How do you feel about religion in politics?

This election is very heated and shows great differences between the candidates. One of these differences deals with religion. Both men claim to be religious, and both men are Christian, however, George W. Bush uses his religion ot make policy decisions, even going so far as to say that Jesus speaks to hm in the oval office (there are a number of ways this cna be interpreted), while John Kerry says that while he is a believer, he will not vote or make policy based on his religion because he does not want to 'impose his article of faith' onto others.

How do you feel about it?



I agree with john kerry's stance. While I am Catholic as he is, and him voting his religious alues would be him voting 'my' religious values, I don't feel that the rest of the nation which is secular, and based on freedoj of religion should be subject to the rules of any one religion or group of religions as interpreted by one man, many men or any number of books (the bible, etc). So I believe that in office someone must do what he believes is right, but when he acknowledges that a viewpoint he has is directly coming form his religion, he should keep that out of the policymaking. There's a lot of grey area here, but in general I am a firm believer in separation of church and state no matter who the president is.

Re: How do you feel about religion in politics?

the two should be seperated. always and completely.

Re: How do you feel about religion in politics?

Seperation of church and state. They should never be crossed!

Re: How do you feel about religion in politics?

Seperartion of chruch and state. Freedom to worship. Bush's and Kerry's religious beliefs are not mine. They should not effect policy.

Re: How do you feel about religion in politics?

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Posted by reallybehind!

the two should be seperated. always and completely.

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Exactly. Mixing the two leads to all kinds of trouble. Plus, this country was founded on the separation between church and state... for good reasons.

Re: How do you feel about religion in politics?

I'm surprised wer'e not hearing anything from the toher side,. A lot of Bush supporters seem to LIKE that he votes along religious lines

Re: How do you feel about religion in politics?

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Posted by heidla

Seperartion of chruch and state. Freedom to worship. Bush's and Kerry's religious beliefs are not mine. They should not effect policy.

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I agree 100%.

Re: How do you feel about religion in politics?

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Posted by marymoon

I'm surprised wer'e not hearing anything from the toher side,. A lot of Bush supporters seem to LIKE that he votes along religious lines

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i don't like that bush uses his religion to make policy, but there are a number of issues that ones religion has no affect on how they feel about it.

Re: How do you feel about religion in politics?

I also believe in complete separation of church and state. The religious beliefs of our leaders should not influence policy. Personally, as a Jew, Bush saying that Jesus speaks to him in the oval office does not score him any points with me! I get very annoyed when I hear him talking about 'christian values', etc. Not that I think there's anything wrong with anyone's values or beliefs, but I don't feel it has a place in our government!

Re: How do you feel about religion in politics?

I really don't like that he talked about 'christian values' as if they apply to everyone. They don't. There's nothing wrong with them, but if you want a christian (or rather, catholic) nation go to france, spain or italy!

Re: How do you feel about religion in politics?

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Posted by reallybehind!

the two should be seperated. always and completely.

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That about sums it up for me!

Re: How do you feel about religion in politics?

They will NEVER be separate.


Want to know why? Just think how long ago the Pledge was created. They wrote it with 'UNDER GOD'. That started the ball rolling.

Re: How do you feel about religion in politics?

Separation of church and state is important. However, ethics should be a major part of politics and I am fearful of any politician who refuses to inject his sense of ethics...his sense of what is right and wrong....into policy. Policy should always be based on what is ethical. Ethics has been the basis of every legitimate legal code throughout history.

For example, John Kerry...supported by every single textbook on embryology....knows that life begins at conception. He also feels ethically that life is sacred and should be protected. However, he refuses to transpose this sense of ethics into policy. He supports abortion and even refuses to vote for a ban on the barbaric practice of partial birth abortion.

I find this troubling. He turns his back on what he believes is right and it is solely for political purposes. He excuses this hypocrisy by claiming that he is not going to inject his religious beliefs into policy. This is a cop out. It has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with ethics.

What if Abraham Lincoln found slavery to be wrong but refused to inject his Judeo-Christian ethic regarding the equality of all man into policy? Ethics is the bedrock of policy and should not be ignored.

I'm sure I am going to get totally flamed for this one!!

Re: How do you feel about religion in politics?

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Posted by DjPiLL

They will NEVER be separate.


Want to know why? Just think how long ago the Pledge was created. They wrote it with 'UNDER GOD'. That started the ball rolling.

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Actually, this is not the case. 'Under God' was not originally in the pledge. It was added I believe some time in the 40's or 50's. I don't have a link right now and I have to get going, but if look into it, it's true.

I believe it should be completely seperate.

Re: How do you feel about religion in politics?

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Posted by DjPiLL

They will NEVER be separate.


Want to know why? Just think how long ago the Pledge was created. They wrote it with 'UNDER GOD'. That started the ball rolling.

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Under God was added to the pledge during WWII (not sure of the exact date). That is why it is so hottly contested. It is not the way it was originally written.

Re: How do you feel about religion in politics?

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Posted by oneday

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Posted by DjPiLL

They will NEVER be separate.


Want to know why? Just think how long ago the Pledge was created. They wrote it with 'UNDER GOD'. That started the ball rolling.

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Actually, this is not the case. 'Under God' was not originally in the pledge. It was added I believe some time in the 40's or 50's. I don't have a link right now and I have to get going, but if look into it, it's true.

I believe it should be completely seperate.

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Hmmmm... I was not aware of that. Here is a good link

http://www.umcscouting.org/REVERANT/how_under_god_was_added_to_the_p.htm

Even though 'Under God' wasn't added till 1951... the original term for Under God was used by Lincoln in his Gettysberg address. So you can still see that religion and politics go WAY back.

Re: How do you feel about religion in politics?

Or, I guess you could go back to when the country was founded they founded it on the basis of seperation of chruch and state. I feel like I'ven even read that Thomas Jefferson was an atheist (that could be wrong, but I think I've heard it) Anyway...

Re: How do you feel about religion in politics?

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Posted by Bride626

Separation of church and state is important. However, ethics should be a major part of politics and I am fearful of any politician who refuses to inject his sense of ethics...his sense of what is right and wrong....into policy. Policy should always be based on what is ethical. Ethics has been the basis of every legitimate legal code throughout history.

For example, John Kerry...supported by every single textbook on embryology....knows that life begins at conception. He also feels ethically that life is sacred and should be protected. However, he refuses to transpose this sense of ethics into policy. He supports abortion and even refuses to vote for a ban on the barbaric practice of partial birth abortion.

I find this troubling. He turns his back on what he believes is right and it is solely for political purposes. He excuses this hypocrisy by claiming that he is not going to inject his religious beliefs into policy. This is a cop out. It has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with ethics.

What if Abraham Lincoln found slavery to be wrong but refused to inject his Judeo-Christian ethic regarding the equality of all man into policy? Ethics is the bedrock of policy and should not be ignored.

I'm sure I am going to get totally flamed for this one!!

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Just like Bush believes that life is sacred, but had the highest rate of people being put to death while he was G. of Texas. If he believes that every life is sacred then isn't that just as unethical/ hypocritical as Kerry?

Re: How do you feel about religion in politics?

Ethics and religion are two separate things. You can be ethical but not religious. By the same token, you can be religious and not ethical.

I don't want to argue semantics, but I believe the distinction is important in discussing the issue of politics and religion.

Re: How do you feel about religion in politics?

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Posted by reallybehind!

the two should be seperated. always and completely.

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Yes I agree!