If "Jesus was no leftist" why are so many of his followers seduced by Socialism?

Interesting article. You have misinterpreted the noted Scripture for effect, did you not?

That is one of the problems with the socialist Christian (Religious leftist) is that he has taken a spiritual concept and applied human terms to it completely distorting the intent of this Beatitude.

As with many other Scriptures, this one - "Blessed are the poor in spirit..." - can be used to promote one's personal interests. The Catholic laity, in particular, are lazy when it comes to reading the Bible. The priests know it and whether they do it intentionaly or not, their followers are lapping up whatever they are told. Within what it is the Priests are telling them is letting their believers think by following the edicts they hear, they can literally "earn" their way into heaven.

The word "poor" properly used in its context denotes a spiritual condition, not a physical one. It means that to those who have a sense they are spiritually poor, that through a relationship with their Savior and his righteousness, they can become whole through His rightiousness as well.

Through the work of the Holy Spirit one becomes knowledgable of ones own sin and through this the knowledge of divine compassion.

This will usually lead to a confession of sin asking for forgiveness from the Father in Heaven, not a Catholic "father", followed by a profession of faith in Jesus Christ.

Thus one appropriates the righteousness of Christ, not righteousness he thinks he receives through his own works.

I don't think the answer to your question is that complicated.

Liberals *lead with their feelings*, so religious liberals think Jesus was left-leaning because He is like them and they initiate policies with the best of intentions.

Conservatives *like to see results*, so religious conservatives think Jesus was right-leaning because He is like them and they initiate policies that actually improve people's lives.

Personally, I don't think the religious component of your exercise is relevant to the question of socialism. Liberals lean towards socialism regardless of religious faith, and conservatives lean away regardless of faith.

As for Sonny, accusing you of manipulating scripture to make a point, he demonstrates well how all scripture can be manipulated to make ANY point, including his own. How deep can we dig to understand the meaning of the word "poor"?

There is a common belief that to be conservative, you must also be religious. But the ideology doesn't depend on faith. Neither do the answers to your interesting question.

-The Secular Conservative

.. but I am trying to identify the reasons why leftist ideology has such tration in our country. Despite the failure of socialism world-wide, there is something in our DNA that makes it attractive to so many our compatriots.

I don't disagree with the thesis that 'Leftists lead with their feelings/intentions' and 'Conservatives are result-oriented'. But both place an inordinate value in uplifting the downtrodden. You will find Conservatives making statements that Conservatives are more 'giving' and compassionate than Leftists. While that may be true, what makes it a higher virtue than, say Conservatives are, on average, richer than Leftists?

My thesis is that the germ of Socialism is carried in our religious beliefs of self-sacrifice and altruism.

Religious conservatives have to overcome their altruistic religious beliefs by applying the 'but Socialism doesn't uplift the downtrodden, so it is immoral'. They have already ceded the ground on the concept that uplifting the downtrodden should be the goal of individuals - and that the highest virtue is obtained by those who achieve it. Why? Because it is consistent with religious teaching.

...but still disagree somewhat. First, conservatives give more because they believe it is up to society (read: individuals) to help those who can't help themselves. Liberals, on the other hand, believe it is up to society (read: government) to help.

I don't think it takes religion to identify "helping the poor" as a moral value. I think our ability to empathize is sufficient to make us all look on the downtrodden and want to do something. After all, we can imagine what it would be like if we were in the other's position. I think even someone who follows reason/logic can see this (like me); it doesn't require faith.

I also think you've stumbled across the answer in your last comment: "Socialism doesn't uplift the downtrodden." Conservatives should believe in uplifting the downtrodden and against Socialism because Socialism doesn't do what it says it will do.

Liberals are about intentions; conservatives are about results.

-tsc

I am a Christian and I am against either side using scriptures to hijack and "prove" they are right. God didn't have a socialist, democratic, or any other government structure in mind when He said what He said. Therefore, I make my decisions politically on what has the greatest reality in my opinion of keeping our country efficient. That being said, my biggest beef with the left is their victim mentality in trying to help waay too many people who don't need the help or helping with solutions that didn't address the problem, they only addressed the symptom. My biggest beef with the right is the lack of understanding that this is far from a fair society and despite folks desire to pull themselves up by the bootstrap, they don't have any boots and can't afford them. Now I am not a believer in equal outcome as many on the left seem to be confused and rally for. But to tell anyone to do their best in the 100 meter dash when you start them 200 meters back is unacceptable and that is much more prevalent in our society than admitted. (Walk through any inner-city school and observe the outdated facilities and clueless teachers.) A large number of ill-equipped citizens who are struggling while being told by the right that they just aren't trying hard enough. Meanwhile these same ones, whether they are my kids or not, will be the future doctors, leaders, business owners, etc, which directly affects me and my loved ones. In the interest of self-preservation and making sure my future doctor is competent, I slightly lean towards making sure as many people as possible are able to make something of themselves as desire too. If they choose not to, the option was there and the choice was made.