Goldwater on religion and government: Agree? Disagree?

[imaginethat]

From 1994, and why do you agree or disagree?


Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can't and won't compromise. I know, I've tried to deal with them.

[Mr. Claws]

Too bad he ain't around to try to deal with the secular religion of "Progressivism", they think they ARE God!

[QuaseMarco]

Too bad he ain't around to try to deal with the secular religion of "Progressivism", they think they ARE God!

Karen thinks he has a 'gotcha moment'.

So Goldwater was a secular Republican.............. so what.

If he saw what the DemonRat party has turned into today he'd be shocked

[Jen]

Karen thinks he has a 'gotcha moment'.

So Goldwater was a secular Republican.............. so what.

If he saw what the DemonRat party has turned into today he'd be shocked

"Karen" ... yep...

[Mr. Independent]

Funny is that Pat Robertson tried to run for the Republican president campaign in 1988, six years before Goldwater made this statement. But, maybe these Christians were right about a lot of things, even if they didn't necessarily execute it in a "proper" way. Yes, there are some crazy Christians, but today we have active hatred of all things Christian, direct and indirect persecution, and these secular SJWs are at best not much better. And I wonder if Goldwater imagined that happening.

[patrickt]

I lived in a theocracy and didn't like it.


When I was the liaison with our local mosque I asked some of the guys one Friday night why, when most of the men at the mosque were moderates, the very radical conservatives ran the mosque. One of the men said, "At home we'd all have different mosques. If you only had one Christian church for all Christians it would be the most conservative, most radical that ran it because they can't compromise. It's the same for us. The nutjobs can't compromise."


Some people believe that using a condom when you have sex is murder and some think killing a baby at the time of birth isn't murder. They're both wrong and the solution lies in a compromise. Of course, radical dickheads at both extremes can't compromise.

[imaginethat]

Karen thinks he has a 'gotcha moment'.

So Goldwater was a secular Republican.............. so what.

If he saw what the DemonRat party has turned into today he'd be shocked

Where did you get the idea Goldwater was "secular?"


He'd be more shocked that the preachers did take over the GOP.

[QuaseMarco]

Where did you get the idea Goldwater was "secular?"
He'd be more shocked that the preachers did take over the GOP.

If he was a religious man he would not have made the statements he did.
However, who can tell what is in a man's heart? ..... only God.

[imaginethat]

If he was a religious man he would not have made the statements he did.
However, who can tell what is in a man's heart? ..... only God.

That's so true.


Goldwater was an Episcopalian.


Christ did not preach for his followers to get involved in Roman politics, nor any kind of politics. I'm aware as you probably are too, of Romans 13:1-7. It's one of the most puzzling passages in the NT for me. Read literally, the Colonists were wrong to declare independence from Britain. But, I don't believe they were.


I believe Christians can serve in governments, but should not use government to decide whose religious beliefs should prevail, because, as Goldwater said, compromise is required in a republican form of government. Otherwise, a group that believes IT speaks for God and won't compromise turns a republican form of government into a theocracy.


Theocracies are notorious for denying The People their rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They are to be avoided, and every one of our Founders would concur.

[Quark]

Compromise comes in two forms: Zero-sum (collective bargaining like what Unions do) and Win-win which is what many of us do when purchasing something.

In politics the only compromising is Zero-sum compromising. One side has to win and the other side has to lose. There is no other way.

So I guess I would disagree. How does one compromise one's core principles away.