A Control Issue, Maybe?

     Evangelical Christians now make up an identifiable voting block within the world of politics.  The power they wield belies the low numbers they have (extremist Republican caucus in the House of Representatives, for example) compared to other voting blocks, like independents, moderate-to-liberal thinkers and voters.  Where does this Evangelical Christian group come from?

     During most of the 20th Century, Evangelical Christians are viewed as a religious entity only.  The family in which I am reared is part of that group.  We children are taught that we are special.  Why?  Because we are chosen people of God.  Of all the people in the world, we are the only chosen ones:  we are Evangelical Christians.  We have a market on knowing who will go to heaven and who will not -- we are positively adamant that there is a heaven and a hell.  If we follow what our church teaches us (study the words of Jesus Christ, and follow his precepts:  that is the meaning of "Christian" is it not?), we will be guaranteed a place in heaven.

     Some of the church rules of Christianity we are to follow?  Rules to show we are special?  Girls cannot wear long pants, shorts, jewelry, or make-up.  We children cannot go to dances or movies.  We cannot play cards, smoke, or drink alcohol (adults are to follow the same rules).

     Are these required actions connected in any way to our religious belief system?  Do we feel special as a result?  If that means feeling like I'm sticking out like a sore thumb, maybe.  Climbing trees with other friends is near to impossible for us girls; staying away from high school dances is alienating.  Is it human for parents to want to protect their children and do what is in their view the right thing?  It is not special.  It has nothing to do with the religion (our cousins go to the same Evangelical Christian denominational church in another state and have a lot more freedom than we do).  For whatever reason, it is human on the part of our parents.  (Control issue, maybe?)

     What about the following words that Jesus Christ used?  His parable that says "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat:  I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink:  I was a stranger, and ye took me in:  Naked, and ye clothed me:  I was sick, and ye visited me:  I was in prison, and ye came unto me.  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee or thirsty, and gave thee drink?  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."  (Christian Bible, Matthew 25:35-40)

     How do these words preached by Jesus Christ fit into the behavior of Evangelical Christians?  Do these words inform the behavior of the Evangelical Christian voting block?  Not as I can tell.  The plight of Syrian refugees (LGBT's; women's rights to their own bodies, to equal pay; workers' low pay, etc.) wouldn't be nearly as controversial if Evangelical Christians actually followed the words of their namesake.  If actions they take are any guide, these actions of Evangelical Christians are not in the least connected to anything religious, or to what they would define as being religious.  They are human reactions based on fear.  Their religion has nothing to do with it.  They are human and they are afraid.  (Control issue, maybe?)

     Is there anything wrong with being human?  The only thing wrong is when Evangelical Christians say they base their behavior (when it comes to issues like that above) on their religious beliefs.  If this were true, their behavior would follow the parable of Jesus Christ.  Since they are not following the words of Jesus Christ, their actions have no basis in "religious freedom."  Is anyone stopping them from following Jesus Christ's example?

     Nowadays Evangelical Christians are masquerading as a religious group; they are not.  They are a political block not tied to anything preached in Matthew 25:35-40.  Their purpose?  Control issue?  Of course!

[In the 21st Century, the Evangelical Christian church in which I grew up allows dancing, even on their college campuses.  It's more expedient when selling their wares to other cultures, I'm told.]

      

RINO?
     Recently a friend responded to a political email I'd sent.  He used the term "RINO", I assumed, to refer to Republicans.  Since I hadn't heard the acronym before, I created my own meaning of it as it pertains to the GOP.  (My following creativity with this acronym has nothing to do with it's real meaning which is, I'm told, "Republican In Name Only".)

MY meaning for RINO is "Republicans in the NO!"

The word, "rino", conjures up "rhino", a shortened form of rhinoceros, those large animals found in Africa and Southeast Asia.  In reading about the rhinoceros, I realized they are a perfect symbol for GOP leadership and presidential candidates.  Here's why:

1.  There are black rhinos and there are white rhinos.  That's exactly how the GOP sees the world -- in black and white.

2.  Rhinos have pea-size brains in relation to their size (adults are one ton).  The GOP is too big for its britches; it's leaders collectively think and act very small.  Consider:  no Obamacare for the needy; no Planned Parenthood healthcare for needy women or men; no increase in minimum wage; no Syrian refugees into our country except maybe for Christians, etc., etc.

3.  According to the African Wildlife Foundation, rhino horns in Asia are prized because they are believed to be a cure for hangovers, cancer, impotence.  In reality, the horns are made of keratin, the same material as our hair and nails.  As one writer put it, their horns "are as effective at curing cancer as chewing fingernails."  The GOP's presidential candidates would have us believe they have the solutions to our country's problems.  In reality?  They solve nothing.  In fact, their "solutions" only make our country's problems worse by seeding distrust, practicing extreme partisanship, fostering alienation.  Their "horns", their ideas, are only good for chewing one's fingernails!

Let's start a movement to replace the elephant as a GOP symbol!  Why not the rhinoceros?  Elephants represent the exact opposite of the current GOP -- they are too smart and too empathetic with their fellow elephants to represent the GOP!  Then again, rhinoceros are dwindling in their populations.  Do we really want to see the GOP dwindle out of existence?  Hmmm...