In US politics, why is the religious right so much more prevalent than the religious left? (believe, reject)

[icametodropbombs]

Aren't left wing politics (eg., government welfare, helping the poor, taxing the rich) more consistent with religious texts, particularly the Bible? If that is true, then why don't we see more of a religious left in general?

[Horn of ‘83]

Originally Posted by icametodropbombs

Aren't left wing politics (eg., government welfare, helping the poor, taxing the rich) more consistent with religious texts, particularly the Bible? If that is true, then why don't we see more of a religious left in general?

I would disagree that welfare and taxing the rich are Biblical.

[icametodropbombs]

Originally Posted by jimmiej

I would disagree that welfare and taxing the rich are Biblical.

I disagree. To wit:

Deuteronomy 15:11
11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.

Psalm 82:3-4
3 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. 4 Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

Proverbs 14:31
31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

Proverbs 19:1
1 Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse.

Proverbs 19:17
17 He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.

But that still doesn't answer the question: where is the religious left?

[logline]

Excellent question! I've always asked this of religious right people too and get a blank stare. After all, Jesus hung out with the lowest of the low, right? He loved everybody. Believed in helping those who needed it most. Prostitutes, lepers, etc.

If Jesus were a real person in modern times, there is no way he would be a REPUBLICAN or be a member of the religious right. WWJD?

[LindavG]

I don't understand this either. I actually wrote a post about it a few days ago but it was deleted because it was off-topic :/ Anyway, it's not like that in the rest of the world. In most countries, religious political parties are left-wing or at most centrist in terms of economic issues. In Europe, denominational politics is dominated by the Christian Democrats:

Christian democracy is a political ideology that seeks to apply Christian principles to public policy. It emerged in nineteenth-century Europe under the influence of conservatism and Catholic social teaching. It continues to be influential in Europe and Latin America, though in a number of countries its Christian ethos has been diluted by secularisation.

In practice, Christian democracy is often considered conservative on cultural, social and moral issues (social conservatism) and advocates a social market economy in the economic field (crossing over with social democratic economics but based on the family). In Europe, where their opponents have traditionally been secularist socialists, Christian democratic parties are moderately conservative overall, whereas in the very different cultural and political environment of South America they tend to lean to the left.




As a generalisation, it can be said that Christian democratic parties in Europe tend to be moderately conservative, and in several cases form the main conservative party in their respective countries (e.g. in Germany, Spain, and Belgium). In Latin America, by contrast, Christian democratic parties tend to be progressive and to some degree influenced by liberation theology. These generalisations, however, must be nuanced by the consideration that Christian democracy does not fit precisely into the usual categories of political thought, but rather includes elements common to several other political ideologies:

• In common with conservatism, traditional moral values (on marriage, abortion, etc.), opposition to secularization, a view of the evolutionary (as opposed to revolutionary) development of society, an emphasis on law and order, and a rejection of communism.
• In contrast to conservatism, open to change and democracy (for example, in the structure of society) and not necessarily supportive of the social status quo.
• In common with liberalism, an emphasis on human rights and individual initiative.
• In contrast to liberalism, a rejection of secularism, and an emphasis on the fact that the individual is part of a community and has duties towards the common good.
• In common with socialism, an emphasis on the community, social justice and solidarity, support for a welfare state, including universal health care, support for progressive tax rates and of equitable distribution of income, and support for adequate regulation of market forces.
• In contrast to socialism, most European Christian Democrats support a market economy and do not adhere to the doctrine of class struggle. This has not always carried over to some Latin American Christian Democratic Parties, which have been influenced by liberation theology.

Don't overestimate the importance of religion for CD parties in Western Europe, though. In my country, the CDA (Christian Democratic Appeal) hardly discusses God or religion in political debates and has gay and Muslim members in Parliament. They never bring up issues like abortion, contraception, gay marriage or euthanasia (all of which are legal) in debates either unless they are specifically asked about it. It is mostly considered a centrist party, in between the liberals on the right and the socialists on the left, and many non-religious people vote for it too. Its importance has drastically declined in the last decade though. It used to be the biggest party in the Netherlands, now it is #5 behind the liberals, social-democrats, socialists and right-wing populists.

It would be nice to see a genuinely moderate party like the Christian Democrats in the US. I think it could be successful in primarily Catholic states like Massachusetts as Catholics tend to be moderate in economic issues. In fact, in 2008 more Catholics voted for Obama than McCain and for this election it's 50/50 so far. So even in the US, Christian does not automatically mean right-wing conservative.

[Konraden]

Originally Posted by icametodropbombs

Aren't left wing politics (eg., government welfare, helping the poor, taxing the rich) more consistent with religious texts, particularly the Bible? If that is true, then why don't we see more of a religious left in general?

I'm going to wager that the Religious left isn't as concerned with pushing a strict social agenda as the Religious Right is. Leftist politics are about social freedom, where as Rightist politics are social control--rather social conformity. The Religious Right has been able to weaponize their religious convictions into furthering that goal.

Not to mention, left-of-center represents a significantly more diverse group of people than right-of-center. (As pointed out admirably in this OK Cupid Trend).

[Horn of ‘83]

Originally Posted by icametodropbombs

I disagree. To wit:

Deuteronomy 15:11
11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.

Psalm 82:3-4
3 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. 4 Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

Proverbs 14:31
31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

Proverbs 19:1
1 Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse.

Proverbs 19:17
17 He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.

But that still doesn't answer the question: where is the religious left?

Where does it say govt. has to be involved?

[Konraden]

Originally Posted by jimmiej

Where does it say govt. has to be involved?

If the Religious Right is a political organization, that's inherently government involvement. If the Religious Right wants to promote the idea that the nation was founded on Christian principles and that this nation is a Christian Nation, it explicitly requires governmental involvement.

[Horn of ‘83]

Originally Posted by Konraden

If the Religious Right is a political organization, that's inherently government involvement. If the Religious Right wants to promote the idea that the nation was founded on Christian principles and that this nation is a Christian Nation, it explicitly requires governmental involvement.

You either missed the point or are dodging the question.

I would disagree that govt. welfare and taxing the rich are Biblical.

[Konraden]

Originally Posted by jimmiej

You either missed the point or are dodging the question.

I'm neither a Christian nor a biblical scholar, so don't come calling to me to make that argument, but from the very action of a political group intrinsically involved in the government process, there isn't a whole lotta gap between A and B here.