Fnord wrote:
Traditionally, "Christian Values" included at least these Biblical teachings of Jesus (maybe more):
- Fidelity in Marriage: "Whom God has joined together let no man put asunder" (Matthew 19:6).
- Forgiveness of Sins: "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us" (Luke 11:4).
- Love of God: "You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37).
- Unconditional Love: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44).
- Renunciation of Violence: "If a man strikes you on one cheek, turn the other cheek" (Matthew 5:39).
- Renunciation of Worldly Goods: "Gather not your riches up upon this earth, for there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21).
Currently, the phrase "Christian Values" has come to imply or include at least these values, as well (maybe more):
- Censorship of sexual content, especially in movies and on television.
- Sexual abstinence outside of marriage and abstinence-only education.
- Support for laws against the acceptance of homosexuality into mainstream society.
- Support for traditional complimentary roles for men and women in the family (e.g., Wage-earning husband and father, stay-at-home wife and mother).
- The desirability of laws against induced abortion and same-sex marriage.
- The desirability of organized Christian prayer in public schools.
- The promotion of Bible-based concepts to be taught in public schools and colleges as alternatives to concepts of science.
Thank you.
Turn the other cheek is badly misunderstood. Several denominations were built largely around that verse, yet it is totally taken out of it's original ancient middle eastern context. The original context is in line with Luke 22:36: Then He said to them, "But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.
As for the parties, I think the republicans try more. It's standard procedure in the democrats playbook to accuse republicans of not being more charitable, but it's not Biblical to expect that you are entitled to be given money and other goods and services of any value.
An old country preacher had a teenage son. It was getting time the boy should give some thought to choosing a profession; like many young Men his age the boy didn't really know what he wanted to do, and he didn't seem too concerned about it. One day, while the boy was away at school, his father decided to try an experiment. He went into the boy's room and placed on his study table four objects...
A Bible, a silver dollar, a bottle of whiskey, and a Playboy magazine.
'I'll just hide behind the door,' the old preacher said to himself. 'When he comes home from school today, I'll see which object he picks up.
If it's the Bible, he's going to be a preacher like me, and what a blessing that would be!
If he picks up the dollar, he's going to be a business man, and that would be okay, too.
But if he picks up the bottle, he's going to be a no-good drunken bum, and Lord, what a shame that would be.
And worst of all if he picks up that magazine he's going to be a skirt-chasing womanizer.'
The old man waited anxiously, and soon heard his son's foot-steps as he entered the house whistling and headed for his room. The boy tossed his books on the bed and as he turned to leave the room he spotted the objects on the table..
With curiosity in his eye he walked over to inspect them. Finally, he picked up the Bible and placed it under his arm. He then picked up the silver dollar and dropped into his pocket. He uncorked the bottle and took a big drink while he admired this month's centerfold.
'Lord have mercy,' the old preacher disgustedly whispered.
'He's gonna run for Congress.'
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"Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars."
- Unknown
"A fear of weapons is a sign of ret*d sexual and emotional maturity."
-Sigmund Freud