What is conservative Christianity?The word "conservative" can be misleading. Conservative in a political sense is not necessarily the same thing as conservative in a theological sense.Political conservatives generally vote Republican (but sometimes Libertarian), and tend to favor traditional values. Theological conservatives tend to favor traditional Christian theology, but could fall anywhere on the political spectrum. The two are not necessarily linked.It's true that there is a vocal community of Christians in the US who are also politically conservative, but these are not necessarily "conservative Christians." There are also many Christians who are politically progressive, and they could fall anywhere on the theological spectrum.Conservative Christian could simply mean a Christian who holds to orthodox Christian theology, but not necessarily to conservative/Republican political views.To get an accurate picture of the spectrum of Christian thought, you have to separate politics from theology.
REAL Christians? The ones who actually try to follow what Jesus Christ said and did?Probably because Jesus Christ wasn’t a conservative, at least not in the sense of what too often goes by the name of conservatism these days: greed, misogyny, racism, bigotry, and hatred.He wasn’t a capitalist. Think what he could have charged for turning water into wine, healing the sick, and raising the dead, but he never charged a penny. In fact, he seems to have been a socialist; the miracle of the loaves and fishes is a perfect example of redistribution of wealth, and he said it would be easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven.He wasn’t a misogynist. Though, in traditional Jewish culture of his time, rabbis were not supposed to teach women, who were supposed to stay in the kitchen, he said Mary, who sat at his feet to listen, had chosen the better part than Martha, who stayed in the kitchen to cook. He choose a woman to be the first witness of his resurrection, even though, in a Jewish court of law, a woman’s witness was worth less than a man’s.He wasn’t bigoted. In fact, when asked “Who is my neighbor?” the example he gave was a Samaritan, whose relation to orthodox Judaism was rather like that of Mormonism to orthodox Christianity. He helped pagans as well as Jews.He didn’t hate or counsel hate. In fact, when asked what the most important commandment is, he replied, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”At least in today’s terms, a REAL Christian cannot be a conservative: “conservative Christian” is an oxymoron.
How come atheists are more like Jesus than conservative christians?
I see your point but there's a few things to be aware of. Democrats want to force these programs, when Christ gave us the choice. Many Christians (definately not all) give charitably, and volunteer here or overseas. Most often this volunteering doesn't include procelytizing. Christians don't disagree with the causes you mentioned, they just don't trust the government to do it, nor do they think its within the powers given by the constitution for the government to assume that role. Christians are also nervous these days with the government, and are afraid the anti-religion sentiment will further press on them. They recoil by pushing back against Dems when it doesn't make much sense (frustrating!), and by voting more conservatively than they normally would. As a Christian myself (I don't like politics) I see a place in society for some sort of universal healthcare for children, and elderly care. I work in the streets of a big city for an ambulance service, and I see people in need all the time. I also see many who don't, who only seek pain meds, someone to talk to, or a ride into downtown. Many people are capable of working and making a better life for themselves, but are too addicted to government aid to learn how to work. I feel if atheists genuinely wanted to help, they too would respect the role of religion in society, and we can work together towards the common good.
Why do conservative Christians hate progress?
It's not the Christian part, conservatism is the real issue. I'm a Republican progressive, meaning I want to help further society's development while restricting government's influence in certain areas(opposing SOPA and CISPA, for instance). Unfortunately, many other Republicans seem to be Conservative and continue reading off of the "Atlas Shrugged" bible depicting their Conservative-Jesus preaching Libertarian ideals. I have no idea why most of the GOP has been infected with the Conservative Luddite virus, but I hope it changes soon. I doubt religion plays that much of a part in the dominance of the Conservative movement-----and rather Conservatives use Religion as a moral high ground to evade criticism.
Why are so many traditionalist/conservative christians so judgemental?
Your basis is off. Jesus loved the prostitute but he called out her sin, when Jesus healed someone what did he say, "Go and sin no more..." he didn't ignore their sin. Yes the Bible says love the sinner and hate the sin, you know what that means...it means call out sin for what it is. If you love the sinner you would try to prevent them from ending up in hell, it doesn't mean you would be politically correct so you wouldn't hurt their feelings. What's more merciful? Telling them the truth now and they repent and accept Christ or not hurting their feelings, keep a friend and see them cast into the lake of fire? Think about that. The father in the parable welcomes the son becomes HE COMES BACK to what he left. If the gay son turns away from homosexuality and accept Christ then he would be the prodicgal son. Too many people get the misconception that we are not to judge when the Bible clearly says test the spirits. What is that? Judging right? Yes. If we do not judge one another (after accepting Christ, that's what get the log out of your eye means by the way, repent before you go call out one another's sins) but if we do not judge one another how are we then to follow Jesus' command of "go forth and teach the nations" that means the Gospel, accept Christ and turn away from your sins, he died on the cross and was ressurected then ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of God, he is the only mediator ONLY MEDIATOR for us. That's not a sugar coated politically correct gospel.
I suppose a good country is Italy. Specifically Rome.You’ve got the Pope just around the corner in VC and he’s got The Father, The Son and the Holy Ghost on speed dial.There’s lots of nuns and monks and things around as well as plenty of religious relics and history.If you prefer, there is Israel. The Christian community is vibrant and again history and strict religious followers are all around. Sure everyone else there (the majorityof locals) think Jesus was only a prophet but it’s all good common ground for conversion opportunities.If you don’t want to learn a foreign language, head to Northern Ireland. Not only does the Queen (the worlds most experienced states-person) represent you to God, but NI is practically led by a bunch of hard right bible thumpers who don’t buy into creationism.If you want better weather, there is Australia. Incorrectly thought of as a cross between California and Cyprus its rapidly becoming everything a God-botherer could want. Drinking is getting harder and harder, women are still second class citizens and it’s getting worse, or better, or at least more conservative.Lastly, I recommend Switzerland. It’s federal like the US. Some women only just got the vote which is a good example of what century it’s still in. It’s self sufficient for most things and has both more Jesus guns per person than the US and less murders than almost any country in the world. It has a church tax for nearly everyone so the churches are rich and well attended.
The question is a bit ambiguous. The terms “liberal” and “conservative” are usually taken to mean political ideologies, but they also have a more technical meaning in theology. Conservative theologies are generally based on literal interpretations of scripture, while liberal ones are those willing to read much of scripture as metaphorical.The most obvious differences would be in their attitude towards things like creationism. Liberal Christians are rarely creationists, while conservative Christians are almost all creationists of some sort or another.To a conservative Christian, the creation story, the “fall” in the garden of Eden, Noah’s flood, Jonah and the whale, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the tower of Babel, and so on, all are actual, historical events. Liberal Christians view them as metaphors that teach important lessons.
I'm familiar with Dr. Peterson from watching many, many hours of YouTube of him — lectures, his home videos, and interviews, sometimes as short clips but often the whole thing -- and reading the first quarter of 12 Rules. It's been a major hobby/recreational activity for the past few months (along with Quora).There are many videos where he mentions his Christian faith, although he's said he avoids going to church. If I recall correctly, he feels like in his experience, pastors are insufficiently honest. He recognizes that most modern audiences aren't interested in hearing about religious faith, though, so he mostly frames the Bible as worthy myth, rather than gospel truth. It's clear he respects Christian ideals and believes in Jesus as the ultimate hero and model. He sounds pretty Christian to me, but not preachy or smug. He does not seem to think accepting Jesus as your personal savior is the only way to avoid Hell, though, or at least he never mentions things like that.I'd say it's also clear that he is quite conservative, in the dictionary sense of being attached to the past and cautious about change. This is relative, of course, as a kind of spectrum, but he often exhorts the audience and society in general to stop discarding and disregarding the wisdom of the classics. He also speaks often about how fragile civilization is and how remarkable it is we can sit in a room together and not tear each other limb from limb like some primates would do (he says). To my understanding, those are deeply conservative positions.However, the term “Christian conservative” refers to a specific political alliance (at least within the US) whose views I don't think Dr Peterson agrees with at all. Maybe I only see the bad, looking in from the outside, but American Christian conservative leaders seem heartless, hypocritical, homophobic, and transphobic.Dr Peterson's heart and integrity are extremely clear, and I see no hint of homophobia or transphobia (despite claims from some activists) in his interviews, including those with gay folks and trans folks. It's possible his clinical experience allows him to mask that exceptionally well, though, and he does assume in his lecture examples that the listener is straight, cis, and primarily male. It's also possible I'm blind to signs, but I'd have expected any red flags to clearly surface by now.So, in short, I think he's Christian and conservative, but not a “Christian conservative”. That's some of why I find him so interesting.
Conservative Christians did you know if you use a Christmas tree you are sinning?
I suppose its also a sin for me to drive a Subaru, since Subaru is based in Japan and Japan is one of the most atheistic countries on earth? And don't get me started on eating apples, even though there's no biblical evidence to support the assumption that the forbidden tree in the garden of Eden was an apple tree, my 3rd grade Sunday school teacher implied that it was an apple tree and there's no way she would lie, she was old enough that I just sort of assumed all her Bible stories were from first hand experience of actually being there. And besides, my tree is a generic seasonal festivities tree. Its not specific to any religion or holiday.
Conservative Christians, why can't I go to hell in peace?
Christians are trying to help you. They believe in having you come to heaven and have a good eternal life, that is why they're trying to convert you. I'd suspect that them telling you you're going to hell is an attempt to try to make you convert, so you can enjoy life in heaven instead. It's a fine line between trying to spread the message and save people, and then just annoying the heck out of them. Christians really want you to go to heaven, it's part of the Bible, to help others find God as well. That's why they probably won't leave you alone about it. Some of us are really persistent... I'm sorry that you're being really annoyed about it. I think there should be a point where you stop trying to convert and leave them be... However, the creating hell for you here on earth part shouldn't be happening, especially the discrimination and cruelty. That... I'm sorry you have to go through that, because you shouldn't at all.