Why Are Otherwise Rational Conservatives...Christian?

So because someone has faith in something greater than themselves they are illogical?

The stories of the bible are a way to make an understanding of what it means to be human, what’s wrong with that?

Besides who says that the stories are based in make believe?

Archaeological evidence is showing some of the stories are based in real events.

The great flood for example... There was a great flood that swallowed up huge swaths of land and killed entire towns and settlements. The flood was the end of the last ice age. In fact there was a program about it just the other night on the history channel. At the bottom of the English Channel near the Isle of Wight, they have found evidence of civilization under the water, below the marine layer, which means at some point humans lived on the spot... A spot well below the water line. Roman, Greek, Persian and Egyptian mythos tell a similar story... SO besides some embellishments the story seems to have a basis and an oral tradition that goes back thousands of years. Remember there was no TV or radio, stories were told person to person, and like all stories the tale picks up bits and pieces from each story teller.

Moses and the parting of the red sea or as you referred to it "magical superheroes that split seas with their hands", Again history and archeology says there may be an explanation for that as well, simple misinterpretation. It is believed the Red sea written in the old manuscripts really meant "REED" sea, a marshy lake area near the red sea, and that Moses led the people trough the reeds to escape the Pharaoh. So trough simple misinterpretation and dramatic effect the story became something different.

Does it change the point of the story? No

Does it eliminate the fact that it may have happened (even potentially)? No

The bible is not meant to be a word for word history of people or humanity; it is supposed to be a guide with parables and ideas that you can take with you. A way to reach a higher plane, be it spiritual or personal. It is supposed to remind you that it may be far more than just mere chance that we are alive.

Rational thought points to the fact that the odds of life simply sparking into existence without some kind of outside influence is infinitely improbable; that mere luck, and chance was capable of creating humans with a full ability to create and think are also equally improbable on a cosmic scale.

Einstein himself said “God does not play dice.” In other words there is very little that seems to fall in to the realm of chance, there are patterns and order even among the chaotic of the universe. And again rational thought says where there is order there must be some form of intelligence.

So if rationally speaking, considering order can only come trough intelligence, the odds of life simply popping in to existence without a trigger, A pinnacle of intelligent and logical life manifested from lesser base instincts and that there seems to be plenty of evidence that there is growing proof that the stories of the bible may not be entirely untrue at their core… It would seem that not having faith in something greater, not accepting the possibility that it was not mere luck or chance that made us and that insulting others for using rational thought and judgments, is its self illogical, irrational and ignorant.

So it seems it is pretty rational to be a person of faith. And in case you think otherwise, I am not particularly religious. I am just open minded and rational enough to say, “You know, there is more to the story than either side sees.”

Actually, there's a difference between the Religious Right & the Libertarian Right.

Jesus was a fairly liberal fellow, not unduly fond of the rich and such.

Christianity would be far more evenly divided between Right & Left if the left wing socialists had not embraced Karl Marx's notion that Religion is evil.

Most Christians sense the Left has it in for them & so side with the Right, which is happy to have the votes.

This is more a matter of politics making strange bedfellows than inconsistant rationality.

BECAUSE! we understand what is important in life. the logical thing is to put you trust and faith in God and he will provide.

Thats just how the world works.

When you begin to question it you lose faith. Then you life has no purpose.

Does anybody really want that?

Don't complicate the simple matter.

Being a Christian means using logic. Because it would be illogical to disobey the Word of God, because that means certian condemnation.

Here's my question to you:

Why don't you use logic?

Do you really want to go to Hell?

Why?

You think too much. You need to trust. Find yourself a good Church family. Without the body of Christ you are lost.

God Said it a BANG it happened.

If you're an educated adult then you shouldn't be asking that question. Any child could give you the same answer.

You sound really ignorant.

God tells us to respect our fellow man, but I would find it really hard to respect anyone who didn't beleive. Have you ever met an real for real atheist?

The serpent in teh Garden of Eden wasn't a talking snake, he was Satan in the FORM of a snake!!! He caused man to first sin. And I beleive because there is proof of that in all the sin that there is in the world today, and every day since the fall of man.

It wasnt a whale it was a big fish, and God sent it to save Jonah!!!! If it hadnt been created Jonah would have died and never taught the people of Ninavah!!! That would have been horrible!

Of course theres such thing as cherubs with harps! Do you not beleive in Angles?!

God split the sea! No body did it with their hands, God told Moses to hold out his rod, it was a testing of his obedience. It was Moses faith that God decided he and his people were worthy to be saved and brought out of the land of Egypt.

JESUS CHRIST IS NO "MAGICAL SUPERHERO"!!!!! how could you even say that!!!!

He's your savior and mine! With out him you have absolutly no hope of entering the kingdom of heaven. no salvation, but eternal death!!!!

thats a terrifying thought.

you could die at any given moment, having lived you life in sin and being unforgiven from those sins.

Christ DIED on the cross!!! can you imagine how agonizing that must have been! But he didn't do it for nothing. You cant take advantage of your personal savior that way. Its the most evil thing ever!!

AMEN!!!!

But what is logic and reason in that argument? That there is NO god? You can prove that just about as well as they can prove that Jesus turned water into wine.

Now, if you tell me that when handed a theory of evolution, complete with evidence and scientific fact, they still insist that dinosaur bones are fake, then I'm with you. That's wacky. However, if people choose to take that sort of view on life, or just a run of the mill Christian one, it shouldn't detract from their political views in anyway. Like I said, an Atheist can only prove there is no god as well as a Christian can prove there is one. They're both faiths and they could both be wrong.

Aside from all of that though, great question. I'm a conservative (minus the strict religious views) and agree with you 100%.

Number 1; all conservatives are not Christians. Now, that being said, I will tell you that it is all about what you believe. You just made the Bible sound like some kind of fairy tale and I personally resent that. I am a Christian and, yes I believe in God and I believe the Bible's teachings but, guess what? I am not a right wing conservative. I am a moderate who believes in 2 sides to all issues and every story I even believe abortion should be legal cause it is a woman's right to chose even though I couldn't have had one. I am perfectly sane and logical and now I have to wonder if all left-wing liberals are atheists.

And yet at the heart of the question is the belief that everything we see comes from nothing? As if the Big Bang explains everything? A super dense core of material about the size of a basketball suddenly exploded resulting in the universe as we know it. Great. I'm fine with that. But ..... using logic ....

where did that "basketball" come from? Had to come from somewhere. Who or what caused it to go boom? Must have been something.

Religion has sought to answer the most fundamental of LOGICAL questions. It's hard for me to hate on it regardless of whether it's Christian, Muslim, Jewish or whatever theory.

ALL hatred blinds otherwise rational people. Hate is an emotion and leads to emotional responses, which are usually the polar opposite of rational responses.

Perhaps you've been on holiday for the last two Presidential terms, but since Bush has taken office and sleazeballs like Trent Lott and Tom Delay worked their magic, the GOP no longer uses business logic or economic theory, unless it's "how much bribe money can I get to fund my corrupted lifestlye and still remain in office?". They are all princes of pork now too. This is why so many of us are "EX-Republicans".

You got me wondering now... the flip side of your question.. whether rational liberals , applying standards of math wisdom, etc. , are equally dismissive of all world religions... Buddhist, Hindu, Islam, Judaism. And if all of the followers of those faiths are as "ignorant" as the Christians are..

What about those of us who believe, understand and defend all the things you listed "but" religion.

I do not practice a religion of any kind and follow no Deity.

I'm part of the other 20%.