Fascist Temptations






2 Replies to “Fascist Temptations”

  1. I suppose there are some Social Conservatives who look to the Federal Government to promote their religious beliefs, but such are relatively rare. On the hand, is there any doubt that the people who are successfully promoting the expansion of Federal Government powers are social Liberals?

    Hence I am mildly puzzled by this post. Why would somebody who professes to be a Social Conservative suggest that those who share his views might be so subject to fascist temptations? Have you spent too much time listening to the corporate news media. 😀

    Consider what happened when President George W. Bush started with his faith-based initiative. This idea was not enthusiastically endorsed by Social Conservatives. Many Social Conservatives would prefer the Federal Government stay out of the welfare business. Most understand that Federal money comes with strings.

    Many Social Conservatives also know that government-financed churches in Europe stand empty. What demonstrates our faith must be the work of our own hands. Which perhaps explains why government welfare works so poorly. Our charity must come of our own volition and depend upon our own choices. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead (James 2:26).

    So why the fear of Social Conservatives? As we practice it today, freedom of religion is a Christian idea. Nonetheless, it was long in coming. Much persecution in the name is Christianity preceded it. So that even today there are those who point to it and say: “See, religion poisons everything.”

    Yet the truth is atheism and agnosticism are far more to be feared. These are the beliefs — or lack of belief — that foster fascism and communism. When a Christian reads the Bible and sincerely tries to understand it, he or she knows we cannot bring people to God with government controls or at the point of a gun. Salvation is a gift only God can give, and none of us can force another to accept it.

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