Would Jesus be a liberal or conservative?

[Bishop93]

Here’s something that I spotted on a different forum that may be pertinent to this silly, silly discussion:

If a conservative doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one.
If a liberal doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.

If a conservative is a vegetarian, he doesn`t eat meat.
If a liberal is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone..

If a conservative is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.
If a liberal is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.

If a conservative is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.
A liberal wonders who's to blame and who is going to take care of him.

If a conservative doesn't like a talk show host, he switches channels.
Liberals demand that those they don't like be shut down.

If a conservative is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church.
A liberal non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced.

If a conservative decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it.
A liberal demands that the rest of us pay for his.

If a conservative reads this, he'll forward it so his friends can have a good laugh.
A liberal will delete it because he's "offended".

I guess that makes me a conservative.

I love this and you are 100% correct.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

I would guess Jesus to be an independent. He’d be sickened to watch the millions of people denied health coverage as they rot in illness and He’d be outraged at the discrimination against people with prior conditions…it goes against our humanity.

He’d be outraged at the holocaust called abortion…

He’d be upset at the gay marriage agenda…

He’d care about workers and unions but wouldn’t tolerate corruption in them or the corruption in the corporate world

Jesus would not be an anti-government nut nor would He think it’s the only solution…

I think Jesus is apolitical and because He is the Son of Man He would not accept either of the extreme poles.

 

[royal_archer]

I would guess Jesus to be an independent. He’d be sickened to watch the millions of people denied health coverage as they rot in illness and He’d be outraged at the discrimination against people with prior conditions…it goes against our humanity.
…
Jesus would not be an anti-government nut nor would He think it’s the only solution…

We are all given talents to take care of our needs and to perform the tasks we are called to do for him. However when those don’t seem to be enough, I am guessing he would want people to look to him to fulfill their needs, not government forcing others to fulfill their needs.

 

[Havard]

I think someone has seen too much Jesus as Che posters lately…

Stanford University’s ‘Casa Zapata’, a Chicano-themed on-campus residence, has a mural with Che in Jesus’ place at the the Last Supper.

If people only knew about the real Che Guevara, the executions without trials, execution of women (even pregnant ones) and children, torture in prisons, such as ‘La Cabana’, that make GITMO look like Disneyland… ugh…

 

[Charlemagne_II]

royal archer

The question should not be what party Jesus would join, but what party tries to model itself around the principles of Jesus.

Good thought.

But I think the party that advocates the right to murder 1.5 million babies in the womb each year is not the party that is trying to model itself around the principles of Jesus.

I used to belong to that party. I think so have millions of others. Never again.

 

[markomalley]

I’m interested in hearing all points of view.

Who goes first?

I think that He’d tick “everybody” off.

Why? Because “everybody” is so self-righteous, they would not be able see the truth of what He taught.

nb: by “everybody,” I don’t mean that as a literal “everybody,” but rather members from all sides of the spectrum.

 

[royal_archer]

I think that He’d tick “everybody” off.

Why? Because “everybody” is so self-righteous, they would not be able see the truth of what He taught.

nb: by “everybody,” I don’t mean that as a literal “everybody,” but rather members from all sides of the spectrum.

Sorta like Ron Paul, who when you look at the details of his political philosophy they probably align better with biblical teaching than others and he is constantly criticized for those views.

Pro life, anti war, pro charity, anti turning to the government in place of God. Despised by the far left and far right.

 

[Major_Tom]

Sorta like Ron Paul, who when you look at the details of his political philosophy they probably align better with biblical teaching than others and he is constantly criticized for those views.

Pro life, anti war, pro charity, anti turning to the government in place of God. Despised by the far left and far right.

I’m very intrigued by some of his ideas, but I was very turned off by a piece in the New Republic in the last presidential election that linked him very directly with some outright racists. Very disappointing.

 

[ManOnFire]

Here’s something that I spotted on a different forum that may be pertinent to this silly, silly discussion:

If a conservative doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one.
If a liberal doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.

If a conservative is a vegetarian, he doesn`t eat meat.
If a liberal is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone..

If a conservative is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.
If a liberal is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.

If a conservative is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.
A liberal wonders who's to blame and who is going to take care of him.

If a conservative doesn't like a talk show host, he switches channels.
Liberals demand that those they don't like be shut down.

If a conservative is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church.
A liberal non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced.

If a conservative decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it.
A liberal demands that the rest of us pay for his.

If a conservative reads this, he'll forward it so his friends can have a good laugh.
A liberal will delete it because he's "offended".

I guess that makes me a conservative.

You made my day!

Where in the world did they get the term “liberal” if they want to legislate how everyone is supposed to think, feel, and act???

 

[royal_archer]

I’m very intrigued by some of his ideas, but I was very turned off by a piece in the New Republic in the last presidential election that linked him very directly with some outright racists. Very disappointing.

There were a lot of attack pieces on him.

 

[jdnation]

Jesus would say, “My way or the highway… to hell…”

 

[stinkcat_14]

I think that the key question we would have to ask Jesus to determine whether or not he was a liberal or conservative is: would he accept medicare and social security,. They are both government run programs A true conservative never accepts anything that his fellow taxpayers would have to pay for.

 

[Bluegoat]

You made my day!

Where in the world did they get the term “liberal” if they want to legislate how everyone is supposed to think, feel, and act???

The word liberal as used in US politics has little to do with real liberalism. And of course, the particular piece posted here is a joke, and really pretty shallow.

 

[Bluegoat]

Neither. He’d be a monarchist.

 

[Fortis_Fide]

Neither. He’d be a monarchist.

Amen to that! He’d be Transcendent to Politics but I believe He could be described as a Centrist Monarchist. He would possibly say that Republics were contrary to the natural order,but perhaps I’m just creating a Jesus based on myself? He undoubtedly would condemn the modern world due to the rampant sin,the unfair and unsound economic system and the party politics worldwide.

 

[Major_Tom]

They are both government run programs A true conservative never accepts anything that his fellow taxpayers would have to pay for.

Do conservatives ever call the police? Who pays for the police? I must be missing something…

 

[JohntheBeloved3]

I don’t think Jesus could be classified as either. I think he was (not to be redundant) a Christian Anarchist, Socialist and Pacifist. He obviously had a non-violent approach to things. He said things like “turn the other cheek” and “those who live by the sword, perish be the sword”. He cared deeply for the poor and downtrodden and criticized the rich immensely, along with his apostles (James 5). His belief in nonviolence kind of leaks over into his Anarchism, since governments are the natural war-mongers and hold a “monopoly on force”. He also said you can’t have two masters, either you pick God or government. St. Peter said to Caiaphas that “we must serve God rather than men”. Also, I think G. K. Chesterton may have been an Anarchist, and Dorothy Day definitely was. Just my two cents.

 

[St_Francis]

I don’t think Jesus could be classified as either. I think he was (not to be redundant) a Christian Anarchist,

Christ’s Church teaches that government is necessary, so He would not have been an anarchist.

Socialist

His Church teaches that Socialism is immoral because it violates the dignity of the people, so He would not have been a Socialist.

and Pacifist.

And His Church teaches that there are times when a persn needs to defend others, so He would not have been a pacifist.

He obviously had a non-violent approach to things.

Except of course when He didn’t, like when He overturned the tables of the moneychangers.

He said things like “turn the other cheek” and “those who live by the sword, perish be the sword”.

Each of which is an admonition to obey the laws and respect the government rather an admonition of non-violence. Elsewhere, He told the Apostles to be sure to take a sword along with them.

He cared deeply for the poor and downtrodden and criticized the rich immensely, along with his apostles (James 5).

**Why **did He criticize the rich? Was it because they had money or because they lept the money and ignored the needs of those “to whom less was given”?

His belief in nonviolence kind of leaks over into his Anarchism, since governments are the natural war-mongers and hold a “monopoly on force”.

See above.

He also said you can’t have two masters, either you pick God or government.

Not at all. Christ said that in context of one of the masters’ being money, not government. He attitude towards government was much better shown when He said, Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and unto God what is God’s–that Church and State are supposed to be complimentary, not opposed to each other.

St. Peter said to Caiaphas that “we must serve God rather than men”.

When there is conflict, we must obey God rather than man…

Also, I think G. K. Chesterton may have been an Anarchist,

GKC was a founder of Distributism, a far cry from being an anarchist.

and Dorothy Day definitely was. Just my two cents.

After her conversion, Day considered hersefl a Distributist also.

 

[Brendan]

Except of course when He didn’t, like when He overturned the tables of the moneychangers.

Or when he destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.

That was the same Jesus Christ who did that.

 

[kozlosap]

He would appear very conservative to liberals, very liberal to conservatives, and radical to everyone. Just as he did 2000 years ago.

I agree! The Romans considered him a usurper/revolutionary type.