From: hamilton@gmr.com (William E. Hamilton CS50 CS/50)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: "Christian politics"??
Date: 30 Aug 92 06:29:49 GMT
Organization: GM Research Labs, Warren, MI

In article <Aug.27.03.31.10.1992.5497@athos.rutgers.edu> bulloj@rpi.edu ( ) writes:
>This is a general question about politics in the United States and
>Christians. I was hearing something on the radio about how 800 out of the 
>2,000 delegates to the Republican National Convention were 
>"Evangelical Christians". Whether or not this number is true is one thing,
>but I'm sure there were much fewer "Evangelical Christians" at the Democratic
>convention in July. My question is, why is it that more "Evangelical 
>Christians" tend to be very right-wing Republicans? I understand the
>position on the abortion issue, but is that really the only reason
>to support Republicans?

Some time ago I read an article about political preferences of Christians
which claimed that the Democrat/Republican breakdown among Christians
is about the same as among the general population - about 27%  were
Republican.  A much larger percentage were Democrats, and there was
a small percentage of independents. I'm sorry I don't remember the source -
it was published perhaps 10 years ago. (I hope someone reading may
have access to more recent features and update/correct my impression)

If the 800/2000 figure above is accurate, I would attribute it to an increase
in political activity among politically conservative Christians rather than
a change in the religious composition of the parties.

As to why Christians seem mostly to be right-wing Republicans one possible 
explanation is that 1) Many influential Christian leaders have viewed the world
from that perspective over the years, and 2) Most Christians are 
reluctant to buck their leaders publicly. Which may explain why they
seem like Republicans when you talk to them where someone might
hear, and identify themselves as Democrats in a survey and presumably
when they vote. In the latter two cases there is little or no danger of
another Christian "overhearing".

I suspect the reason many Christians are conservative Republicans is
that they perceive the Republicans as being more favorable toward limited
government, which preserves the freedoms of individuals, including 
religious freedoms. Personally, I see both Parties quite willing to
interfere with individual liberties.

>Why are many Evangelicals so against so-called "big government"? Doesn't the
>government of any nation have a moral responsibility to care for its
>widows, orphans, sick, etc... Yes, according to my interpretation of 
>some of the minor prophets. 

The theme that the widow and the orphan are to be
protected permeates the OT - not just the minor prophets. And this command
was considered incumbent on the King - the government.

>Many evangelicals say it is the Church's 
>business to take care of these people not the government's , but does the
>government's involvement necessarily block any private, or church, involvment 
>in trying to help the less fortunate? 

If tax rates are too high, individuals will have little left to 
contribute to meeting the needs of others. If government operations
are financed by  chronic deficits, inflation may make what money
individuals have to contribute of little value. If regulation is
excessive, it makes it difficult for small businesses, which create
more new jobs than large businesses, to grow, and this interferes 
with the less fortunate becoming employed. 

>It seems to me that, in general, and
>there are many exceptions, democrats are more truly concerned about the
>less fortunate than republicans are. 

Yes and no. Definitely they seem more concerned about giving immediate 
aid when it is needed. But I'm not as convinced that they care as 
much about creating economic conditions in which jobs are plentiful -
giving the less fortunate opportunities to escape from poverty.
And I think both parties need to look at how to make training 
and education more available - targeted training and education which
prepare people for jobs they can qualify for and jobs that are needed.
 
>Pointing fingers and screaming  
>"Socialism!" is not an acceptable reply to liberal policies, is it?

Absolutely not. I believe another reason you find considerable right wing
sentiment among Christians is historical. The Reformation was influential
in the development of the concepts of limited, constitutional government
instead of absolute monarchies.  Christians are naturally suspicious of
anything that tends to concentrate more power in the hands of the
government.  Obviously it's possible to be too suspicious - there
are many things government needs to do.  Whether the government in power
is socialistic or individualistic, Christians must be salt and light to
the society they live in.  Communism in Eastern Europe is perhaps
an example of government that initially had noble ideas about protecting
the downtrodden.  But it degenerated to dictatorships concerned mainly
with maintaining power.  Christians were deeply involved in resistance
movements in several of the Eastern European countries, and they were
resisting socialism gone awry. It seems the lesson is that any
political system developed by humans can become oppressive.  

In this country, both Republican and Democratic administrations and
congresses do things that disturb Christians from time 
to time.  I don't think either party has a monoply on Biblical righteousness.

Bill Hamilton
GM Research and Environment Staff