Look, a Liberal at Free Republic!

[FreeRepublicLoginName]

Hi. Most people would consider me a "Liberal".

I'm not posting here to argue or incite a flame war. I am not posting to change anyone's mind about anything. I am posting here because I want to understand the Conservative viewpoint. I'm here to listen, but I have some questions.

I've read the Conservative FAQ at

http://www.conservatism.com/CustomPage.asp?WEBSVCID=1155&SID={8D0C2C23-7287-400D-ADB9-0EF7C5A3056A}&MID=118

I don't know if that document truly represents conservatism or not, but it seemed consistent with what I've seen in popular media (and on the web). But it raised some questions for me. I was hoping visitors of Free Republic would be willing to give their personal viewpoints on a few questions.

Here are my questions. The word "you" here refers to any conservative willing to post their opinion. (I got most of these questions by reading what others have said about conservatives, so that's why some of my questions sound like a test.)

1. Do you believe in God?

2. Do you believe Reason has limitations? If so, what are those limitations?

3. Did your father use corporal punishment to enforce discipline? (Were you whipped, beaten, or spanked when you misbehaved?) If so, how frequently? (Once per year? Once per day?)

4. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: "To be morally strong, you must be self-disciplined and self-denying. Otherwise, you are self-indulgent and such moral flabbiness ultimately helps the forces of evil."

5. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: "Punishment is nurturing in that it teaches discipline, self-reliance and respect for authority."

6. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: "Your poverty or your drug habit or your illegitimate children can be explained only as moral weakness and any discussion of social causes cannot be relevant."

7. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: "The highest moral good is nurturance, including empathy, fairness and protection, but not painful punishment."

8. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: "Obedience comes out of love and respect for the parent, not out of fear, and strength is in the service of nurturance."

9. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: "'Conservative tolerance for inequality' [as described by liberals], should, in fact, read intolerance for forced equality, and acceptance of the natural order of things in which inequality is generally the rule. "

10. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: "The modern North American liberal is 'a keen advocate of change mainly to fulfill his/her ego needs -- needs for power, influence, self-advertisement, self-promotion and excitement.'"

11. Is it possible for a Liberal to be a good person? Is it possible for a Conservative to be a bad person?

12. Is morality (by which I mean right and wrong) absolute, as described in the bible, or is it relative?

13. On a scale of 1 to 10, are you happy in life (generally speaking)?

14. Which statement do you agree with more: "people are generally good and trustworthy" or "people are generally bad and will try to harm you"?

15. Is corporal punishment (discipline through whipping, beating, or spanking) an acceptable practice?

16. On a scale of 1 to 10, do have anxiety (or fear) in your life (on a day-to-day basis)?

[Conspiracy Guy]

"Our private system has failed me almost completely, and I would like to go with what works better."

Who are you talking too. The only people I know who think Socialized medicine works, are people who don't work for a living. I know many Canadians and English who think it is a total failure. In what way has the private system failed you? Do you have a job?

[Conspiracy Guy]

"When you believe in something without having a reason for it (i.e., faith), you are lessening yourself and your potential. When you calm your personal insecurities by telling yourself lies about "The Heavenly Father" watching out for you, you are doing nothing but endangering yourself and those around you. You would be happier if you had the solidarity of reason behind you."

That is without a doubt the dumbest statement I have heard in years. Faith is not saying, "I'm helpless Lord do something." Faith is "Here's what I'm doing Lord help me out if you will." If you were exposed to a religion I don't know which it was.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Please don't repeat it it was dumb enough the first time.

[honeygrl]

You are in Canada, right? What do you think of Socialized medicine?

[Conspiracy Guy]

War is hell. Innocents die. Sanctioned methodical clinical killing of babies is a little different. But since "killing babies makes you happy and you'd be happy if everyone was killing babies then it's OK." Right? I mean if it makes you happy it has to be good right? Come on get a clue.

[honeygrl]

Well, the hubby's job makes him unhappy so i've concluded that it's immoral for him to work, based on the liberal guy's reasoning. I will encourage him to quit tomorrow so we can go on welfare and live a happy and moral life.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Shhhhhh! No facts please just opinion. We're talking to a liberall facts are inconvenient.

[Conspiracy Guy]

What nation's military uniforms were the hijackers wearing? How many times did they ask us to surrender before attacking the towers? I can't seem to recall the answers.

[Conspiracy Guy]

shhhh. Don't use reason unless it makes him happy.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I read Tora! Tora! Tora!. But I'm unaffiliated with any run of the mill religion.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Those dang tiny monkeys vex me!

[Feiny]

You don't lock your doors at night? That is just foolish....unless you have armed guards or attack dogs.

I live in Los Angeles & always lock my doors...even my car doors while driving. I have seen the car chases on TV where the criminal runs up to the car & opens the door....no thanks...I value my life enough to protect it at all times.


And even if I lived out in the suburbs or boonies,I would lock it all up.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Call in for him and cuss his boss out. That will make you both happy then we'll form a commune and live off the gummit and have 8 children and git us some sociable medicine.

[Conspiracy Guy]

See ya tomorrow logging out. Over!

[FreeRepublicLoginName]

"And I also strongly believe in G-d, the L-rd of the Universe."

Lazamataz, thank you for your reply. It sounds like you have a very interesting background.

I would like to know, in all of your travels and experiencing different cultures, what have you ever seen that makes you think God is real? I'm talking sensory input -- what have you seen or heard. I have never experienced anything that makes me think there is some supernatural creature out there.

(Remember that the bible has no authority in my view, so calling that "evidence" won't fly with me.)


"But what about the after life?"

I'm inclined to think that there is no afterlife. I've never seen anything that makes me think there is an afterlife. All living things die, and that is the end.

Waiting for an afterlife is really missing the boat, in my opinion. Life here on Earth is more amazing, incredible, and exciting than any hollow promise you'll find in a mythological text like the Bible. Stop waiting for the greener grass on the other side, and start living.

Do you believe the Pharaohs made it to the afterlife? They were not Christian, they followed a "false god" (according to the bible), but went to extraordinary lengths to follow their beliefs about the afterlife. In your opinion, were they right? If not, what makes Christianity's afterlife true but the ancient Egyptian religion's afterlife wrong?

What I do see is churches exploiting people's natural fear of death to their own ends. "Do what we tell you and you'll go to heaven. No... really. Disobey us and you'll fry." What a crock.

Stop living in fear. You will die. Every human ever, since the beginning of time, has died, and so will you. It's the natural cycle of life; plants, bacteria, stars, and galaxies all have a life cycle that ends in death. If you wait for the afterlife to experience happiness, then it will be too late. Life is about living! Enjoy it, cast your anxiety and agression aside... you don't need to belittle yourself with religion.

[Feiny]

thought you may enjoy this one....

[Dianna]

You don't lock your doors at night? That is just foolish....unless you have armed guards or attack dogs.

When I lived in LA I locked my doors too :) I live in Kentucky, there is very little crime in this area, and I do have a dog who THINKS she is vicious.

[Dianna]

Stop living in fear. You will die. Every human ever, since the beginning of time, has died, and so will you.

Would you please pass this on to the liberal smoke Nazis? I think they are convinced they would be immortal without second hand smoke.

[Dianna]

If you wait for the afterlife to experience happiness, then it will be too late. Life is about living! Enjoy it, cast your anxiety and agression aside... you don't need to belittle yourself with religion.

You are such a pompous blowhard. Please feel free to respond to my previous posts to you.

Your second task is to stop assuming things you apparently, and admittedly, know nothing about. What makes you think that religious people are not happy? Why do you think we are postponing happiness? Because we aren't out screwing everyone in sight? Or is it because we aren't ingesting as many chemical substances as we can?

Maybe we should just give it all up, go on welfare and spend our days soaking up the FUN! Party at my section eight housing residence!! Whoo Hoo!

[Lazamataz]

Because we aren't out screwing everyone in sight?

Speak for yourself, missy.