Is Christianity really “anti-Democrat”?
Anne Rice in her diatribe on quitting Christianity yet remaining committed to Christ said “I refuse to be anti-Democrat.” This of course implies all Christians are in fact Republican or political party of another stripe asides Democrat, which is something that is Christianity yet not a real commitment to Christ. The same sentiment appears to be implied in loaded questions like “Why are most Christians Republicans?” or “Why are so many Christians conservative Republican?”
I really wonder how people who have thought deeply about politics and privy to the political landscape of Christianity could assert such things. To say Christians are “anti-Democrat” is quite presumptuous. This statement really marginalizes all the Christians I know personally who are committed to following Christ of genuine faith and registered as Democrats. How bigoted it would be to go to them and say, “Oh, you’re a Christian, you must be a Republican?”
In a Pew Forum survey to the question “do you consider yourself a Republican, Democrat, or Independent?” evangelical responses demonstrated 38% are Republican, 12% lean Republican, 9 % are independent, 10% lean Democratic, 24 % are Democratic, and 7% as answering either other, don’t know, no preference, or refused.1 The truth of the matter is being Christian is really not synonymous with being Republican. In fact, about half of all evangelicals would identify themselves as non-Republicans.
There are, of course, Christians committed to Christ of genuine faith and registered as Republican. To the accusation of being “anti-Democrat” the response would be, “Well, what’s wrong with that? After all, we’re Republicans!” Simply stating the obvious makes the political viewpoints of these Christian Republicans neither inconsistent with ultimate truth, nor antithetical to Christ’s teaching. One must do more to show Christians embracing Republican politics is wrong than saying, “You’re anti-Democrat.”
1. The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, “Portraits: Social & Political Views” http://religions.pewforum.org/portraits#. Mainline churches were distributed very similarly, with 31% being Republican, 10% leaning Republican, 10% independent, 14% leaning Democratic, 29% being Democratic, and 6% as answering either other, don’t know, no preference, or refused.2 Historic Black churches actually leaned more to the political left than anything else, with 7% Republican, 3% leaning Republican, 6% independent, 12% leaning Democratic, 66% Democratic, and 6% as answering either other, don’t know, no preference, or refused (Ibid.). For additional information on the survey, cf. Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, “U.S. Religious Landscape Survey,” http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/report-religious-landscape-study-appendix2.pdf
I really wonder how people who have thought deeply about politics and privy to the political landscape of Christianity could assert such things. To say Christians are “anti-Democrat” is quite presumptuous. This statement really marginalizes all the Christians I know personally who are committed to following Christ of genuine faith and registered as Democrats. How bigoted it would be to go to them and say, “Oh, you’re a Christian, you must be a Republican?”
In a Pew Forum survey to the question “do you consider yourself a Republican, Democrat, or Independent?” evangelical responses demonstrated 38% are Republican, 12% lean Republican, 9 % are independent, 10% lean Democratic, 24 % are Democratic, and 7% as answering either other, don’t know, no preference, or refused.1 The truth of the matter is being Christian is really not synonymous with being Republican. In fact, about half of all evangelicals would identify themselves as non-Republicans.
There are, of course, Christians committed to Christ of genuine faith and registered as Republican. To the accusation of being “anti-Democrat” the response would be, “Well, what’s wrong with that? After all, we’re Republicans!” Simply stating the obvious makes the political viewpoints of these Christian Republicans neither inconsistent with ultimate truth, nor antithetical to Christ’s teaching. One must do more to show Christians embracing Republican politics is wrong than saying, “You’re anti-Democrat.”
1. The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, “Portraits: Social & Political Views” http://religions.pewforum.org/portraits#. Mainline churches were distributed very similarly, with 31% being Republican, 10% leaning Republican, 10% independent, 14% leaning Democratic, 29% being Democratic, and 6% as answering either other, don’t know, no preference, or refused.2 Historic Black churches actually leaned more to the political left than anything else, with 7% Republican, 3% leaning Republican, 6% independent, 12% leaning Democratic, 66% Democratic, and 6% as answering either other, don’t know, no preference, or refused (Ibid.). For additional information on the survey, cf. Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, “U.S. Religious Landscape Survey,” http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/report-religious-landscape-study-appendix2.pdf
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