Ethics professor says Jesus would be a Dem.

[zmyrick19]

I took an ethics class a few years ago. One of my classmates asked how Jesus would affiliate himself politically. Our professor said he would lean Democratic. Nothing else was said about it. If I had known of Dr. Paul and his great Libertarian teachings at the time, I would have argued his answer. As I look back on it, I realize the professor didn't quite understand coercion vs. actual charity.

My question is: What are your thoughts on Jesus's possible political affiliation?

 

[acptulsa]

Oh, hell. Another prof who doesn't know when to say, "What do you think?" and shut the hell up. I think "Give unto Caesar what is of Caesar and give unto God what is of God" is pretty damned clear. He'd be for whoever stayed out of a person's relationship with his or her creator and that's about it.

What would Jesus do? Wear bracelets as a status symbol? How would Jesus vote? For coerced coat-giving? I saw an article on Slate.com asking what would Jesus drive, for the love of Pete. Jesus who always walked everywhere except only on Palm Sunday. Give me a break...

 

[amy31416]

I took an ethics class a few years ago. One of my classmates asked how Jesus would affiliate himself politically. Our professor said he would lean Democratic. Nothing else was said about it. If I had known of Dr. Paul and his great Libertarian teachings at the time, I would have argued his answer. As I look back on it, I realize the professor didn't quite understand coercion vs. actual charity.

My question is: What are your thoughts on Jesus's possible political affiliation?

Not that I'm all studied up on Jesus or anything, but he'd never do the "forced charity" that the Dems promote. I doubt he'd be part of a political party at all though.

 

[Conza88]

He'd support Ron Paul in presidental campaign.. quite literally on all accounts.
He's the one who defends our rights as being unalienable.

 

[LittleLightShining]

Jesus was an anarchist.

eta that he would NOT support Ron Paul. He had one agenda-- to reconcile the people with God.

 

[Omnis]

I remember Huckabee quipping at the Values Voters "debate" that Jesus was smart enough to stay out of politics.

I honestly believe that Jesus would be as LightShining described: libertarian-anarchist. Governments and politics played no part and would possibly be in the way of him spreading holiness around the earth.

 

[micahnelson]

I remember Huckabee quipping at the Values Voters "debate" that Jesus was smart enough to stay out of politics.

I loved that moment. The obvious next line was "I, however...."

 

[torchbearer]

If you look at his philosophy seriously, it fits more into the truest meaning of the word communist.
His vision was solely of the heaven we are trying to obtain, thus earthly possessions are nothing.
"Give up your worldly possession and follow me" was his test of faith.

What he practiced in his life... wasn't capitalism, it was communalism or communism,

Now before the flame wars begin, let me state, this isn't ment to be insulting, just a political analysis of his teaching.

This is something we studied on the collegiate level at a Baptist University. (though i'm not Baptist in the least I studied there and was impressed by the openess on the Profs)

So, no he was no Dem., Dem are socialist, which is completely different from true communism, where there is no government. True communism is closer to the "Utopia" scenario. That could only exist in "another world". The one Jesus spoke of.. that was to come.

What does he think of property? "Give to Ceasars what is Ceasars". Gives the impression that he isn't against property, its just isn't important for salvation?

 

[Kade]

Anarchist liberal Jew.

 

[yongrel]

If TSA used suspect profiling, Jesus would never be able to get on a plane.

 

[JMann]

If you look at his philosophy seriously, it fits more into the truest meaning of the word communist.
His vision was solely of the heaven we are trying to obtain, thus earthly possessions are nothing.
"Give up your worldly possession and follow me" was his test of faith.

What he practiced in his life... wasn't capitalism, it was communalism or communism,

Now before the flame wars begin, let me state, this isn't ment to be insulting, just a political analysis of his teaching.

This is something we studied on the collegiate level at a Baptist University. (though i'm not Baptist in the least I studied there and was impressed by the openess on the Profs)

So, no he was no Dem., Dem are socialist, which is completely different from true communism, where there is no government. True communism is closer to the "Utopia" scenario. That could only exist in "another world". The one Jesus spoke of.. that was to come.

What does he think of property? "Give to Ceasars what is Ceasars". Gives the impression that he isn't against property, its just isn't important for salvation?

I very much agree with your view but I would add that Junior allowed people do so voluntarily. So I would say jr. would of been a big supporter of the '60 style communal living of the flower children or something like the Peace Corps rather than a state sponsored communist system. Jr. asked people to help other people not for the government to help people by stealing other people's money.

 

[torchbearer]

I very much agree with your view but I would add that Junior allowed people do so voluntarily. So I would say jr. would of been a big supporter of the '60 style communal living of the flower children or something like the Peace Corps rather than a state sponsored communist system. Jr. asked people to help other people not for the government to help people by stealing other people's money.

That's what I mean. We are on the same page.
I just didn't feel like re-writing my thesis on this subject.

But thanks for the addition.

 

[FSP-Rebel]

If you look at his philosophy seriously, it fits more into the truest meaning of the word communist.
His vision was solely of the heaven we are trying to obtain, thus earthly possessions are nothing.
"Give up your worldly possession and follow me" was his test of faith.

What he practiced in his life... wasn't capitalism, it was communalism or communism,

Now before the flame wars begin, let me state, this isn't ment to be insulting, just a political analysis of his teaching.

This is something we studied on the collegiate level at a Baptist University. (though i'm not Baptist in the least I studied there and was impressed by the openess on the Profs)

So, no he was no Dem., Dem are socialist, which is completely different from true communism, where there is no government. True communism is closer to the "Utopia" scenario. That could only exist in "another world". The one Jesus spoke of.. that was to come.

What does he think of property? "Give to Ceasars what is Ceasars". Gives the impression that he isn't against property, its just isn't important for salvation?

You are right that Jesus said to give up your earthly possessions and follow him via faith and spirituality. But, he also gave people free will and thus there is no force being used to compel anyone to do anything. He leaves this communal journey up to each individual. He is actually a FreeMarketeer/Voluntaryist because he wouldn't use the force of the state to achieve any end--whether it's abortion, illegal immigration or any other social ''ill.''

 

[Cleaner44]

My opinion:
Jesus would see our American political system for the corrupt scam that it is and would denounce both the Republicans and Democrats. It is my understanding that Jesus did not look to kindly upon elitists leaders using and robbing the population.

 

[torchbearer]

You are right that Jesus said to give up your earthly possessions and follow him via faith and spirituality. But, he also gave people free will and thus there is no force being used to compel anyone to do anything. He leaves this communal journey up to each individual. He is actually a FreeMarketeer/Voluntaryist because he wouldn't use the force of the state to achieve any end--whether it's abortion, illegal immigration or any other social ''ill.''

(from above)
That's what I mean. We are on the same page.
I just didn't feel like re-writing my thesis on this subject.

But thanks for the addition.

 

[torchbearer]

I'm thinking people are miscontruing my use of the word communist because that is what we labeled the Socialist Government in USSR. (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which would describe our current republics in these many states of America perfectly. Who won the cold war?)

When I say the word communist, think of monks living voluntarily in a commune.
These governments that either we call communist, or that label themselves communist, or not truly communist, but socialist- by strict political science definition- which i'm using in this thread.

The Communist Party, has nothing to do with communism. Its just a name like Patriot Act.

 

[Truth Warrior]

Given that Jesus was executed through a conspiracy between both church AND state, my guess is that he'd probably just pass on the politics.

 

[torchbearer]

Given that Jesus was executed through a conspiracy between both church AND state, my guess is that he'd probably just pass on the politics.

It was obvious his focus was not the earthly, but the heavenly.

 

[Truth Warrior]

It was obvious his focus was not the earthly, but the heavenly.

That's my take!

Thanks!

 

[torchbearer]

That's my take!

Thanks!

Now if you want to see something neat about the development of religion... re-read the old testament. Take note of the focus.
There was no concept of "After-life" until later... as in your rewards were here on earth.
You did good. Good bless you here on earth. He'd give you your own kingdom.
You did bad. God punished you here on earth. God destroyed your city and turned you to stone.

The focus later changes as the years progressed.

It was an eye opener to me, when i went back through the entire bible in these collegiate studies, with new eyes.

I had 5 years of sociological and political studies before these theological classes.
With new lenses, it was amazing what i could see.. as far as religious/cultural changes through the bible.

Jesus was definitely unique. and definitely went against all previous theological thought prior to him in the Jewish traditions.
Probably why they didn't like him.

That is also where the theory came from that he studied in the east during the missing 30 years of his life.
Not that it was ever written that he did that... but because he brought to the area a new philosophy that could have been taken from a civilization that existed at the same time, just furthur away.