Why Christians vote Republican, the sequel

IF YOU WANT TO READ SWEAR WORDS, and name-calling, ask the question I asked in yesterday’s blog:

Why are Christians voting Republican?

Sadly, in the swirl of vitriol, I didn’t get much insight beyond this gem:

More often than not, people get ticked as all get out if you don’t agree with them.

It’s frustrating to me that even Christians have such a hard time explaining why they vote the way they do—and what role, if any, their faith plays it in.

But maybe I shouldn’t be surprised. Many of us Christians aren’t particularly adept at explaining why we believe what we believe, either.

It’s as though we’re more into believing than thinking.

I did, however, get a few kindly stated responses to my question.

Let me pass them along without comment, since in yesterday’s blog I expressed my thoughts.

Republicans speak

• “The Bible settles the issue of life and homosexuality. It also settles the issue of loving our neighbor and taking care of the orphan and widow. The mandate is for the church to do those jobs not for the government to extract my money to do so. I’m not happy with overspending on either side but we can ill afford to keep going in the direction of the last four years.”

[Here are four reasons one person gave for voting Republican. #2 is no mistake.]

1. Abortion.
2. See #1.
3. Freedom of exercise of Religion issues – health care contraception, removal of religious expression from public places, etc.
4. Trust issues with the Democrats – liberal atheists and etc.

• “I’ll never understand Christians who vote Democrat. Today’s Democrats are very socialist in their views and actions…. It boils down to this: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.’ Now don’t tell me that is the reflection [of] the Democrat’s platform.

Democrats speak

• Our Constitution guarantees, among other individual rights, freedom of religion and freedom from the imposition of other’s beliefs. That’s why the oath of office for Congress and all military officers is to preserve and defend the Constitution of our Republic, a nation of law, without reservation. The fundamentalists of the so-called religious right don’t care about the Constitution, and some Republicans have forgotten their oaths.

• How many of us vote with our heart or with our wallet? If even one Christian answers “wallet” is it not a reflection of us all?

• [Why do Christians vote Republican?] Because their pastors are telling them to.

[Counterpoint to item #3 in the Republican list]

• Freedom of religion doesn’t give you the right to dictate what others can have covered under their own health insurance. I sure wouldn’t want a Jehovah’s Witness deciding what medical treatments I should be allowed access to easily.