Pete Buttigieg shouldn't lead the religious left. There shouldn't even be a religious left.

[radical noodle]

122. You seem to be confusing me with someone else

Where did I say that I know what the true message of Jesus is? Where did I ever say that policy should be ruled by religion? Not only did I not say that I directly said it should not.

The verse you first referred to

Jesus also said that those who do not accept him shall burn forever

appears to be from Luke 19:27. However if you read Luke 19:1-27, you will see that he is telling a parable about a king and his servants. The verses you refer to in this post refer to separating the evil from the good, but that's a belief most religions share. Reading the entire passage Matthew 13:30-50 and Mark 9:30-50, give a fuller picture of his meaning. I personally believe there was probably such a man, maybe or maybe not named Jesus, but what and who he even was is debatable. What he meant is also debatable since there have been multiple translations and I imagine those translations were colored by the translator's beliefs.

Religion does not rule my life. In fact, I haven't set foot in a church for three years and then I only went to register voters. Back in the day when I did attend church regularly, it was to a rather progressive church for those times. I came away from it without a religious belief, but with some moral and ethical ideas firmly ingrained. If you want me to agree that there are undoubtedly controversial passages in the Bible I will freely admit that. There are also tons of examples of contradictory passages, particularly if one jumps back and forth between Old and New Testaments.

I will try once more to be clear. I do NOT believe that religion should make policy. What I do believe is that human beings may form their moral and ethical beliefs based on religion if exposed to one. This might lead those who have progressive or liberal values toward the Democratic Party. I would never suggest that religion be used to make policy.