Paul's Passing Thoughts

The Difference Between “Conservatives” and “Liberals”

Posted in Uncategorized by Andy Young, PPT contributing editor on January 31, 2017

I use quotes in the title around the labels for these two political ideologies because traditionally they don’t have the same connotation that they do today.  Still, when it comes to understanding one’s politics it is necessary to understand the philosophical progression of thought that produces either an individualist or a statist/collectivist.

In summary, one’s assumptions about man and the individual determine one’s inter-personal relation with other individuals. In other words, conservatives in general believe in the individual ability of man to self-govern. Liberals in general believe that individual choice must be sacrificed for the benefit of the state/collective.

It should also be noted that while many “Christians” would claim to be “conservative” (or even libertarian) politically, such a belief is rationally inconsistent with the “religious” idea of “total depravity”, because total depravity is a liberal assumption that produces a completely different outcome. Therefore, the idea of total depravity is incompatible with the idea of man having value.

It should also be obvious that there is no philosophical difference between religion and politics. Both are the result of a philosophical progression of thought.

Is it any wonder why “Christians” are so confused?

~ Andy

 

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I’m in Charge Because I Have the Bigger Stick!

Posted in Uncategorized by Andy Young, PPT contributing editor on May 16, 2016

While we acknowledge God’s authority, God does not appeal to us from a position of authority, He appeals to us from a position of reason. Belief is based on being PERSUADED that something is true; that it is reasonable to believe it. Belief and persuasion is not needed where “authority” is the standard. That God appeals to truth based on reason is the only thing that separates Biblical Christianity from every religion in the world since the beginning of time, for every religion has its own basis for “authority” which it accepts as its standard for truth. Arguments over religion then are nothing more than battles over which “authority” one is going to accept (or which one has more guns). Therefore, no one can claim a monopoly on truth based on authority alone.

Incidentally, arguments over “politics” are the same thing, a battle over which “authority” one is going to accept.   Televised political debates boil down to simply, “My tyranny is better than his tyranny.”  Religion and politics are the same thing, there is no practical distinction.

Andy

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