Is there wisdom in discussing faith based aspects of current events/politics on Free Republic?

http://www.freerepublic.com/ ^ | 10/6/01 | Dr. Brian Kopp (proud2brc)

[Dr. Brian Kopp]

A participant on a current thread, America Losing Her Purpose? God raised America to preach Gospel, protect Israel, preserve Liberty asks a very important question:

I need your opinion, is there wisdom in discussing this [religious aspects of current events]on a news site like FR?

I feel this is a very important question for participants on Free Republic to examine. I have attempted to explore this very question, in general, on Free Republic, in the form of several threads:

Why Religious Threads are Essential to Free Republic: The Necessity for Christianity

Freeper Wars: Bible Christians Versus Roman Catholic/Orthodox: A Question For All

Clarion Call to Christians in the Freeper Wars: How to Win the Culture War--Who, then, is Our Enemy?

I have specifically tried to explore the issues of faith relating to the terrorist attack with these threads:

Must God Apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah?

MOTHER ANGELICA PLEADS FOR PURGING OF "OTHER" TERRORISM IN U.S.

ATHEISTS REJECT COUNTRY'S TURN TOWARD PRAYER

Regarding Falwell, Baldwin, Mother Angelica's statements and God's Role (?) in WTC Terror attack

Personally, I think any "Conservative" political movement in America must be animated by a continual reference to, and analysis of, the intersection between faith and politics.

"Conservatism" needs definition on a forum like this:

Main Entry: con·ser·va·tism
Pronunciation: k&n-'s&r-v&-"ti-z&m
Function: noun
Date: 1835
1 capitalized a : the principles and policies of a Conservative party b : the Conservative party
2 a : disposition in politics to preserve what is established b : a political philosophy based on tradition and social stability, stressing established institutions, and preferring gradual development to abrupt change
3 : the tendency to prefer an existing or traditional situation to change

Personally I believe that a political philosophy based on tradition and social stability, stressing established institutions in America is, by definition, based on Judeo-Christian tradition and social stability.

Therefore, I do not shy away from calling those self proclaimed conservatives here on FreeRepublic.com "A Conservative News Forum" back to the very roots of that "Conservatism, " namely Judeo-Christian principles and belief. Christianity is integral to the continuance of Conservatism in America and thus The Necessity for Christianity on Free Republic.

I would like to see a charitable discussion and debate on the defintion of, and basis/roots of, the "Conservative" aspect of FreeRepublic.com "A Conservative News Forum."

[Dr. Brian Kopp]

Would it be possible to engage my fellow Free Republic members in such dialogue (without posters descending into flaming and ad hominem attack) ?

[Glenn]

Wisdom? No. All you'll get is the usual attitude of those who believe this is all ordained for a Christian nation.

[Dr. Brian Kopp]

I'd like to see a reasonable discussion of this concept. Would you be willing to alert your bump list, if you think this subject has merit for discussion here?

[katnip]

Would it be possible to engage my fellow Free Republic members in such dialogue (without posters descending into flaming and ad hominem attack) ?

Never seen one yet, but then I'm a Catholic who believes in miracles

[HalfIrish]

George Washington warned us about getting involved in this bullslip. I think he speaks with plenty of authority on where this nation should be headed. We shouldn't be any nation's protector. Period.

[McGavin999]

Well, let's see. I was taught that the two things you should never discuss publically are religion and politics. Therefore, what better to discuss on a public political forum than religion?

LOL, seriously, religion is always difficult to discuss because it is, by neccessity, such a personal issue. The fact that the recent crimes were committed in the name of a particular religion makes it pretty hard to skirt.

Perhaps it's important to probe this issue in order to recognize the difference between those who love God, and those who would use Him to further their own agenda.

[longleaf]

Did someone say "George Washington"?

George Washington's vision

[Born to Conserve]

Faith is beyond reason.

Logical discussion of matters of faith can only occur between those with similar faith.

Persons of dissimilar faith can enter in to logical discussions of faith if they agree to put aside their faith. In effect, they would be making themselves similar in faith by doing so. Doing this is very difficult.

IMHO

[HalfIrish]

Where in that vision does it say we are supposed to be the world's policeman? He was very explicit in his farewell address that we should not be.

[f.Christian]

What do you think about this... thread?

[Amerigomag]

Thank you. You've presented one of the few absolute truths of secular or religious political discussion.

[Notwithstanding]

Faith and Reason are complementary.

The only people who do not allow faith into any discussion are those who have failed to examine faith seriously - who have failed to intellectually test the self-serving dismissal of faith by the atheistic.

Faith informs reason and reason informs faith. To absolutely deny the existence of a supernatural entity is to be wholly irrational and to deny a plausible intellectual perspective its rightful place in intellectual discourse.

[Amerigomag]

Faith is neither good nor evil. It is simply faith.

Faith is neither unreasoning or blind. It is simply faith.

Faith is neither unprincipaled or disloyal. It is simply faith.

Faith is neither secular nor religious. It is simply faith.

The faithful believe in the face of temporal reason or majority morals. They simply believe.

[longleaf]

Certainly I understood you were referring to his Farewell Address. I am what would be called an isolationist myself. I merely posted the link for informational purposes since it had to do with a "faith-based" vision he had.

And, since his vision accurately predicted the Civil War, he may also have predicted what we may be about to experience.

George "Nostradamus" Washington.

[ikanakattara]

It is quite possible to be conservative without being Christian, or believing in God at all. This country has to allow for all religious expression that doesn't directly damage the common good (i.e. you don't get to ram planes into skyscrapers based on 'your religion.')

[HalfIrish]

FWIW, I may not suscribe to the 'protect Israel at all costs' version of Christian thought but I do recognize that we cannot avoid the final conflict. I pray that we may end up on the right side of this ting, whether by means or default.

[CheneyChick]

Interesting. I was just thinking about this today. There are so many versions floating around about what true Islam is. I was thinking that many folks could take passages from the Bible and accuse Christianity of the same sort of schizophrenic beliefs. Only when taken in historical context, can these passages be understood and the intended message be made clear.