I really wondeed about this. Even though everything gets stereotyped to an extent, it seems like Christianity is seen as going hand in hand with conservatism. Is it contradictory to have Christian beliefs while being left wing?

It depends on what aspects of Christianity one chooses to emphasize.  For conservatives it's patriarchy, authoritarianism, shame, and surveillance.

For liberals it's charity, egalitarianism, communitarianism, and forgiveness. 

Of course, the "Christianity" sold by the American Right over the past 30 years has little to do with anything Jesus taught; it's an apocalyptic cult championing materialism, greed, bigotry, and revenge. 
::)

Max said everything I planned on saying. +1

I'm a Moderate with some liberal leanings Christian, so yeah we're there.

Jesus was the first hippie.  There is your answer. ;D

Sure.  You can believe in God and Jesus and still do stem cell research. 

Max said everything I planned on saying. +1


Hey, thanx man!
http://www.inthe00s.com/smile/13/icon_thumright.gif

As cliche' as it is, everyone is very different.  I know many Christians who take liberal positions on certain issues.  People really are snowflakes--to quote Dennis Miller.  ;D

I think it's important to not stereotype any group regardless, because it seems that the most vocal and most passionate members of any group can be the harshest as well.

Many Catholics, Quakers, and UCC lean toward the left.

Usually, the Christians SHOULD be liberal, but as I go to my church and I'm told to throw away stuff that belongs to a bum or phonic books that don't have any writing and told to throw it away, that concerns me....

As cliche' as it is, everyone is very different.  I know many Christians who take liberal positions on certain issues.  People really are snowflakes--to quote Dennis Miller.  ;D

I think it's important to not stereotype any group regardless, because it seems that the most vocal and most passionate members of any group can be the harshest as well.

LOL thanks Audrey, I totally agree and i think that's true. :)

Yeah I hate stereotypes, especially when people rip on an entire group just because of the extreme 10% or something.

That's the thing with me too, where I "sorta fit into" a bunch of different groups but never felt like I totally belonged to any of them. I've always been like this too, which could be why I tend to have alot of acquaintances as opposed to a small number of close friends.

Like generally I'm a treehugger liberal (i.e. open-minded, compassionate, peaceful) yet I'm against abortion and in some instances pro-tough on crime (more for felonies, not so much little stuff teens in gangs or petty thieves who just made a simple mistake). At the same time, even if I'm not technically religious I have quite a few Christian-type beliefs, like disapproving of porn. Yet I totally support gay marriage and stuff like that.

I have no idea what that makes me though. ;D

I have no idea what that makes me though. ;D

Human :)

My younger cousin is a church-goer since as long as I can remember, but he's liberal for sure... and in the heart of the Bible Belt to boot. I remember his graduation from a private Christian academy a few years ago, when the M.C. read out his future plans... Everyone else had the usual plans, lawyer etc... The girls mostly said their next step would be motherhood and huswifery. My cousin's was to become a doctor... 'so he can help people who have no insurance.' The lady read. People clapped obligingly, but I noticed that a lot of them were made uncomfortable by such a charitable goal. The f**king hypocrites.

I got up and clapped louder than anyone in that room. I was exploding with pride. 

My younger cousin is a church-goer since as long as I can remember, but he's liberal for sure... and in the heart of the Bible Belt to boot. I remember his graduation from a private CHristian academy a few years ago, when the M.C. read out his future plans... Everyone else had the usual plans, lawyer etc... The girls mostly said their next step would be motherhood and huswifry. My cousin's was to become a doctor... 'so he can help people who have no insurance.' The lady read. People clapped obligingly, but I noticed that a lot of them were made uncomfortable by such a charitable goal. The f**king hypocrites.

I got up and clapped louder than anyone in that room. I was exploding with pride. 


I just gave him a round of applause...pass it on

by the way, one of my favorite charities is Doctors Without Borders, so I especially like what he said.

Yes, liberal Christians do exist.  One of my closest and dearest friends is Mennonite and his stance is "who am I to judge?" I think even the most Conservative Christian are more understanding than people think.  However they do have a tendency to go with the flock.

My younger cousin is a church-goer since as long as I can remember, but he's liberal for sure... and in the heart of the Bible Belt to boot. I remember his graduation from a private Christian academy a few years ago, when the M.C. read out his future plans... Everyone else had the usual plans, lawyer etc... The girls mostly said their next step would be motherhood and huswifery. My cousin's was to become a doctor... 'so he can help people who have no insurance.' The lady read. People clapped obligingly, but I noticed that a lot of them were made uncomfortable by such a charitable goal. The f**king hypocrites.

I got up and clapped louder than anyone in that room. I was exploding with pride. 



I used to volunteer at an organization that operated the local food shelf. The Board of Directors consisted of the local clergy and others in the community (including me). Every board meeting would always start with a Christian prayer and NOT ONCE did they ever pray that one day our services will no longer be needed.

I also noticed that they seems to prefer to give help to certain people and not want to help others. Yeah, they did help but it seemed like they were FORCED to help others. 

I stopped volunteering & sitting on the Board of Directors because I was tired of their B.S. Carlos will tell you that they forced me out-which he could be right. After all, I'm a Pagan and how dare a Pagan want to help people. That is for the Christians.  ::)  It is a shame because I felt like I did a lot of good in this community and they lost a really good volunteer who did A LOT for the organization. 



Cat

Overhere the christian socialism is very present. The Liberation theology was probably the reason why there are so many catholics in South America,what is strange to most of us is associating christianity with the right wing folks.

http://graphjam.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/population.gif

Oh c'mon! I don't think Republicans eat puppies....they just shoot 'em at let 'em rot on the ground!
http://www.inthe00s.com/smile/04/dogrun.gif

Oh c'mon! I don't think Republicans eat puppies....they just shoot 'em at let 'em rot on the ground!
http://www.inthe00s.com/smile/04/dogrun.gif


Whoops.  Wrong graph jam.  I thought that was the one about religion.  My bad. :-[

Now let me go see if I can find the right one... ;D

http://graphjam.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/population.gif


Oh my gosh I love that, lol.  ;D

Oh my gosh I love that, lol.  ;D


Well, I couldn't find the other graph, but it's basically the same as this one, except you replace the political names with religion. ;D

Well, I couldn't find the other graph, but it's basically the same as this one, except you replace the political names with religion. ;D


Oh okay, although I think it's still semi-relevant to the topic.  :)