I am not sure that the term “Religious Right†is understood.
Since I consider that I am one, I will attempt to outline how we, or at least many of us, think.
We do not hate any group in the sense of wanting them in jail or dead. We do not want a state religion even if it agreed with mine. It would be abused, and when the state has authorized a state religion both the church and state suffer for the worst.
But it must be realized that any society has a set of values within which it functions. For the first almost 200 years of our history, this nation’s values were based upon the Judeo/Christian ethic.
Those values do care for the poor and one another, and to help the downtrodden. We were not perfect, and especially in the area of racism, but the Christian ethic was that which corrected that flaw. It is an ethic of work and that one should realize the fruits of his labor without others who do not work taking it from him in whatever way.
Christianity stresses integrity and honesty, and also compassion.
But it also stresses righteousness.
Now the question arises as to what is right and wrong? Who has the right to establish moral values, and require them to be observed by the nation?
The answer that we believed earlier was that only God, our Creator, has the wisdom and authority to establish absolute moral values. Those of us on the religious right continue to believe that fact, and to govern our lives by those values. Are we perfect? Of course not. Each of us is a human with the fallen nature of mankind, and we make mistakes and sin also. The difference is that we do not live a sinful life or lifestyle. When we sin we repent and try to do right as a way of life.
The religious right has the desire to have this nation follow the moral values which were once accepted in this nation, and which were taught in the schools. We fully realize that we will never be able to have a perfect society as long as man rules. However, it can be better or worse depending upon who does govern. That is what this election was about, and which politics are about.
We do not try to be police who try to determine if someone is sinning in some way. If that were true none of us could stand. We might not agree on what might be sinful. However, there are some sins that the Bible is so clear on that one can only misunderstand if he is determined to misunderstand or does not care.
Two abominable sins that are in the forefront of this nation today are homosexuality and abortion. These are clearly wrong, and must be corrected if we are to continue long as a nation that we know. They are a cancer in this nation. Those were the major issues to many of us.
But considering righteousness in general, any society will be a better and safer society if it is a righteous society.
In the area of gun control, why do you think that we have so much gun control? It is because people have reached a point of being so self-centered that they do not care what it takes to get their way. If someone gets in the way, then kill him. That is what happens in the movies and TV, and in the environment that many of them are in. Why are they not taught that “Thou shalt not kill?†Once we were taught that in school. But the intentional desire to get God out of everything and especially schools has prevented the Ten Commandments from being taught. Schools do in fact teach morality either by design or default. I think the immorality being taught is by design. If God is not relevant, then there is no one who has the right and authority to establish moral absolutes. So each is free to determine that for himself. Who is to say that robbery is wrong if there is no moral authority? Robin Hood did it.
Once we were taught that sex outside of marriage was wrong. Now ways to avoid pregnancies are taught. I saw on the TV of a patch that women put on before they go out on a date. Instead of wanting to be pure and righteous, they go out with the intention of having sex.
Once abortion was illegal and recognized as murder of the unborn. But now people do not want to have the consequences of their sexual activities to cause them any problem. So just kill the baby. This nation is in a state of moral decay, and getting worse.
The views of society in general do in fact influence behavior. Once a couple shacking up was ostracized. That was a deterrent. Now it is accepted, and so the nation is another notch lower in its morality. That deterrent has been removed.
We want a nation in which our children and future generations can grow up and follow the moral standards which make the nation safer, and more compassionate. That is what this election was about for some of us. We want our schools to teach the three Rs and to refrain from teaching that such things as homosexuality are just alternate lifestyles. In our homes Christians teach their children about God, and the schools teach that He is not relevant.
Since the courts are now lawmakers, it is important to appoint judges and SC Justices who follow the Constitution, and interpret it in accordance with our moral values instead of directly opposite.
Gun rights are very important. But I believe that the religious right is more in tune with that issue than most other groups. But if I had to make a choice, which I have not, to vote for moral values that I believe are right, or gun rights, I will always vote for proper morality.
I could say many other things, but I hope this gives a better understanding of where we stand, and why. The Dems will not understand.
Jerry
, Art
