship, and a person is perfectly within his rights to favor -- or disfavor -- any legislation on the basis of whatever meets with his own ethical code. For some, it's the Bible; for others, it's whatever they think is "fair."

I have no issue with that and of course each Christian should have their own opinion on which way they'd like the law to go. And of course our religious beliefs will influence our thoughts on laws. That's not the issue I was sympathizing with the OP about, though, it was that so many Christians are quick to get angry and point fingers at those Christians who vote differently, for whatever reason. It doesn't make a person less of a "genuine" Christian, despite so many claims. It gets taxing.

 

[Albion]

I have no issue with that and of course each Christian should have their own opinion on which way they'd like the law to go. And of course our religious beliefs will influence our thoughts on laws. That's not the issue I was sympathizing with the OP about, though, it was that so many Christians are quick to get angry and point fingers at those Christians who vote differently, for whatever reason. It doesn't make a personal less of a "genuine" Christian, despite so many claims. It gets taxing.

Well, I can certainly sympathize with what you've said here.

 

[Marius27]

The answer to that is that they are citizens and voters no less than those who want to change the laws. Being a Christian doesn't invalidate your citizenship, and a person is perfectly within his rights to favor -- or disfavor -- any legislation on the basis of whatever meets with his own ethical code. For some, it's the Bible; for others, it's whatever they think is "fair."

Which is why we don't allow the will of the people to dictate civil rights. One person's religious ethics dictate how they should live, not dictate how others should live.

 

[Albion]

Which is why we don't allow the will of the people to dictate civil rights. One person's religious ethics dictate how they should live, not dictate how others should live.

All right, but we weren't talking about matters that would conflict with the Constitution. It was a comment about whether it's acceptable for a voter to cast his vote based upon some moral code or even, we might say, bias. Certainly it is.

If voter X thinks that a woman will be too frail for the office of president, for example, there is no reason he can't vote against the woman candidate, even if every piece of history and logic shows his thinking to be in error.

 

[Mary7]

So I just posted a response to a thread in the liberal forum, but I thought I'd share this here, since some of you might be in the same boat. I am a Christian (Catholic/Anglo Catholic) who lives an almost fundamentalist personal life (rarely drink, don't swear, dress modestly, ect.) However I am very tolerant, or at least try to be, of other peoples lives. I believe that LGBT people have absolutely every right to legal marriage, that social welfare and caring for the poor is vital, and although I am pro-life, I understand abortion is a complex issue.
My dilemma is: conservative Chritians see me as not being serious about my faith, and frankly sometimes their intolerance can make me uncomfortable. Where as liberals are frightened of me because I can come off as conservative

Been a long time since you posted that and I just joined last night I can so relate to some of what you are saying. I was Tea Party and had no tolerance for anyone that wasn't. No news but fox news. The Lord has dealt with me on alot of things the past year. I am still anti abortion but I now feel being pro life is more than just anti abortion. Pro life means dealing with those children after they are born. The bible speaks much on the topic of helping the poor and needy. In the past few days I have seen that I don't think the Lord wants us in all this political 'mess' but old habits die hard! (hey i'm tryin'!) My family and friends have turned on me and I feel like a shunned Amish. I was told just yesterday I am anti God because I don't agree with the Rep party. I felt like I had been slapped.
I don't know what a 'moderate christian' is. I am really going thru such spiritual changes now after having been saved/born again for many many years. I have been told that only Republicans are christians that a Democrat could never be a christian and I never doubted that (til this year). I see now that being a Republican is almost like a new religion. But anyway, I no longer know how to classify myself, lol. I am pro life, I have strong morals and I follow Jesus. The gay issue bothers me because to me the Word of God seems clear but oh all the hate I am seeing! (ie: kim davis followers). I have no hate for them at all.
So.. am I still a conservative? Politically ..no not any more but spiritually I think that I am. Just not sure how that differs from a moderate Christian.

 

[Albion]

Sounds like you have a lot to work through, Mary. But I'd suggest focusing on the principles involved and not what individuals in any particular religious or political camp say about you, their opponents, or some issue. That's the only way to appreciate where you stand and how it squares with the various categories of thought we talk about all the time--conservative, liberal, etc.

 

[JCFantasy23]

Been a long time since you posted that and I just joined last night I can so relate to some of what you are saying. I was Tea Party and had no tolerance for anyone that wasn't. No news but fox news. The Lord has dealt with me on alot of things the past year. I am still anti abortion but I now feel being pro life is more than just anti abortion. Pro life means dealing with those children after they are born. The bible speaks much on the topic of helping the poor and needy. In the past few days I have seen that I don't think the Lord wants us in all this political 'mess' but old habits die hard! (hey i'm tryin'!) My family and friends have turned on me and I feel like a shunned Amish. I was told just yesterday I am anti God because I don't agree with the Rep party. I felt like I had been slapped.
I don't know what a 'moderate christian' is. I am really going thru such spiritual changes now after having been saved/born again for many many years. I have been told that only Republicans are christians that a Democrat could never be a christian and I never doubted that (til this year). I see now that being a Republican is almost like a new religion. But anyway, I no longer know how to classify myself, lol. I am pro life, I have strong morals and I follow Jesus. The gay issue bothers me because to me the Word of God seems clear but oh all the hate I am seeing! (ie: kim davis followers). I have no hate for them at all.
So.. am I still a conservative? Politically ..no not any more but spiritually I think that I am. Just not sure how that differs from a moderate Christian.

People would probably describe moderate differently - some identify with that because of political views and some because of social issues. It's kind of being in between liberal and conservative. I see it as more open minded option since I don't see the issues or world in black and white. I don't like labels or boxing myself into small corners, if this makes sense - I identify as moderate because I agree with viewpoints politically and socially with all types - Conservative or Liberal

 

[hedrick]

It’s worth noting that the nature of the Republican party has changed recently. There are still plenty of fine people in the party, but the most visible representatives have become pretty hard to take. Until recently you would never have found Republican presidential candidates attacking or waffling on vaccines. I am actually in favor of limited government and liberty, though I also recognize that there are areas where there's probably no alternative to the government. (I'm beginning to think that health care is one of them.) But at this point it's hard to find any political candidates that really vote in favor of those things.

 

[Mary7]

It’s worth noting that the nature of the Republican party has changed recently. There are still plenty of fine people in the party, but the most visible representatives have become pretty hard to take. Until recently you would never have found Republican presidential candidates attacking or waffling on vaccines. I am actually in favor of limited government and liberty, though I also recognize that there are areas where there's probably no alternative to the government. (I'm beginning to think that health care is one of them.) But at this point it's hard to find any political candidates that really vote in favor of those things.

I agree with you hedrick

 

[Paul of Eugene OR]

It’s worth noting that the nature of the Republican party has changed recently. There are still plenty of fine people in the party, but the most visible representatives have become pretty hard to take. Until recently you would never have found Republican presidential candidates attacking or waffling on vaccines. I am actually in favor of limited government and liberty, though I also recognize that there are areas where there's probably no alternative to the government. (I'm beginning to think that health care is one of them.) But at this point it's hard to find any political candidates that really vote in favor of those things.

So true.

 

[Mary7]

By the same token, Conservatives shouldn't be telling moderate/liberals that they're wrong and an evil person. I see lots of conservatives take the "I'm right, you're wrong, the Bible says it" attitude, which I find pretty obnoxious.

Having been a strong Republican Tea Party member for many years and now seeing the lack of compassion, my conservative friends and family are shunning me and I have been told I am anti God because I am turning away from the hardness of the Republican party. Here in the South, you dare not disagree with the conservatives .. not openly anyway. I was close minded and judgmental and every conservative that I know (which means everyone I know lol) is the same way. Minds shut like a steel trap.

 

[thecolorsblend]

Having been a strong Republican Tea Party member for many years and now seeing the lack of compassion, my conservative friends and family are shunning me and I have been told I am anti God because I am turning away from the hardness of the Republican party. Here in the South, you dare not disagree with the conservatives .. not openly anyway. I was close minded and judgmental and every conservative that I know (which means everyone I know lol) is the same way. Minds shut like a steel trap.

Wow, that's just lovely. Being rejected by family just because you have a different opinion? Crazy.

Honestly I'd probably be a Tea Partier myself except that the economy is stacked against people starting out with little or nothing and trying to advance. It wasn't that way once upon a time but now it is. So I don't see why I should favor a system designed to cater to the already obscenely wealthy when tons of people can barely make ends meet month to month and they have no chance of getting ahead.

I've noticed a tendency lately among a lot of Christians to be socially right (or at least moderately so) but economically left. Certainly that's where I find myself nowadays. And the reason that kind of sucks is because there's no party out there who really governs that way. Democrats are far left on everything and and I don't believe a word that comes out of most Republicans mouths. It's a sad state of affairs, no doubt about it.