Is it true that blacks are socially conservative?
I suppose it depends on the individual. I know that, in general, the black community is more religiously active than the white community. Most belong to protestant denominations, which would indicate that they focus heavily on the Bible. The Bible is sharply socially conservative, even the New Testament, although the New Testament is less punitive and more repentance and forgiveness oriented. After all, conservative means preserving the traditional underpinnings of our society, and the Bible is the fundamental source of American morality, like it or not.That doesn’t necessarily translate to economic conservatism. The Bible focuses on helping your neighbor, and many African-American Christians see the welfare state as fulfilling that directive. Others, of course, see charity as an individual rather than a governmental responsibility. (Granted, the two are not mutually exclusive.)However, the results of the welfare state haven’t been entirely positive, especially for the black community. The social conservatism of the black community and the feeling of being let down by liberal economic policies, in addition to the perception by many that they are taken for granted in the Democratic Party, may shift voting patterns; Trump did better than McCain and Romney with black voters, although let’s face it, Trump wasn’t running against the first African-American president.Traditional voting patterns make a huge difference in how groups vote. “[Fill-in-the-blank] people should vote [fill-in-the-party] because we’re [fill-in-the-blank] people” is still a convincing argument in many circles. So is “the [fill-in-the-blank] Party hates [fill-in-the-blank] people.” Until people analyze their beliefs issue by issue and really read and know the points in each official party platform, we’re going to see most people of every group voting due to peer pressure rather than intellectually. That’s why there are so few swing voters; most don’t question enough to have any decision to make.I may have strayed a bit from the question, but I wanted to analyze the limits of the social conservatism in the black community in terms of political decision-making.
Why are social conservatives so convinced that the Bible is against abortion when one reads Numbers 5:11 -31 (also known as the curse of the bitter water)?
It’s pretty tough to argue that the bible is opposed to abortion. After all, according to Jewish Talmudic law on which scripture is based, until 40 days a fetus is just fluid (water if you will). After that it’s simply a limb of the woman in much the same way as a leg would be. It’s not considered to be alive until it’s born (draws its first breath).Other than the “bitter water” passage you reference, the bible is silent on the question of intentional abortion but it does address “accidental” abortion - it says that if a man injures a pregnant woman so that she miscarries he owes the woman’s husband for damage to his property (i.e., his wife). It further says that if she dies he’s guilty of murder but only of the woman (remember the fetus is not considered to be alive).The Fetus in Jewish Law | My Jewish LearningBut the bible also includes numerous verses demanding that pregnant women be “ripped up” - if that doesn’t kill the fetus what will? And then there are verses commanding soldiers to dash infants against the rocks.
What is the easiest version of the Bible to read?
Three of the easiest versions of the Bible to read are The Message, New Living Bible, and Amplified Bible. Some people take issue with The Message and the liberty Eugene Peterson takes in his interpretation, but he is a NAE scholar who knows the original languages well. His introductions to each book are helpful to anyone, but especially those unfamiliar with the storyline of the Bible.Next, I would recommend the New Living Bible. This is an updated version of Ken Taylor's Living Bible which he wrote for his kids over the course of several years while commuting to downtown Chicago.Finally, I would point you to the Amplified Bible. I forget the woman's name who edited this, but certain phrases have synonyms inserted after them to "amplify" the meaning.
Do any Conservative Right Wing Christians realize that they are the modern day Pharisees at all?
I can only refer you to Matthew 23:7 Woe to you teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish and then the outside also will be clean. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, and you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part withm in shedding the blood of prophets. So you testify againsty yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill lup, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers! You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefor I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on the earth, from the blood of Sechariah, son of Berekiah, whom yhou murdered between the temple and the altar. I tell you the truth you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord'. Please look within your own heart. Look at representatives from all parties before you set yourself up as the 'right hand of God'. Yes, I agree, politicians who demand the highest places, who lord their position and will over others, who lie and deceive from both parties are like whitewashed tombs but it is so WRONG AND JUDGEMENTAL TO use scripture to condemn others or groups of people when you have no idea what is in anyone else's heart. Remember: that measure with which you measure will be used to judge you. God bless and enlighten you. P.S. The Scriptures are really more reliable than utube. "Be not deceived, God is not mocked".