Political quiz

[Imran Siddiqui]

That's literally the opposite of what you've been saying.

That is actually exactly what I've been saying. But thanks for playing. Go off and get high now.

[kentonio]

Lori and Imran save the thread.

Kento, how much of Blair's view was influenced by his Catholicism? I bet most of it...

JM

So what? We hold politicians accountable to the promises they make and the positions they profess to hold. Is it supposed to be a good thing that we should judge people based on their religion? So if you tell everyone you're a Christian then we should just presume to know what you're going to think and how you're going to act?

[Sava]

It's funny when people convert to Christianity and then insist all their morals are based on Christianity.

Converts are the worst.

Most of us can at least fall back on the fact that we didn't get to choose our religion. Why would anyone choose to go to church? I seriously question anything anyone says if they make wasting a Sunday morning/afternoon at church a priority in life.

[Jon Miller]

It's funny when people convert to Christianity and then insist all their morals are based on Christianity.

As far as basic morals go, most (all?) successful religions share them. Particularly the abrahamic religions and those heavily influenced by the abrahamic religions (which includes part of hinduism influenced religions).

JM
(It has actually been amazing to see how 'mixed' it is among the Indian community in SA. They go from very fundamentalist evangelical (but without well developed theology) to hindu (I don't know any muslims, but there are many muslims in SA), but many on both 'christian' and 'hindu' sides have some mix.)

[kentonio]

That is actually exactly what I've been saying.

Feel free to take the time to explain exactly why you suddenly went from having a calm discussion to swearing at me btw. Or are christians only reasonable people when everyone else is kissing their ass?

[Imran Siddiqui]

My aren't we thin skinned?

I also missed where I said YOU ****ING ATHEIST....

[kentonio]

My aren't we thin skinned?

Not really, I guess I just held you to a higher standard than most people here. My mistake.

[Sava]

That is actually exactly what I've been saying. But thanks for playing. Go off and get high now.

Cite a single post of yours before Lori's where you mirror something he said.

Because I've read all your posts in this thread. You don't just get to jump on the reason train, sorry.

[Lorizael]

Religion is given far too much credit for "influencing" beliefs. If we're going to credit religion for influencing beliefs like "don't murder" or "don't steal", then religion (Christianity in particular) needs to be held accountable for not mentioning stuff like slavery and child rape as being wrong.

This isn't how Imran's beliefs influence his politics. Imran has talked before about how he became significantly more liberal when he became Christian. For example, he cares a lot more about the plight of the poor now because of his Christianity. So his politics are shaped by that priority of his, which is in turn shaped by his religion. It doesn't mean he's attempting to put his religion into law, and it doesn't mean he's claiming that his religion is the basis of the law; it just means that his religion is the source of the ethics he applies to politics. We all have some source of ethics we call upon when taking political stances; for some that source is religious.

(Sorry for completely speaking for you, Imran.)

[Sava]

Not really, I guess I just held you to a higher standard than most people here. My mistake.

Imran also likes to pretend that he doesn't go all: "DURR YOU PUSSYTWAT!" at people

[Sava]

This isn't how Imran's beliefs influence his politics. Imran has talked before about how he became significantly more liberal when he became Christian. For example, he cares a lot more about the plight of the poor now because of his Christianity. So his politics are shaped by that priority of his, which is in turn shaped by his religion. It doesn't mean he's attempting to put his religion into law, and it doesn't mean he's claiming that his religion is the basis of the law; it just means that his religion is the source of the ethics he applies to politics. We all have some source of ethics we call upon when taking political stances; for some that source is religious.

(Sorry for completely speaking for you, Imran.)

My post has nothing to do with Imran. I personally don't care what rationalizations he uses to explain why he believes the things he does.

[kentonio]

This isn't how Imran's beliefs influence his politics. Imran has talked before about how he became significantly more liberal when he became Christian. For example, he cares a lot more about the plight of the poor now because of his Christianity. So his politics are shaped by that priority of his, which is in turn shaped by his religion. It doesn't mean he's attempting to put his religion into law, and it doesn't mean he's claiming that his religion is the basis of the law; it just means that his religion is the source of the ethics he applies to politics. We all have some source of ethics we call upon when taking political stances; for some that source is religious.

What is the relevance? Why is it important to make the point that you believe in a certain ethical position because you follow God A. Does that somehow make your ethical position more solid?

[Felch]

I haven't made any comments WRT Caesaropapism.

Maybe try to follow the discussion.

I mentioned Caesaropapism, and you quoted me and responded saying that Orthodoxy doesn't have a pope. So yeah, you absolutely have made a comment WRT Caesaropapism, and furthermore you've demonstrated you don't know what the word means.

Which is funny because you could have just googled it and avoided looking like an idiot.

[Jon Miller]

It means that religion is important to you and influences your life. And if you want to understand such a person, then you would want to know what their religious views are.

It is similar to wanting to know who is contributing to a politician and what relationships he/she has to different interest groups and corporations.

JM

[Imran Siddiqui]

Cite a single post of yours before Lori's where you mirror something he said.

Because I've read all your posts in this thread. You don't just get to jump on the reason train, sorry.

Tell me exactly where David Cameron is enforcing his religious beliefs on people by simply stating in a speech that Britain should be proud to be a Christian country? Maybe you can extrapolate it from that. If you can.