Another Random Thought...
So, I was thinking the other day, as I am prone to do often. What does religion have to do with me being a conservative. I was raised in a Christian household, although we were not strict, practicing folk. My father for a time abhorred, what could best be described as contrived, organized religions. In fact, I can honestly say that, for a time, I flirted with the idea of agnosticism. But, through my fathers bemoanings and my pre-adulthood travails, I can truly state that I have remained a God-fearing fellow. I always think of that old, soldier's saying that states, "there are no atheists in foxholes." Who does not pray for help to get out of a bad situation. "Please, God if you get me out of this I'll never lie again...", or something along those lines.
So what then? What is it about faith and conservatism. Does it speak to the idea that too much change is a bad thing in terms of conservative thought, and that because religion and theistic thought have been around for so long that being without it would be strange? For does not the word conservative mean to conserve and favor traditional values? What could be more traditional than the idea of God?
Good and evil is a fine idea at which to look. In deed these are absolutes, biblical absolutes. What does the left think when our president includes in one of his speeches the idea of good,(us) and evil,(them)?
"If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
Is this the thought that scares liberals? The idea that perhaps God is not for us, or is it that the world is much too complex for such a simplistic idea as that? I would probably wager a dollar on the latter. I was reading nationalreview.com yesterday and saw a letter to Goldberg, which he posted on the Corner. It spoke of morality and the idea that, "morality is relative to context". If one were not paying attention, one may not give that idea its due neurological, intellectual time. Morality is relative to context?! Is that the battle cry of the left? Let us dig into that idea. Morality is the idea of right and wrong. So, given that right or wrong are relative to something, and that something is context, if one can change the context or at least blur any definite context, then the idea of right or wrong becomes almost irrelevant. Absolutes are no longer needed and should please exit through the window. Can you even fathom such an idea?
Let us just, for a moment try and comprehend losing a child at the hands of another human being. This other human being willfully and intentionally takes the life of your child, in any manner that an imagination could come up with to fit the story. According to the argument from the left about morality, that person's actions could be seen as something other than evil, other than at least bad. Given the right context that person's actions can be deemed if not good, at least understandable. Maybe he was abused, maybe he was not cared for, maybe he was not given the proper education, maybe...maybe...maybe... So taken to the extreme, the liberal idea of life is no longer valued, because given the proper context there is no right or wrong.
"The Church will continue to propose the great universal human values. Because, if law no longer has common moral foundations, it collapses insofar as it is law. From this point of view, the Church has a universal responsibility." Cardinal Ratzinger, October 2001
I believe it is the "Golden Rule", when you break it down to its most basic. And for a scary view of the left please visit this site, and pay close attention to number 6.
This whole idea of the conservative right, forget that just plain conservative, aligning with the faithful, the religious, or the church should make sense. It should provide one with at least a little bit of comfort, see Romans 8:31 above. It is natural to propose such an idea at a time of change in the world of leaders, and religious leaders at that. Pick up a newspaper, preferably one of the biggies, and read what some of these, so-called experts say about this new Pope. They brand him with the word conservative like it should be something that about which a person be ashamed. Jana Novak wrote of the Pope today:
"He is indeed conservative, in the sense that he believes strongly that there are absolutes, rights and wrongs"
Whether the Pope is with us or not, at least they think he is. It should bring a wry smile to your face, because if you think about it that is two, big, huge, honking, conservative victories, at least... (don't forget about Daschle saying sayanora).
...In God We Trust
So what then? What is it about faith and conservatism. Does it speak to the idea that too much change is a bad thing in terms of conservative thought, and that because religion and theistic thought have been around for so long that being without it would be strange? For does not the word conservative mean to conserve and favor traditional values? What could be more traditional than the idea of God?
Good and evil is a fine idea at which to look. In deed these are absolutes, biblical absolutes. What does the left think when our president includes in one of his speeches the idea of good,(us) and evil,(them)?
"If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
Is this the thought that scares liberals? The idea that perhaps God is not for us, or is it that the world is much too complex for such a simplistic idea as that? I would probably wager a dollar on the latter. I was reading nationalreview.com yesterday and saw a letter to Goldberg, which he posted on the Corner. It spoke of morality and the idea that, "morality is relative to context". If one were not paying attention, one may not give that idea its due neurological, intellectual time. Morality is relative to context?! Is that the battle cry of the left? Let us dig into that idea. Morality is the idea of right and wrong. So, given that right or wrong are relative to something, and that something is context, if one can change the context or at least blur any definite context, then the idea of right or wrong becomes almost irrelevant. Absolutes are no longer needed and should please exit through the window. Can you even fathom such an idea?
Let us just, for a moment try and comprehend losing a child at the hands of another human being. This other human being willfully and intentionally takes the life of your child, in any manner that an imagination could come up with to fit the story. According to the argument from the left about morality, that person's actions could be seen as something other than evil, other than at least bad. Given the right context that person's actions can be deemed if not good, at least understandable. Maybe he was abused, maybe he was not cared for, maybe he was not given the proper education, maybe...maybe...maybe... So taken to the extreme, the liberal idea of life is no longer valued, because given the proper context there is no right or wrong.
"The Church will continue to propose the great universal human values. Because, if law no longer has common moral foundations, it collapses insofar as it is law. From this point of view, the Church has a universal responsibility." Cardinal Ratzinger, October 2001
I believe it is the "Golden Rule", when you break it down to its most basic. And for a scary view of the left please visit this site, and pay close attention to number 6.
This whole idea of the conservative right, forget that just plain conservative, aligning with the faithful, the religious, or the church should make sense. It should provide one with at least a little bit of comfort, see Romans 8:31 above. It is natural to propose such an idea at a time of change in the world of leaders, and religious leaders at that. Pick up a newspaper, preferably one of the biggies, and read what some of these, so-called experts say about this new Pope. They brand him with the word conservative like it should be something that about which a person be ashamed. Jana Novak wrote of the Pope today:
"He is indeed conservative, in the sense that he believes strongly that there are absolutes, rights and wrongs"
Whether the Pope is with us or not, at least they think he is. It should bring a wry smile to your face, because if you think about it that is two, big, huge, honking, conservative victories, at least... (don't forget about Daschle saying sayanora).
...In God We Trust
posted by Daedalus at 4/21/2005 10:22:00 PM
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