How did Republicanism get mixed up with Christianity?

[Atheon]

How did Republicanism get mixed up with Christianity? The two are totally incongruous.

And I quote for the Holey Bibble, the document which they take to be sacred writ that they must obey:

Proverbs 6:16-19

There are six things the Lord hates; seven that are detestable to him:

1. Haughty eyes (Look at any image of Trump)
2. A lying tongue (Listen to any words Trump, or any Republican for that matter)
3. Hands that shed innocent blood (Warmongering and opposition to healthcare)
4. A heart that devises wicked schemes (conspiracy theories, gerrymandering, etc. etc.)
5. Feet that are quick to rush into evil (pretty much describes the GOP)
6. A false witness who pours out lies (See #2)
7. And a person who stirs up conflict in the community. (SOP for the GOP)

[Nonsensei]

Simple. Christians only pay attention to the religious teachings they find it convenient to follow.

The rich only pay attention to the laws they find it convenient to follow.

The republican party is owned by the ultra rich.

Both establish their own versions of reality. A match made in heaven, so to speak.

[Baruch]

There isn't one kind of Christianity.  There was a kind of triumphalist Calvinist Christianity circa 1890 ... that was promoted by such places as the British Empire, the USA, the Netherlands ... imperialists and colonialists who happened to be both Protestant and industrialized.  Comparative religion over 100 years ago, was only used to prove that Protestantism was the most advanced religion, and that countries with Protestantism were the most advanced countries.  This didn't apply to Catholic countries or Orthodox countries.

Protestants naively think they are following the words of Jesus, better than the Catholics or Orthodox.

[Unbeliever]

How did Republicanism get mixed up with Christianity? The two are totally incongruous.

Yeah, especially since the Bible God seems to like liberals:

The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful.

[Cavebear]

How did Republicanism get mixed up with Christianity? The two are totally incongruous.

And I quote for the Holey Bibble, the document which they take to be sacred writ that they must obey:

Proverbs 6:16-19

There are six things the Lord hates; seven that are detestable to him:

1. Haughty eyes (Look at any image of Trump)
2. A lying tongue (Listen to any words Trump, or any Republican for that matter)
3. Hands that shed innocent blood (Warmongering and opposition to healthcare)
4. A heart that devises wicked schemes (conspiracy theories, gerrymandering, etc. etc.)
5. Feet that are quick to rush into evil (pretty much describes the GOP)
6. A false witness who pours out lies (See #2)
7. And a person who stirs up conflict in the community. (SOP for the GOP)

Self-deception comes naturally to Republicans. 

[Baruch]

Self-deception comes naturally to Republicans.

Thanks for describing Democrats also ... the Clintons in particular ;-)

[Hydra009]

Both establish their own versions of reality.

This.

Purveyors of fake news and its consummate consumers.  These two groups operate in very similar ways.  It's little wonder that they're natural allies.

[Baruch]

This.

Purveyors of fake news and its consummate consumers.  These two groups operate in very similar ways.  It's little wonder that they're natural allies.

It is necessary, for the operation of every state, to create a false reality supportive of that state ... this goes back to Pharaoh.  And all those Egyptians pulling big blocks of stone for the pyramids ... typical citizens in any place and time.

[widdershins]

Republicans courted Christians as their numbers started to fall, something they've been doing with fringe groups for decades.  They've actually gotten pretty good at courting fringe groups.  So good, in fact, that it's pretty much their only play today, and they're tearing their own party apart doing it.  In 2008 they revived their ties with racist groups by suggesting that since our president was "not white" he must be "not American".  And with that revival they got an influx of a whole bunch of crazy, which is currently taking over the party.  Saying crazy shit is becoming normalized, even getting a dumb fuck who said all kinds of crazy, racist and just plain stupid shit elected president.

It's not so much that they targeted Christians because of their values as they targeted Christians because they're easy to manipulate.  Let's face it, there would be few Republicans if it weren't for social manipulation.  They know how to manipulate different groups of people very well.  Christians want to hear how bad the world is and how Christianity can make it better.  They want to hear that they're right and they want to hear it from someone in power.  They want to hear that other people who they disagree with are going to be "punished" somehow.  Gay people won't be able to get married, atheists can't hold office, etc.  Tell people the black guy isn't an American and the Tea Party goes from tiny fringe group to massive sub-party overnight.

Republicans aren't real good at seeing the future, though, just "right now".  That's why they aren't concerned with climate change and that's why they repeatedly bring new fringe groups into the party to the point where they start to take over and to be elected they pretty much have to take the most extreme position on every issue important to any fringe group or their career ends.  The party has been self-destructing for years.  Can't wait until it just explodes and gets it over with.

[Baruch]

Christians in the US aren't a fringe group.  African-Americans are for example.  The Dems constantly collect fringe groups.  Look in the mirror please.  Of course Muslims in the US are a fringe group, many of them being African-Americans as well.  So we can see further penetration by Bill Clinton into the African-American body politic.

[widdershins]

Christians in the US aren't a fringe group.  African-Americans are for example.  The Dems constantly collect fringe groups.  Look in the mirror please.  Of course Muslims in the US are a fringe group, many of them being African-Americans as well.  So we can see further penetration by Bill Clinton into the African-American body politic.

The ones the Republicans courted who are now taking over the party are.

And the left doesn't "pander to" fringe groups so much as "fight for" them.  The left, for instance, didn't take a stance on abortion just to get votes.  They took a stance on abortion because they believe it to be right.  Democrats really didn't do themselves any favors by implementing the Affordable Care Act.  It was and still is an unpopular law which cost them dearly the next election after it passed.  So your comparison really doesn't hold true.  The right panders to fringe and specialty groups.  The war on Christmas is one example of this bullshit.  They whip them into a frenzy and get them all pissed off.  The left doesn't do that.  They do the unpopular things.  They fight for gun control, knowing full well it's going to be used against them next election.  They fight for reproductive rights knowing full well the right knows which buttons to push to light that issue on fire.  They fight for transgender rights, a percentage of the population so small that they will actually lose more votes from homophobes then they'll get from transgender people.  Your comparison is ludicrous.

[Baruch]

Sometimes unpopular = stupid

Give me a break, the Dems have been screwing the African-American community since the 60s (see how welfare was implemented, and the drafting of African-American young men into Vietnam).  They have no choice ... only two parties, and then can't be Repubs, so they have to take the crumbs people like LBJ and the Clintons bestow on them.  I thought when I was young, that the Democrat party had reformed, the KKK had moved to the Republicans, and only LBJ was a warmonger.  They have proven me wrong over the last 40 years ;-(  Read or listen to Cornel West ...

[Cavebear]

As the Republicans went rightward, they fell into the hands of the alt-right and extremist voters in primaries.  Today's Republican candidates used to be the angry crazy fringe of yesteryear.  Now they are "Republican-normal".

[Baruch]

As the Republicans went rightward, they fell into the hands of the alt-right and extremist voters in primaries.  Today's Republican candidates used to be the angry crazy fringe of yesteryear.  Now they are "Republican-normal".

Southern strategy ... this isn't just this election cycle.

[Unbeliever]

As the Republicans went rightward, they fell into the hands of the alt-right and extremist voters in primaries.  Today's Republican candidates used to be the angry crazy fringe of yesteryear.  Now they are "Republican-normal".

Yeah, to the extent that a moderate Republican is called a Democrat.