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Originally Posted by galveston  What is the basic difference between conservatives and liberals? Why do we see things so differently? I am posting here although the subject could be in the philosophy thread or the religion thread as it touches all of them.
I am going to throw something out there for you to kick around.
Of course, I am dealing with generalities and not the occasional exception, and this applies more to social issues than economic issues.
The differences between the two camps goes deeper than the issues normally discussed. The differences are rooted in your view of the basic nature of mankind.
Christians are normally social conservatives and social liberals are normally humanists.
Christians hold the Biblical view that man has a fallen nature in dire need of change, while humanists believe that man is more a product of his environment, and if his environment can be perfected, then he will become (almost) perfect.
The framers of the Constitution were mostly men with a Biblical world view, and because of that they attempted to put man’s fallen nature in check with a system that gave no one supreme authority. They instituted checks and balances for the very reason that men cannot be trusted.
Of course, the humanistic view is that most men are basically good and if given the proper understanding will do the right thing. That is why the humanist believes that terrorists can be negotiated with and peace will result.
A man named Chamberlain believed that about Hitler and he was dead wrong.
And finally, your world view has much to do with the way you vote.
I hope we have a lot of fun with this. |
I think this is a great question.
Christian conservatives understand the fallen nature of humans and our dependence on God. That is why I personally do not put my entire trust in one man, ahem Obama, or one goup of people; congress or the supreme court for example.
I think the founding fathers knew this and so in chartering this country they wanted to make sure central government would not be to strong. Too much power in one small group of fallible human beings is close to monarchy. Power spread out among the individual people, the states is a safer bet.
I think humanist/ liberals deny this premise. I think they believe that perfection is attainable - just try harder, or put in the right people, or the right policies,or the right political system. I think this explains their faith in government solutions. Often they will point out that Acts is an endorsement of communism or socialism but neglect that theses folks were guided by the Spirit of God.
If you look at the gospels, Jesus Christ was very personal. Salvation is an Individual choice. Your walk with God is personal [ David, the apostles etc . ] The state, the roman government could not save people. You, the individual are expected to love God and love your neighbor. Charity is individual choice, not a government mandate or conscription.
Another contrasting issue is on truth and right and wrong.
The Bible is clear on what is right and wrong - from hate to sexual issues, to pride etc...
There IS sin, and this in contrast to love. There IS judgement and this in contrast to mercy and grace. There IS a Hell and there IS Heaven.
Liberals and humanist don't seem to believe in absolute truth or absolute right or wrong. There seems to be this whole mantra of do you own thing, think your own thing, or make your god the way you want him to be, certainly not the God of the Bible. You see that relativism here, especially in the threads dealing with homosexuality. Tolerate everything so you don't hate anything.
G&P
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