Why do Christianity and conservatism go hand-in-hand?

[Esternial]

Plenty of books have parts that didn't age entirely well over time, the Bible is one of them.

It's a snapshot taken in those ancient days - would've been better to keep it updated like any document/book/etc. that needs to be used consistently throughout time, like a dictionary or an encyclopedia.

Some words represent the modern era even to this day.

No doubt.

Important is the word "some". There are plenty of people that treat the Bible like some kind of divine lawbook. Wouldn't you prefer all of the laws to be fitting of our modern area?

[Major-Tom]

Technically speaking, they don't. Conservatism and Christianity aren't mutually exclusive - but as others have mentioned, many Christian denominations and self-proclaimed Christians place an emphasis on tradition in their worldview, which could incline them towards conservatism. It has little to do with economic conservatism, free-market evangelists just found a way to spin their own worldview onto Christians in the US.

This all being said, there have been numerous Christian social movements, emphasizing a vague leftism as it relates to the Gospels. Until recently, it flourished in Latin America, this sort of leftist rhetoric that drew on distinctly Christian themes. Plus, you have the original Christian-Democratic movements, which were more socially oriented than wholly right-wing or capitalistic.

[LimaUniformNovemberAlpha]

Technically speaking, they don't. Conservatism and Christianity aren't mutually exclusive - but as others have mentioned, many Christian denominations and self-proclaimed Christians place an emphasis on tradition in their worldview, which could incline them towards conservatism. It has little to do with economic conservatism, free-market evangelists just found a way to spin their own worldview onto Christians in the US.

That still suggests, at best, that Christianity can easily be hijacked. By what else could it be easily hijacked? What if there's potentially worse hijackings yet to come?

[The Alma Mater]

Technically speaking, they don't. Conservatism and Christianity aren't mutually exclusive - but as others have mentioned, many Christian denominations and self-proclaimed Christians place an emphasis on tradition in their worldview, which could incline them towards conservatism. It has little to do with economic conservatism, free-market evangelists just found a way to spin their own worldview onto Christians in the US.

That still suggests, at best, that Christianity can easily be hijacked. By what else could it be easily hijacked

Take a look at history. Christianity has been hijacked for everything - from slavery to genocide.

[Salus Maior]

That still suggests, at best, that Christianity can easily be hijacked. By what else could it be easily hijacked

Take a look at history. Christianity has been hijacked for everything - from slavery to genocide.

A nuanced and detailed view of history clear of bias, as is typical of you.

[Nakena]

which were more socially oriented than wholly right-wing or capitalistic.

The idea that right-wing and capitalistic are going hand-in-hand doesnt holds much true outside of the anglosphere.

[Luziyca]

Because generally, conservative people are religious. If Islam had been the dominant religion in the US, I reckon Islam would be associated with conservatism instead.

[The Alma Mater]

Take a look at history. Christianity has been hijacked for everything - from slavery to genocide.

A nuanced and detailed view of history clear of bias, as is typical of you.

Why thank you. I hope one day you will be free of bias as well

[Salus Maior]

A nuanced and detailed view of history clear of bias, as is typical of you.

Why thank you. I hope one day you will be free of bias as well

I do my best, and I regularly accept the failings of my particular group throughout history, and in the present for that matter and my post history validates as much. I am studying to be a Historian, after all. That's a discipline one has to undertake, and I do that gladly.

That being said, actually studying history instead of browsing /r/Atheism posts also shows a great deal of good within the Christian faith. As well as it not being wholly responsible for the things you listed. To presume so is just pure laziness and amateur hour.

Of course you don't care, because that half-assery only feeds and validates your own personal grudge, and ultimately that's all that matters to you.

[Rojava Free State]

Because generally, conservative people are religious. If Islam had been the dominant religion in the US, I reckon Islam would be associated with conservatism instead.

Please do not suggest that idea. The idea of conservative Islam running America is scary

[LimaUniformNovemberAlpha]

Because generally, conservative people are religious. If Islam had been the dominant religion in the US, I reckon Islam would be associated with conservatism instead.

Please do not suggest that idea. The idea of conservative Islam running America is scary

I vaguely recall political compass imagery featuring Saddam Hussein in the "socially right-wing, economically left-wing" (opposite of liberal) quadrant of the political compass. Anyone know to what extent this is true and/or whether or not a similar thing applies to the Islamic world as a whole?

[Nakena]

Please do not suggest that idea. The idea of conservative Islam running America is scary

I vaguely recall political compass imagery featuring Saddam Hussein in the "socially authoritarian, economically liberal" (opposite of liberal) quadrant of the political compass. Anyone know to what extent this is true and/or whether or not a similar thing applies to the Islamic world as a whole?

The political compass is pretty much nonsense.

Also Saddam Hussein's Iraq was economically kinda authoritarian.

[LimaUniformNovemberAlpha]

I vaguely recall political compass imagery featuring Saddam Hussein in the "socially authoritarian, economically liberal" (opposite of liberal) quadrant of the political compass. Anyone know to what extent this is true and/or whether or not a similar thing applies to the Islamic world as a whole?

The political compass is pretty much nonsense.

Also Saddam Hussein's Iraq was economically kinda authoritarian.

Liberal as in leftist, sorry if that wasn't clear.

[Nakena]

The political compass is pretty much nonsense.

Also Saddam Hussein's Iraq was economically kinda authoritarian.

Liberal as in leftist, sorry if that wasn't clear.

Iraqi baathism was somehow the middle eastern variant of National Socialism. As opposed to syrian baathism which had a more left-leaning tendency.

[Ultimate Destructive Fighting Nation]

For my 3500th post, I'm going to cite the same images I've been citing in many a conversation now.

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The above is just the election of George W. Bush, but I could point out a similar thing for Trump:

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Or, for contrast, compare it to religiosity/irreligiosity throughout the world:



How would you know a Church was the real deal or not ? For instance, how would a Church meant to deceive people into believing the opposite of what Jesus taught ? Seems, it would be easy for the Antichrist to do.

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Time and time again, the most progressive countries AND the most progressive US states have proven to be the least religious. I watch progressive Christians try to make the case for the Bible being progressive, and there's something oddly emotionally satisfying about that, but there's no sense ignoring statistics. However the Bible was supposedly intended to be interpreted (and its authors are no longer around to explain the contradictions) there's an undeniable pattern of conservative effects.

I'm going to propose a tentative explanation. Feel free to either critique it or offer alternative ones:

1. The Bible draws in the poor by condemning greed, condemning the wealthy, etc... making the poor more likely to genuinely like it, and giving the rich more incentive to fake liking it. Then, the Bible says that if someone smacks you around, you should turn the other cheek and let them smack you again. Obviously, this isn't just to be taken literally, but is to be extended to abusive behaviour; physical or otherwise in general. Obviously, someone with a conscience might feel bad about mistreating someone if they react meekly, depending on how biased their conscience is on the matter. However, some wealthy businessperson who wants to assert dominance over his/her employees will see in this a ripe opportunity to get away with abusing them, knowing their victims are too meek to stand up for themselves. Not all rich people are evil, obviously, but in a marketplace where asserting dominance over employees is a competitive advantage, a disproportionate slice of evil people will get rich. To cap it off, the Bible even threatens the greedy with punishment in the afterlife. If the poor believe it, they might be less inclined to do anything about greed here and now. So for comparison, here's one more map for you; poverty by state.

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I specify Christianity in particular not to deny that Islam has similar effects on social issues, (not sure about economic ones) but because Christianity is the one with the most direct effects on the first world. (For now.) And "religion" is too broad to comment on.

EDIT: Tweaked wording to clarify my awareness of the metaphorical nature of turning the other cheek.

[North German Realm]

Liberal as in leftist, sorry if that wasn't clear.

Iraqi baathism was somehow the middle eastern variant of National Socialism. As opposed to syrian baathism which had a more left-leaning tendency.

Ba'athism in general is a Middle Eastern variant of National Socialism. The Syrian form was -at best- their equivalent of Strasserist National Socialism. Saddam was... a lot more insane than normal Ba'athism, however.