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From:	Holly (67.184.34.179)
Subject:	I agree with some of what you say,
Date:	November 5, 2008 at 6:04 am PST

In Reply to: Something that seems to have evolved posted by Lynne on November 4, 2008 at 7:55 pm:

namely that there are Christians who are also liberals. What troubles many believers, I think, is the other part of what you said. You will fight for animal rights any time--that's fine too, I suppose--but the Dem party, in their platform, does not place the same emphasis on innocent *human* life (and Obama specifically has voted to deny succor even to those who survive the ghastly banned topic). Being formed in the image of God, many, many believers find that we cannot vote for a candidate who does not share that very basic value, regardless of whatever other issues we may agree with them on.

Many of us with opposite political opinion to yours view this issue as being of the same magnitude as slavery was in our nation's past. I know I do. Or, I suppose, the same magnitude with which many view global warming today.

Just as I vote Rep despite some issues or stances I don't like, I would assume that my fellow believers on the other side of the aisle do likewise. They place a different emphasis on this particular issue than I do. While I cannot understand that, just as those with opposite political opinion cannot understand how I can stomach some things within my own party, I would not go as far as to say because you don't share my view or my emphasis on the issue, therefore you don't share my faith.

As for why people assume libs aren't Christians, there are statistical reasons for that. Barna's research, the best on the topic, below. What everyone needs to bear in mind is that while statistics can tell us much about a group, they can tell us NOTHING about an individual. For instance, to use a nonpolitical example, I'm at high risk for ovarian cancer given my ethnic group (Ashkenazi Jew), but until I get genetic testing, such stats tell me nothing about my specific risk. Too often, people make a judgment about an individual based on what is true statistically for their group, rather than what is true particularly for them.

Blessings, Holly

• Political Alignments of the Faithful