Engaging with political discourse can indeed be enjoyable, yet many individuals overlook a fundamental truth: neither major political party in the United States is designed to adhere to a specific theological framework. By its very nature, politics must remain largely areligious—if not outright secular—in order to appeal to a broad and ideologically diverse constituency.
Whether we acknowledge it or not, political systems operate according to their own set of principles and belief structures, which, while not theological, function as a kind of civil doctrine.
Personally, I navigate this tension by applying my own ethical and moral convictions toward what I perceive as the “greater good.” Complete alignment between an individual’s theology and the platform of any political party is not only improbable—it is virtually impossible. This reality often frustrates people, but it remains inescapable.
Neither the Republican Party nor the Democratic Party occupies “holy ground.” Both are deeply flawed, and herein lies the inherent challenge of a two-party system: compromise is unavoidable. This often exposes how judgmental partisans can become, as they rank and prioritize issues in a way that convinces them they are remaining more faithful to their values than their ideological counterparts.
In my view, such absolutism borders on the absurd. I believe government should aspire to embody the best of what our collective intellect and character can offer. Yet, even the most fervent political loyalist would struggle to argue, with complete honesty, that the occupant of the White House represents the “best of the best.” Before someone jumps on this as an attack on the current incumbent, it hasn’t for a long time.
Speaking as a “non-American” the terms “Republican” and “Democrat” mean little outside these 50 states and in many countries there are large numbers of Socialists of faith.
Not long ago, I joked that if an alien were to land and request, “Take me to your leader,” I would die of embarrassment. Unfortunately, that sentiment still feels uncomfortably accurate.
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