God is a Liberal, Part I

I think it's time to shoot back at the religious conservatives who claim that Bible and God and Heaven are all on their side. The truth of the matter is, as Body and Soul points out, there are very religious people on both sides of the aisle. Furthermore, it's not entirely clear at all that the Bibles ( both Hebrew and Christian) support modern day right-wing policies. I think it's actually pretty easy to find a few gems of Biblical wisdom that support a more progressive approach. Let's start...


Deuteronomy 15.7 "If, however, there is a needy person among you...do not harden your heart and shut your hand against your needy kinsman." God commands us to help the less fortunate.

Deuteronomy 15.11 "For there will never cease to be needy ones in your land, which is why I command you: open your hand to the poor and needy kinsman in your land." God tells us that poverty will always exist and we must always fight against it.

Deuteronomy 24.17 "You shall not subvert the rights of the stranger or the fatherless; you shall not take a widow's garment in pawn." God reminds us that even the most vulnerable have rights and that we should be guided by true compassion.

Exodus 23.10-11 "Six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield; but in the seventh you shall let it lie fallow. Let the needy among your people eat of it." God institutes the first welfare system.

There is plenty of basis in Bible for today's progressive stances. Let's not let the radical right have a monopoly on religion.