How important are a partner's political beliefs to you?

[Ritter]

I couldn't date someone with views very dissimilar from my own. A little divergence isn't that bad. It would be evidence that we can at least think for ourselves. But as far as overarching worldviews are concerned, I cleave to my own.

I have Democrat friends, but in relationships you can't afford not to be picky.

 

[Stuey]

I would be hesitant to date someone with views that are radically different to mine... At least if they held them strongly. Not that it couldn't work out, but certain topics could really have the potential to frustrate me. Looking after the poor, refugees, how certain groups within society should be dealt with.

 

[Perseus]

Oh didnt know that we lived in a theocracy homie...

No idea what that means, but the Bible is fairly specific on God's view of homosexuality. As a Christian, that would make it a religious belief. Assuming you're dating a fellow Christian, there should be zero cause for disagreement.

Instead, you're staking out the position that homosexuality is not sinful, and then further attempting to compartmentalize the Christian position to a mere "political" belief, as your anecdote so aptly showed.

Our political beliefs grow out of our religious beliefs. There should really be no incongruency - but then again you strike me as the type of person who would have castigated the Founders for promoting a "theocracy". I suppose you probably also had problems when our Presidents declared National Days of Prayer and Fasting.

The fact that you as an alleged Christian are attempting to stake out an anti-biblical position is really the only takeaway from this thread.

As I said... study your bible, homie.

 

[iTOREtheSKY]

its important just as child rearing and religious beliefs I thnk there has to be more than common ground. OHH (socially) and the person that comes into my life has to either love or have respect for the 49ers!

Go NINERS! (I don't want to date you..just sayin')
but back to the question raised...
I think it's pretty important to have very similar stances...especially as shae said,if yer' planing on having kids. Parents really need to see eye to eye on stuff,as to not contradict & confuse the child. I think eventually it will end up biting you in the rump if you & your partner aren't pretty much eye to eye on things political,social,spiritual,etc.

 

[Stuey]

No idea what that means, but the Bible is fairly specific on God's view of homosexuality. As a Christian, that would make it a religious belief. Assuming you're dating a fellow Christian, there should be zero cause for disagreement.

Instead, you're staking out the position that homosexuality is not sinful, and then further attempting to compartmentalize the Christian position to a mere "political" belief, as your anecdote so aptly showed.

Our political beliefs grow out of our religious beliefs. There should really be no incongruency - but then again you strike me as the type of person who would have castigated the Founders for promoting a "theocracy". I suppose you probably also had problems when our Presidents declared National Days of Prayer and Fasting.

The fact that you as an alleged Christian are attempting to stake out an anti-biblical position is really the only takeaway from this thread.

As I said... study your bible, homie.

Gotta disagree with you on this one.

Should our political beliefs arise from our spiritual beliefs? Absolutely, they should drive them.

Having said this, some may hold slightly different views on the application of those spiritual beliefs.

For example - some may think that the way to Protect marriage is to resist gay marriage with every political protest method possible. Other feel that this is ineffective and simply offends people - better to let society do what it wants and instead work on the inside - change peoples minds on the issue through love and acting our their lives in a different way.

I think it is really important not to confuse spiritual beliefs - what is true from what we know about God - with political beliefs - how we should go about addressing different issues in a society - They should arise from them - out of love - but there is a difference between them.

Since you appear to have studied your bible, I will ask you, where do you find Jesus giving instructions for setting up a theocracy?

 

[Perseus]

Should our political beliefs arise from our spiritual beliefs? Absolutely, they should drive them.

Having said this, some may hold slightly different views on the application of those spiritual beliefs.

I'm not talking about the "application" and neither is the OP. He's basically representing himself as a "Christian" who has zero problem with homosexuality. Doesn't sound like an "application" problem to me.

where do you find Jesus giving instructions for setting up a theocracy?

You two seem to love that word and all the imagined terror it supposedly conjures up. When the Founders were building this nation, they would go to the Bible time and time again for guidance on hundreds of laws, both big and small. David Barton of Wall-Builders has done a great job of chronicling that history. And yet, if those same Founders were alive today and pursuing the same course, people like you and the OP would be hysterically accusing them of setting up a "theocracy".

Our laws stem from our values, which stem from our beliefs. An atheist can propose any insane laws he wishes, based upon his belief that there is no God, and yet when a Christian proposes laws based upon his God-centered beliefs, there are McCarthy-like cries of "THEOCRACY!!!" and earnest wringing of hands about how someone is "imposing" his beliefs upon everyone else.

Guess what? That's what laws are. One person or a handful of people, based upon their beliefs, conjure up laws and "impose" them upon everyone else.

What does that tell you about your mindset?

 

[Stuey]

Perseus you come across as accusatory with your posts... "people like you and the OP would be hysterically accusing them of setting up a "theocracy"."

Rather unhelpful and not likely to win anyone to your side. You can correct people without being accusatory and condemning. I also think you have misunderstood my position in regards to laws & our religion.



I'm also don't think Nautilus commented on whether he thought homosexuality was right or wrong... More that he didn't have a problem with it. In a secular world quite frankly I don't have much of a problem with it either. I think it's wrong and damaging to those involved but there isn't much we can do and condemnation is just unhelpful... A heterosexual couple who aren't Christians are going to hell just as quickly as a homosexual couple.

Nautilus could you clarify a bit?

 

[Theophane]

Political beliefs can make or break. I wouldn't want to be unequally yoked with anyone.

 

[Nautilus]

I'm not talking about the "application" and neither is the OP. He's basically representing himself as a "Christian" who has zero problem with homosexuality. Doesn't sound like an "application" problem to me.

You're right, I don't have a problem with homosexuality. You know why? Because it literally doesn't affect me in any way.

 

[Perseus]

You're right, I don't have a problem with homosexuality.

Cool, well do you know who does have a problem with it? God.

Yeah, that same God you profess to follow as a "Christian".

I suppose I really shouldn't be surprised that these types of people are crawling all over CC.

 

[Nautilus]

so wait youre saying I should devote time and energy to disliking something that has no pull on my life? Instead of just accepting it will one day be legal, and still have no pull on my life? Lol. why would i needlessly waste my energy on that? Maybe instead I can use the energy i save to actually do helpful things like volunteer or donate or pray...you know christian things...that matter

 

[Perseus]

You're saying I should devote time and energy to disliking something that has no pull on my life?

Disliking? Not necessarily. If you're a Christian, you should be a representative for God and his will on this Earth.

And God clearly states that homosexuality is a sin. So how do you think God feels when you express a positive or even neutral attitude towards homosexual marriage?

Instead of just accepting it will one day be legal...

Accepting it? If everyone had that attitude, it probably would be legal. In virtually every single state that has held a public referendum on the matter, it has been struck down. It's clearly not the will of the people, and even if it was, it's anti-biblical.

To be honest, you just sound like a political leftist couching his beliefs in the cloak of Christianity. That's great and all, but don't pretend to represent true Christianity. Just be honest about what you're trying to do.

 

[Donkeyfish07]

I don't really care about homosexuality either. It's a personal choice someone makes and I have no control over it. I'm a firm believer in Judge not lest ye be Judged.

 

[shae0104]

he came down from the heavens and became a servant
humble
love
truth
homosexuality isnt the only sin
unwholesome talk bitterness anger rage stealing gluttony and every one has the chance at forgiveness

 

[Powemm]

There is greater peace in equal yolks

 

[Nautilus]

Accepting it? If everyone had that attitude, it probably would be legal. In virtually every single state that has held a public referendum on the matter, it has been struck down. It's clearly not the will of the people, and even if it was, it's anti-biblical.

As of January 2013, nine states—Connecticut, Iowa, Maine,Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, and Washington—as well as the District of Columbia and three Native American tribes[SUP][1][/SUP]—have legalized same-sex marriage, representing 15.7% of the U.S. population. In addition, Rhode Island recognizes same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions,[SUP][2][/SUP][SUP][3][/SUP] and California, which briefly granted same-sex marriages in 2008, now recognizes them on a conditional basis.[SUP][4][/SUP]

To be honest, you just sound like a political leftist couching his beliefs in the cloak of Christianity. That's great and all, but don't pretend to represent true Christianity. Just be honest about what you're trying to do.

Lol, politically i am on the left...lemme guess thats not christian either? Maybe I should be right in line with the tea party?

 

[Stuey]

I suppose I really shouldn't be surprised that these types of people are crawling all over CC.

Again, you are sounding extremely judgemental Perseus. When you come to an internet site like this you have to understand that people will have very diverse views on issues. That doesn't make them un-Christian. Correct with the bible, sure, but listen to what people are saying and be humble.

Personally I think there are other issues we should be expending our effort on... We cannot control what people do and like it or not, our respective societies are not majority Christian. Not truly Christian anyway, they may be nominally Christian. If I was an MP I'd probably vote no on a marriage bill but I certainly won't be protesting against it... Certainly doesn't mean I will accept gay marriages as legitimate.

Love your neighbour, fire and brimstone will only get you so far.

 

[SeatBelt]

Hate the sin, not the sinner. Remember that what defines us as Christian is not what we are tempted by, but what we do about temptation (not to oversimplify, there are other steps on the road to salvation, but that is not what this thread or this post is about).

One of the gentlemen that has been highly influential in my own Christian walk is a man who struggles with same sex attraction. See the splitting of the hair there? He has the temptation of attraction, but chooses to not engage in the behavior, chooses to honor his wife, and chooses to honor God. He does not pretend that it is an acceptable lifestyle choice or pretend that God made him that way. God does not make us to sin, God gives us a way to respond to temptation without succumbing to sin.

Stuey's hit the nail on the head with, "Love your neighbour, fire and brimstone will only get you so far."
Anyone interested in learning how to better do that may wish to learn more about CernterPeace.net She spoke at the church I attend, and I am proud to say that I attend a conservative Christian church that has accepted in people who have been open about this being a struggle in their lives, surrounded them with love, and understood that God wants them to go to heaven, too. If you want a sinner to be saved, start by showing them unconditional Christian Love.

And before someone gets into speculation and name calling, same sex attraction is not why my marriage fell apart, so don't bother going there unless you want to look like a total jerk.

 

[iTOREtheSKY]

As Seatbelt said - If you want a sinner to be saved, start by showing them unconditional Christian Love.

I really don't understand why the christian community as a whole can't grasp this???? People are so ready to throw down every other thing God or Jesus said,yet the one thing that is the fullfilment of it all is Love. Believe me,I am not white washing sin...I am just saying once a true love is there,the rest will follow. I dunno...the concept just seems so obviously simple. Seems to me Jesus kept things pretty simple for us because he knew what knuckleheads we were/are.

 

[Perseus]

Again, you are sounding extremely judgemental Perseus. When you come to an internet site like this you have to understand that people will have very diverse views on issues. That doesn't make them un-Christian. Correct with the bible, sure, but listen to what people are saying and be humble.

Personally I think there are other issues we should be expending our effort on... We cannot control what people do and like it or not, our respective societies are not majority Christian. Not truly Christian anyway, they may be nominally Christian. If I was an MP I'd probably vote no on a marriage bill but I certainly won't be protesting against it... Certainly doesn't mean I will accept gay marriages as legitimate.

Love your neighbour, fire and brimstone will only get you so far.

Ahh yes, the old judgmental accusation that generally comes after the theocracy one. The trusty toolbag of the leftoid. Perhaps I should be more tolerrrrrrrant and openminnnnnded? After all, it doesn't affect me, right?

As I said, zero surprise, although perhaps the degree of infestation here is. Let's all hold hands, sing kumbaya, not judddddddge anyone, and bask in the self-appropriated label of Christianity.