You'd like a PPR subforum too? Yay!
As a Christian though, don't you feel that you have strong opinions on some political issues? Most of my Christian friends do, and there are long threads on FB where lots of friends debate issues like gay marriage, abortion, stem cell research, etc that people of all religious persuasions have strong feelings on, but I've found that most Christians I know do have strong opinions on political issues that they feel could be contrary to their religious beliefs.
I'd hope we have enough folks here who can debate and agree to disagree without making them dislike someone with a different opinion. I love debating with people who have a different opinion than me. I like hearing their arguments and reasons and debating points of their arguments etc. Of course nobody ever really changes their minds on the original issue, but it's fun to talk about.
I have one good friend who is a preacher, and a very devout Southern Baptist. He's against abortion, gay marriage and stem cell research. I'm pro choice, pro gay rights and I don't have a problem with stem cell research. We have sat on his porch and debated that stuff for hours. It gets heated, about the issue though, not about each other. We completely disagree on lots of topics, but are still friends and still like each other very much. Thats the kind of debate I like. He's able to get down and dirty with the argument while still being polite and refilling my tea glass and I'm reminding him that it's time for his insulin and going to get it for him because it's downstairs and I'm 20 years younger so it's easier for me to run get it than he is, etc.
I would be telling fibs if I said I am like your preacher friend, for I am a typical aspie who tends to hate people disagreeing with me and quite controversial, but aspiecentral is actually helping me to calm down and since I am 100% better online than off, I will give ppr a good try lol
I stopped voting just before I was the legal age to vote because I could not get passed the notion that no politician is true; some have great intentions but soon get swallowed up. Then I became a christian, one of Jehovah's Witnesses, in my early 30 ' s and put my faith in God to put to rights what is wrong.
I am against homosexuality, because our Creator made man and woman to procreate, but I am NOT AGAINST THE PERSON. It is a misnomer that because one does not advocate it, that makes them homophobic. Lol I am not scared of gay people and my deceased brother in law was very gay and loved him. Also, I know there are a few gays on here, but I hope they do not get the sense of prejudice from me.
What does amuse me is that in the bible, we find clear answers to abortion and thus, why does there need to be heated debates on the ethics of it all? Surely if one is claiming to be a christian that should replace and debates on abortion, homosexuality, stem cells etc?
Daniel 2:44 states that there is going to be a heavenly government that will be set up to time indefinite and thus, my vote goes to my Creator, which is why I can be neutral talking about politics.
I must say that I find this kind of chatting to be most stimulating. I used to have a brilliant time with my brother in law and we would get very heated but the next minute, we would be laughing over passages in our favourite books lol and my poor husband just could not get it.
What I am learning is that not everyone wants to live in a world without wars, sickness and the such. I am currently on Jeremiah and whoa eye opener indeed.
If I feel myself going into meltdown, I will back out. One thing I want to strive for is to not be seen as a trouble maker on here. Already another, I think believes I am pro gays, but I chose to not respond for it was not the place to start preaching the wrongs and rights of something and I answer threads by gays and feel sure they do not consider I am against them. Although lol this might cause issues; hope not.
Oh, indeed I am learning a lot on this forum on how to be friendly without getting angry.