The Conservative Christians interpret the Bible the same way that radical Muslims interpret the Koran. They tend to follow the parts that support their agenda's and ignore those portions that condemn the "sins" they wish to commit. Thus, "THOU SHALL NOT KILL" becomes "THOU SHALL NOT KILL...except for abortion doctors". "LOVE THY NEIGHBOR" would have the codicil "except for gays and lesbians". In Mathew 7:1-5 "judge not, lest ye be judged. For in the same way that you judge others, You will be judged, and with the measure that you use, it will be measured unto you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye when all the time there is a plank in your own eye. You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Many people read this and see it as a justification to interfere and do God's work for him...they must think he's busy...or inept...and so they just ignore Jesus when he said "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone".
Your second point about "forgiveness" is reserved for those people that acquiesce to their particular belief system. People that have different beliefs are somehow inferior and not deserving of their forgiveness. Thats one of the reasons that the Republican party is dying. The conservative wing will fight inclusion of any group or individual that would modify their perceive sanctity of their religious beliefs. They believe that they are the defenders of the "true-American lifestyle" and Democrats, independents, liberals, aliens (legal and illegal), atheist, agnostics, gays, minorities, feminist, Jews, Muslims, Asians, Latino's, "anyone for gun control" and of course A.C.O.R.N. are arrayed against them.
Your third point about who should care about a politician that cheats on his wife and why should it matter. It really shouldn't...EXCEPT... it shows that person is capable of violating one of our most "sacred" trusts...the trust between a man and his wife...for selfish reasons. It's not the face that this politician has sold to the constituency that elected him. If he's capable of disregarding his marital vows and his obligation to his own family for a dalliance and jeopardizing the families of both parties...it has becomes an issue of trust...if he could do something like that to his wife and children...where do his constituents fit into his thinking.
You are "right-on" with your last sentence (not that I disagree with any of your points). God made each of us big enough and bright enough to take care of ourselves. He gave us kids to keep us busy...and grandkids as a reward for doing a good job with our kids. Thank you for such a nice, civil conversation.
