Is libertarianism at odds with Christianity?

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

would Christ, if He were walking around today, be a liberal? Would He really support social programs, caring for the poor, national healthcare, etc.?


As a non-religious libertarian who has studied religion, while its easy for me to make a flip remark equating Jesus' message as socialism, I don't necessarily think that the concept of "Christian Charity" presupposes government involvement.

I think you can be in favor of helping the less fortunate and still be opposed to the government forcing everyone to do so.

I see no contradiction.

[tylerdurden]

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I think you can be in favor of helping the less fortunate and still be opposed to the government forcing everyone to do so.

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Ding!

Someone else brought up the "render unto ceasar what is ceasar's" quote. I'm no biblical scholar, but couldn't this also be taken to mean that Christians should do their ministry and let government do government stuff?

[QuadsOverQuads]

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I think you can be in favor of helping the less fortunate and still be opposed to the government forcing everyone to do so.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ding!

Someone else brought up the "render unto ceasar what is ceasar's" quote. I'm no biblical scholar, but couldn't this also be taken to mean that Christians should do their ministry and let government do government stuff?

[/ QUOTE ]

"Interpret" it all you like, Jesus said what he said.

Just because it's politically inconvenient for you doesn't change its meaning or give you the authority to rewrite it to better suit your own political agenda.

I watch people on the right wing do this all the time, though. They claim to be "Christians" -- literally "followers of Christ" -- but whereever Jesus said something that they don't want to submit to, they just "interpret" it to mean whatever their personal politics demands of them.

I find it fascinating that such people still think of themselves as "Christians", since it's clear that when they have to choose between Jesus' actual teachings and their own predispositions, their own predispositions take precedence every time.


q/q

[tylerdurden]

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Just because it's politically inconvenient for you doesn't change its meaning or give you the authority to rewrite it to better suit your own political agenda.

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Pay your taxes, effectively. Hey, I pay mine.

I don't see where Jesus said "force others to pay taxes."

He said "do unto others as you would have done to you." I don't know many people that like being forced to do things. I certainly don't. But I do know lots of people (including myself) that like being helped. Therefore, I should help others, but not force other people to do things they don't want to do.