I Can Predict Your Political Party
By Learning Your Beliefs About God
Our two primary American political parties, Republicans and Democrats, are deeply influenced by their distinct beliefs about God. This influence is so profound that it can predict your political party affiliation. So, let’s delve into this intriguing connection.
For each of the pairings below, select either the first or the second description of God as your belief.
God is masculine (e.g., “Our Father”), vs God has qualities of both genders
God is authoritative, vs God is nurturant
God is stern, vs God is kind
God judges and punishes, vs God accepts people as they are
God is exclusive (only certain people get into heaven), vs God is inclusive (welcomes a variety of religions)
God is wrathful, vs God is empathetic
God ordains a hierarchy, vs God considers all equal
God is controlling, vs God is uncontrolling
God wants obedience, vs God wants cooperation
God is a warrior, vs God is a shepherd
God is a conqueror, vs God is self-sacrificial
Your political party? If you tend to select the first option, you are a Republican. If you tend to choose the second option, you are a Democrat.
Schizophrenic God?
How can God have both qualities that appear to be contradictory?
Most Christians believe God exists in a Trinity — three distinct roles in one essence.
Many Christians view the God of the Old Testament as the “bad cop.” This kind of God is full of wrath, destroying those with the wrong religion. This God is also unforgiving: cross His boundary even once, and you can be killed.
Also, this God exists in a hierarchy: the Father knows all; the Son obeys what the Father has shown to the Son; the Spirit impacts people after the Son’s return to heaven.
To many Christians, Jesus seems like the “good cop.” He exudes the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control. Jesus seems like exactly the kind of person you want to have as your friend and companion.
The Same God
Jesus told His followers, “If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father.” In other words, the Father has the same “good cop” qualities as Jesus.
Today’s Republicans
Republicans have certain qualities that make them stand out against Democrats. Republicans believe in authority and hierarchy. Citizens should submit to their President. Church members should submit to their pastor’s authority. Wives should submit to their husbands; children submit to their parents. Other nations should submit to America’s power. And much of America’s history showed that non-Whites should submit to Whites. And (more relevant in the past several decades), any sexual minority (e.g., gays) must submit to the sexual majority (i.e., straight). Likewise, transgender people must submit to the cisgender majority.
Republicans believe in using power to control those who do not follow their authority. Strong police presence and action control local dissidents and illegal aliens. Strong military controls disobedient nations.
Republicans love exaggerated masculinity. They see Jesus as a buff, super-strong champion who turns over tables and leads a bloodbath victory in the end-times.
And Republicans love White Evangelicals (because 80% of them always vote Republican).
Today’s Democrats
Democrats, too, have qualities that stand out. Democrats believe in compassion and social justice. Democrats perpetually champion the poor, the marginalized, and minorities. Every time Congress comes together to vote on the annual budget, Democrats rally toward social security, Medicaid, AID for suffering countries, and increased taxes for the wealthy. Some Democrats even push for reparations for Blacks who served as enslaved people, Asian Americans who were detained in camps during WWII, and Native Americans whose land was stolen.
Also, Democrats believe in equal rights for women and LGBTQ. Democrats value open-mindedness and empathy. Thus, they fight for voting rights for ethnic minorities and aid to immigrants.
And Democrats love those who are Jewish, Muslim, Black, Hispanic, and the religiously “none” (i.e., those who have left Evangelicalism or religion in general). These are the demographics that can be expected to vote Democrat.
Conclusion
America is currently an extremely divided nation. Amazingly, Republicans and Democrats have about the same number of voters yearly.
Republicans and Evangelicals stand firmly in support of President Trump’s agendas. Democrats and Blacks oppose nearly everything about those policies.
And political party affiliation seems to side with two different aspects of God. Republicans seem to appreciate the Heavenly Father’s authoritarian virtues, while Democrats appear to regard Jesus’s nurturing, humane virtues.
God help us all.
Dr. Mike Rosebush (Ph.D., Counseling Psychology; he, him, his;) is the author of Gay Christians: Our Story. A short synopsis of Dr. Rosebush’s life can be found at I Lived the Most Unusual Gay Christian Life Ever. He may be contacted at mikerosebush75@gmail.com.
