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Just wanted to briefly drop in and offer a little perspective from the other side of the fence. I am a lurker around here every once in a while and this was good enough for me to drop in and post a response that I hope is educational. I'll respect the site however and not hang around too long. I consider myself to be a fairly moderate, slightly right-of-center conservative Catholic. I had originally been a Republican, but I have recently registered as an independent. I would like to offer a respone to the OP:
Can a devout Conservative Christian be an American patriot and a loyal citizen? Consider this:
Theologically, no. Because his allegiance is to white, blonde haired, blue eyed Jesus.
It is correct that my allegiance is to Christ and his church, but I make no claims as to his skin, hair, or eye color. Considering his background I would assume olive skin, dark hair, and dark eyes. But that would only be conjecture, really. The good part of my allegiance is that it allows me to really be an American patriot. I don't see America as a nation that can do no wrong. Every time I hear Hannity say that this is the greatest nation God gave to man I cringe. I live in America, therefore I want to make it the best that it can be. My allegiance to Christ and his Church frees me to see America as a human institution, one that can be improved and one that can fail without hard work and dedication.
Scripturally, no. Because his allegiance is to the three of the Ten Commandments that he can remember.
That's a good little stinger. That someone can claim a Christian heritage and not know the 10 Commandments does not help me win arguments...at all. But I would assume that there are plenty of people, religious or otherwise, who have at best an incomplete understanding of the content of what they claim as truth. For me, scripture is only one part of the deposit of faith. We (Catholics and Orthodox) also have the traditions of the Church and the writings of the Church Fathers to enrich our faith. Though many conservative Christians claim the doctrine of sola scriptura, they adhere to their modern authors and cult of personality preachers just as much as they do the Bible.
Geographically, no. Because his allegiance is to the place where they plan to get raptured to.
Many conservative Christians, including Catholics and Orthodox, do not believe in the Rapture or any end-times eschatology. The Apocalypse (or the Book of Revelation for protestants) was accepted into the Canon as a historical book, not a prophetic one. We can talk about that for ages, but suffice it to say that end-times eschatology is a cancer of American Christianity.
Socially, no. Because his allegiance to white Jesus forbids him to make friends with Americans such as Gays and Muslims.
My allegiance to (any skin color) Jesus actually compels me to be friendly toward anybody. Though I may have some conservative social beliefs, I have no desire to see a legislative response to any of them. Christianity has always been a little bit subversive, we change culture from the bottom up, not the top down. I am not selective with my friends, I try to welcome friendship with anybody.
Politically, no. Because he must submit to Pat Robertson, who calls for the 'godly' fumigation of Non-Conservative Christians.
Pat Robertson can bite me, now there in one person I might find it hard to be friendly with! :) Regarding politics however, I don't want to see America become the Church and I don't want to see the Church become America. While I would love to see every American in the Church, that is up to me to bring to fruition through my interaction with others, one at a time, not through "moral law". Moral laws do not make a moral culture, moral people make a moral culture.
Domestically, no, because he is instructed to turn women into 2nd class citizens (along with every other non-white person).
I don't view people as a "class" of citizens. People are just people.
Religiously, no. Because no other religion is accepted by his god except Conservative Christianity.
This is an interesting one. While I believe in the One True Church, I have no basis for handing down judgment on those outside of it. I try to bring people into the Church that I love when I can. Otherwise, I just pray.
Intellectually, no, because he cannot accept the American Constitution since it is not based on Biblical principles.
I would say the Constitution has some basis in Biblical morality, though perhaps not explicitly so. I would rather argue that the Constitution is not incompatible with Biblical principles. Accepting one does not necessitate the rejection of the other.
Philosophically, no, because the 'christian' Right does not allow freedom of religion and expression.
It is important for me to clarify between a conservative Christian and the “Christian Right”. The former term fairly accurately describes me but the latter brings a whole host of GOP baggage along with it. As I said before, though I am fairly conservative on many issues, I do not advocate a legislative agenda forcing my morality on others. I choose to share my morality with others, one at a time, and let them decide for themselves. Most importantly, I just try to be nice and pleasant.
Democracy and the 'christian' Right cannot co-exist.
I would say this statement is true in the light of my last paragraph. The important message for me to relate however is: Democracy and conservative Christianity can certainly co-exist. We’re not all the enemy, please recognize that conservative Christians are not always members of the “Christian Right” and I’ll try my hardest to restore the good name and reputation of my faith and my Church. Thanks for listening and God bless you!
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