I say let's do it. We need to cut military spending to pay for health care and the environment.
Again, that's not the state's concern. If the church were doing what it's supposed to, and if these "scientists" were being scientific, then there would be no need for government welfare, and no need for taxes and sanctions sending people back to the stone age (because people would realize that there is no man-made climate change).
It is so so so easy for you to say that because you're not living in poverty without health insurance.
With all due respect, you have no idea as to my quality of life. I won't hide the fact that money is extremely tight around here, as it is with most middle class families. Poverty? Maybe not. But my family certainly doesn't have the money to pay for those who won't earn their own way.
So the church is supposed to indoctrinate your children?
I'd much rather be provided with the ability to make my own conclusions.
Not the church, the parents. They're those wonderful folks who gave birth to you and provide food and shelter to you the first 18 years of your life, and they're not supposed to send you to dayca--I mean, public school instead of taking responsiblity. Sorry if I implied otherwise. And I'm sorry if you honestly think the government lets any children come to their own conclusions.
I do not understand why most Christians are conservative.
Deut. 15:7: "If there is a poor man among you, one of your brothers, in any of the towns of the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand to your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks."
Jer. 22:3: "Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place."
Ezek. 16:49: "Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food, and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them when I saw it."
Do these passages not mean anything to you? We should be happy that the government is finally creating legislation aimed at aiding the needy. It's stupid to rationalize not helping them by saying "Oh, but it's the church's job to do that!" It's everyone's job.
EDIT: Actually it's because most American Christians are more concerned with limiting the rights of homosexuals that they're conservative.
All right, let's make this perfectly clear, right here and right now before I'm made out to be an insensitive jerk (oops, too late for that). I do not disagree that people who can afford to do so should take care of the poor. If you want to donate money to charity or buy a homeless person a meal, more power to you, and God Bless you for it.
What I do not agree with is the idea that the government should force a man to pay his neighbor's way. Not only is the coercion in itself wrong, the act of providing for the less fortunate ceases to become a good deed. I'm not rationalizing not helping the poor by saying it's the church's job, I'm saying that the church is just as guilty in this area as the government. And no, caring for the poor is not everyone's job. What about those who are working hard and just making ends meet (largely as the result of unnecessary taxes)? Are you really going to tax them into the poverty you claim to hate, and make them dependent on welfare? Charity should not be imposed, and when it is, it's not charity anyway.
And it's funny that you quote a passage mentioning the sins and faults of Sodom, and then make a statement supporting homosexuality a few sentences later. (And I do support gay rights, in that their preferences should not affect their being employed or their joining the military.)
