I once overheard a fellow church member say of one party’s candidate, “I don’t know how anyone can be a Christian Scientist and support them.” It wasn’t long after that another church friend questioned how a person could be a Christian Scientist and support the other party’s candidate. Political opinions can lead us to the conclusion that anyone who disagrees with the ideology we favor is wrong—that only our preferred ideology is correct. Of course, this is intellectually impossible. Political viewpoints belonging to various parties can include ideas that are intelligent, useful, and important. 

So what causes us to take it personally when we disagree with others’ ideas or makes us attempt to influence another to think the way we do—and if they don’t, to consider them an enemy or, at least, less of a friend? What causes family members to separate themselves from each other based on these differences? 

Aren’t extremes of political opinions really based on ignorance of the nature of God?