conservative thoughts

Hi Folks,

Having lived and interacted within a society (Saudi Arabia, and other parts of the Middle East) which is based upon and dedicated to a lifestyle of conservative religious culture, I have experienced doubts as to my previously conservative outlook. What I mean is that my previously conservative outlook has come under evaluation.

I am a religiously conservative person, by nature. However when I see the effect that ultra-conservative control may have upon a society, by observing the nations which I am passing through in the middle east it makes me reflect upon the effect which conservatism has the potential to cause in my home country.

There are some very good things which are outgrowths of conservative thought and religious influence upon middle eastern society. For instance, there seems to be very little crime here, as compared to any large city in the United States for example. THAT is a good thing. The other side of this lack of crime is the reportedly harsh criminal justice system which to this day allows stonings, and decapitations, and the severing of extremities for relatively minor crimes. There is little chance of rehabilitation when one of the baser human vices inevitably rears it's ugly head in this society.

Living in a society which is based upon ancestrial lineage, a kingdom, makes it obvious to the most casual observer that there is an "elite segment" of society here. People of certain families can do as they will, without recrimination it seems. There is no "equality of every human" in this society. The lifestyle here however is prosperous. In Saudi Arabia you rarely see someone who is truly indigent...and if you do, they are most commonly immigrants, not Saudi nationals.

So it seems there is prosperity, without equality, and safety but intolerance of human frailty. This seems to be a society of "avoid", not "recover", which is a very conservative outlook. This is also a society of extreme civility and open, generous even, friendship. But that is a different discussion, isn't it.

I would not want my country to travel far down the path of legalized conservatism. I would not care for my wife, to live in a society where her freedom is contricted because of her gender. As I live and work in other societies I continue to treasure my American heritage, and the freedoms which have been earned through the blood of our nations sons and daughters.

I am guardedly conscious of the tendency in Christians society to become ultra-conservative. It is a path which requires balance...let us never forget that fact, as Americans. The laws of our free society are based upon the moral premises of Christian society, and the Christian societies which preceeded the nation of America. We must never forget this fact, or our freedoms may become licentious instead of uplifting. There is a sizeable segment in OUR NATIONS population which sees Christianity as undesirable, and it is the right of these Americans to have this opinion. When they choose to exercise THEIR right to this opinion at the expense of MY right to MY opinion then they cross the line of inherent freedom into the zone of intolerence.

Intolerence is every bit as wrong from BOTH ends of the spectrum. Conservatism and Liberality are valid viewpoints, until they begin to infringe upon the RIGHT of another to claim his or her personal belief system. I am not the kind of person who believes in lukewarm opinions or beliefs, but I AM the kind of person who will not force MY opinions and beliefs on others. I will share, and encourage, and promote what I believe to be the "true path" as revealed to me through the bible, and God's Holy Spirit. You will NOT ever find me to be an intellectual bully, taking advantage of a persons ignorance or lack of sophistication to influence their personal decision and belief system. That is just the kind of missionary I am. I believe that Jesus Himself was this type of person too. One of the reasons that Jesus came to this earth was to show us a better way; a better way of life, and a better way of humanity. The better way of Jesus was NOT an intolerant way of life, far from it. Jesus was very inclusive (thank you Lord, for including us gentiles) and far from intolerant.

Much to the surprise of many liberalistic people, I think that most Christians would agree. As Christians we sometimes appear to be much more conservative, to those who lack our belief system, than we actually are. If only that segment of our society which chooses to revile us for our beliefs would actually spend time with us, I feel that they would see that we are in fact quite revolutionary. We as a group actually believe in the inherent equality of human beings for instance, we don't merely mouth the words, but act upon them. I encourage each of us in our daily lives to exhibit the peaceful and inclusive demeanor which Jesus Christ Himself, our Lord and Saviour, exhibited to US.

God bless,

Richard Becton