|
After reading these reponses, I think the premise is becoming somewhat muddied. Neither conservatives or liberals can honestly claim to know what God wants or how a modern situation would be interpreted by God. If you want to talk about what Americans consider a religious people - dress up on Sunday, go to Church, have an early dinner - then that would likley skew heavily conservative. I think the real consideration ought to be that people at both ends of the spectrum likley have equal amounts of faith, but use that faith in different ways.
For instance, I believe in the Holy trinity, but I don't believe my church membership grants me a ticket to heaven. I am a member because it helps me understand my faith and celebrate it in a contemplative setting. I don't see it as a superior faith, something I need to push on people. Everything I've learned in church (and at my Methodist affiliated university) leads me to believe that faith is more important than which religion you follow. I don't think my personal politics relieves me from tenets set forth by my particular faith, but I don't think I get to enforce those tenets on my neighbor through legislation.
I can't say I know exactly what religious conservatives get from church, but I would suspect it's the same thing high schools get from pep rallies where they burn the opposing team's mascot in effigy. I could be wrong. They may hear sermons and wonder how they can help starving homeless folks.
__________________
I think the Apocalypse is happening all around us. We go on eating desserts and watching TV. I know I do. I wish we were more capable of sustained passion and sustained resistance. We should be screaming and what we do is gossip. -Lydia Millet
|