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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums"If you are a Republican, why the hate?"
I asked that from my IT guy helping me self publish a book who told me he was "pro-life" and a Republican. He's only 28, very much a young computer guy, and nice. He is religious, calling himself something to do with the Lutheran Church. He lives at home with his parents and sisters.
In response to my question, he said "I don't know."
I didn't want to nag at him. He's been a very valuable person in my life right now, helping me with my art books and slide shows. He has a physical ailment that causes him to make sudden slight jerking of his head.
He doesn't strike me as vengeful against women. But on his last visit I vented a bit on some politics du jour of right wing republicans and he then said he was a republican and I asked him about the hate.
I hope he ponders my question to him a bit more. Why the hate?
LakeArenal
(28,729 posts)I havent found one Republican that considers themselves haters. But they sure act hateful.
Bettie
(15,998 posts)has as its central message: believe what we tell you or face eternal torture. That message is stressed hard in right wing evangelical churches, as well as ensuring that what they tell you includes to hate the people they tell you to.
So, maybe it's baked in?
dawg
(10,610 posts)I was taught in church that it's wrong to hate anyone - even an enemy that would kill me if given the chance.
I don't recognize the "Christianity" that is practiced in most evangelical churches these days. It is a departure from the way I was introduced to the faith back in the 70's.
Bettie
(15,998 posts)that white evangelical churches in particular, aren't so much churches anymore as they are arms of the Republican party.
Last time I had to go to my DH's family's church, they were literally saying, during the services, to vote for only Republicans. Then the preacher went on and on about the evils of liberals and especially "radical feminists". He was pretty excited about it.
dawg
(10,610 posts)And I don't mean things that I hear about on the internet. I mean locally.
Some preachers love to think of themselves as bold "truth-tellers". But their so-called boldness is reserved for the "other". They dare not preach about all of the sinful acts and attitudes that their congregation is actually guilty of. Better to make themselves, and their listeners, feel "holier-than-thou" by raging against convenient targets who don't have the social power within the church to fight back.
KPN
(15,587 posts)I agreed to attend with sisters (different 1 each time) on trips to visit them back in MA in the past 10 years. Both times, the ministers projected evil on Muslims and democrats. I walked out of the service the first time, but the 2nd was at my favorite siblings church when she was in late stage breast cancer didnt want to upset her.
Genki Hikari
(1,766 posts)My mother forced me to attend, the minister used to scream about the devil coming to get everyone until he was purple in the face. He also had a serious hatred of women and brown people, because he was always going on about how uppity they were getting and needed to remember their place.
It was the same at every SBC church we went to. And at the Methodists, too. The behavior of various flavors of the delusion have acted in similar ways over all the years of my life.
So it's the same old hate religion it's always been from what I've seen of them.
CTyankee
(63,771 posts)I didn't challenge his party choice, I wanted to hear about it from him. I think if you understand why a good person like him could be a Republican nowadays (and be honest about it), you could understand why good people either become or are born into the Republican Party.
Maybe -- I hope -- he will ponder my question. Deeply.
Bettie
(15,998 posts)I'm so frustrated by finding out that people I thought were decent are....not.
And I usually find out by seeing them while I'm out and about wearing a "Fuck Your Feelings" or "Let's go Brandon" shirt, or their stupid red hats.
CTyankee
(63,771 posts)Prairie_Seagull
(3,229 posts)you. A couple of well placed bible quotes may help. "But didn't Jesus say"...
Prairie_Seagull
(3,229 posts)Would make most of us nervous to discuss even outside of a bar. Having a conversation with you and me.
CTyankee
(63,771 posts)deposition of Christ showing the nails in Jesus' feet and blood smears on the wood. I found it tremdously moving and said "This must have moved viewers of his art to tears, which art is supposed to do!" I do hope that from this experience he will revere art, which is mostly Christian, because of its reverential treatment of Christ.
hatrack
(59,442 posts)Diamond_Dog
(31,669 posts)They claim we hate Christians!
CTyankee
(63,771 posts)He knows I am pro-choice and is still doing work for me. I don't argue with him about it.
Just A Box Of Rain
(5,104 posts)I share your hope that he ponders that question.
It is possible to reach other human beings. Sometimes, anyway.
CTyankee
(63,771 posts)about Christianity as a result of all the art history from Europe I write about.
Just A Box Of Rain
(5,104 posts)How else can we hope to repair the world?
CTyankee
(63,771 posts)his help and gives him credit on my slide shows and on my upcoming book. So even atheists can be good people!
Just A Box Of Rain
(5,104 posts)The world could use more people like you.
Respect.
CTyankee
(63,771 posts)other people and respect their views. If nothing more, show them how we Dems treat people. If all they know is faith-based hate, show them kindness. They won't be expecting it and they will learn from it. they will learn Dems aren't baby killing monsters. We have families, children and grandchildren we love. I think that is all we can do, because we can't out-argue politics with them.
I doubt I changed this young man's thinking. But I hope HE will think us Dems aren't that bad!
Prairie_Seagull
(3,229 posts)Very interested however in Jesus as a man. Sign me up when your book is published.
CTyankee
(63,771 posts)How did artists deal with presenting that which is heard but cannot be seen? I start with the Ghent Altarpiece from the 13th century (presenting choir singing) and onward into the 20th century with the music album cover for "Sugar Shack" and a discussion of Marvin Gaye's involvement. It was fun to write actually!
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