Was Jesus a "liberal" or a "conservative"? And why do you say that?

[kentuck]

I have been reading the Bible since I was a small child, because many times that was the only book that was around the house. I loved Proverbs and the Gospels....especially those quotes in red letters that were supposedly spoken by Jesus himself. But, from all my reading, I can find nothing that would label Jesus as a "conservative". Now I don't want to take Jesus away from the "conservatives" because they need Him worse than I do. Because, without Jesus, their political foundation would crumble. Somehow, they figured out that they could take the abortion issue and adopt Jesus to their overall crusade. But, taking from the poor and giving to the rich was not something Jesus believed in. Not feeding the hungry or clothing the needy was not something Jesus would support. Fighting illegal wars was not something that Jesus would ever support, not in any of my readings of the Bible. Let's settle this question once and for all: Was Jesus a liberal or a conservative?

[the other one]

1. long haired hippie = leftist

:hippie:

[leftofthedial]

2. he was a conservative

because he sent George Bush here to save us from the gays and the liburls and the terrists

[Joey Liberal]

3. Jesus was a Liberal and Satan is a republican n.t

[Greyhound]

14. I'd say Satan was much more a libertarian. The whole "Better to

rule in hell than serve in heaven" thing.

[iamjoy]

4. Jesus Was A Populist

He doesn't fit neatly into either label.

I think there are some indications of social conservatism attributed to Jesus (references to Leviticus' laws of sexual morality, the whole "adultery in his heart" bit).

Of course, one could also take his quote "onto Caesar render what is Caesar's, unto God..." as advocating separation of Church and State. If we are indeed a nation based in Christian principles, then we can perhaps make the argument that the separation was divinely inspired too. How's that for a twist of the argument?

(and we cannot settle this question here, to settle it we would have to open the discussion to Conservatives to state their points)

[LARED]

5. Jesus was neither Liberal or Conservative

I can't for the life of me figure out why people feel they need Jesus on their side to justify political beliefs.

[Deja Q]

10. I am compelled to concur...

But once the ball starts rolling, people either blindly believe those who said it first or take the time to do their own research...

I prefer the latter, for better or for worse. I dislike programmed robots on either side of the aisle. We're all human, have our differences, and most of us still know how to work together regardless of our feelings or at least push them aside as best we can.

[tularetom]

6. The jesus I learned about would have been

a liberal but perhaps there was another (european) jesus that hated black and brown people, worshipped greed and believed that military force against non threatening people was an otay foreign policy.

[JuniperLea]

7. Leftie

Pacifist (stopped the stoning of the woman at the well, among other things, showing that he truly believed that thou shalt not kill), live and let live attitude (he never forced anyone to join him, unlike modern religious nuts who want to force their views and "laws" on the world), socialist (fed the multitude on three fishes and five loaves; supported charity).

[Deja Q]

8. You mean Jesus as THEY make him out to be, whatever that is...

And judging by Mel Gibbon, Jesus was nothing more than an overglorified punching bag whose very life and meaning behind His life was totally ignored. x( Of course, to profit so grossly one would HAVE to overlook what made Jesus' life so special! :dunce:

[hollowdweller]

11. Doesn't fit any slot

I'd say rebel against the establishment.

[WilliamPitt]

9. Jesus was the liberal answer

to the conservative mayhem and prophesies of the old testament. God was a conservative in the first half of the Bible, had a kid, and got religion. :)

[Midlodemocrat]

12. Liberal. eom

[Cerridwen]

13. Neither - socialist

Of course this is just my opinion based on my very limited knowledge of Jesus' teachings.

I do not see Jesus in any way supporting individual over group rights over individual rights. I do not see him supporting ownership of property, people, land. My understanding of His teachings is that as we grow as an individual we contribute to the whole which then contributes to the individual.

I see Him as advocating for the collective health and welfare of all; that we all work and exist as a greater sum of our parts.

I think that a world based solely on His teachings as drastically different than what exists now. I see no promotion of power, whether it is over others or not, I see no promotion of competition. I see no promotion of the "fast track" or the "American (formerly Protestant) "work ethic." I see promotion of coming together rather than splitting apart on ideology.

But then, my understanding of Jesus' teachings is decidedly limited.

edit: spelling

[Strathos]

16. Jesus was LOVE

If we all understood that a little better, we'd all be much better for it.

[MO_Dem]

15. Kris Kristofferson answered the question for me

Jesus was a Capricorn, he ate organic foods.
He believed in love and peace and never wore no shoes.
Long hair, beard and sandals and a funky bunch of friends.
Reckon they'd just nail him up if He come down again.

'Cos everybody's got to have somebody to look down on.
Who they can feel better than at anytime they please.
Someone doin' somethin' dirty, decent folks can frown on.
If you can't find nobody else, then help yourself to me.

Get back, John!

Egg Head's cousin Red Neck's cussin' hippies for their hair.
Others laugh at straights who laugh at freaks who laugh at squares.
Some folks hate the whites who hate the blacks who hate the clan.
Most of us hate anything that we don't understand.

'Cos everybody's got to have somebody to look down on.
Who they can feel better than at anytime they please.
Someone doin' somethin' dirty, decent folks can frown on.
If you can't find nobody else, then help yourself to me.

Help yourself, brother.
Help yourself, Gentlemen.
Help yourself Reverend.

Artist/Band: Kristofferson Kris
Lyrics for Song: Jesus Was a Capricorn
Lyrics for Album: All Time Greatest Hits


http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/kristofferson-kris/jesus-was-a-capricorn-1890.html

[Rocknrule]

17. Back then there was no such thing as "liberal" or "conservative"

However, his teachings definitely weren't conservative. I mean, caring for the poor, peace on earth, and turning the other cheek are pretty liberal ideas. But honestly, I don't think Jesus would've wanted to be associated with any political party.

[undeterred]

18. Jesus was extravagant in his generosity

in terms of who he associated with and what he gave away. The core of his message is love and forgiveness. I find it easier to reconcile that with a liberal agenda than a conservative one, bearing in mind that we are imposing our contemporary categories on something 2000 years old.

[Jamnt]

19. A great book that addresses this question...

is "God's Politics" by Jim Wallis. The author takes the stand that God is not liberal or conservative, does not care about nations, only people, and that the bible does not support much of the current administrations agenda. Highly recommended. By the way, the books subtitle is "Why the right has it wrong and the left doesn't get it." That about says it all.

[pocket]

20. was the easter bunny liberal or conservative?

that's what I want to know.