You *may* (but I would dispute even this) be correct about Christianity, but Judaism and Islam were conservative from the very beginning. Although both passed through times when the conservatism advocated by the religion was actually neglected. Baghdad during the Golden Age of Islam was similar to New York today :PThe youth of the 3 Abrahamic faiths were not especially conservative as I remember--more like associated with social upheaval. — Bitter Crank
What do you think of Reinhold Niebuhr?It isn't very common that that people do this--launch "revolutions" within the church, yet preserve their conservative faith. — Bitter Crank
How did you arrive at your social conservatism?Well, I am one of the few, but I have got to say that I have become more sympathetic towards religion (especially Christianity). — Emptyheady
But CH wasn't a social conservative for sure :PChristopher Hitchens is the only commie I respect. — Emptyheady
The only way to keep a white post white is to, every now and then, repaint it white no? If you avoid change, you're not conservative at all, ultimately.Conservatism refers to particular views, but it also refers to a general tendency to avoid change and to prefer traditionalism for its own sake. — Terrapin Station
Well I did take tendency in an absolute sense, but apart from that I guess I would question that conservatism (or at least my conservatism) prefers traditionalism for its own sake. I see good reasons to preserve it.You're not ignoring the word "tendency" and reading it as an "absolute" instead, are you? — Terrapin Station
Judaism and Islam were conservative from the very beginning — Agustino
Conservative in the sense that it was spreading itself and keeping with the spirit of other religions of the time, looking to gain adherents and have them share their beliefs.Are you classifying Islam conservative (at its birth) because religion was allied with conquest and control of territory and people? — Bitter Crank
How did you arrive at your social conservatism? — Agustino
Not necessarily - they don't believe in authority for authority's sake.Social conservatives believe in authority. God is associated with the idea of genuine authority. Only the author has genuine authority, and God is usually understood to be the author of the world. Absent God authority is a merely contingent matter, upheld by worldly power. — John
But how is Hitchens socially conservative? I mean his position regarding gay marriage, sex outside of marriage, value of family etc. are completely the opposite of what a social conservative would hold. Abortion is possibly the only commonality.and a commie (Hitchens) convinced me of social conservatism — Emptyheady
Why is there an association of religion and social conservatism? — Agustino
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