Do your Religious/Spiritual views (or lack of) affect your politics?

Me?

Yes, I'm an athiest and I do not feel we need even a scrap of religious thought in our government policies.

What are your views?

 

Mine are the same as yours.

I think that history has shown us tha too much religious control of the gov't is a bad thing.

 

Then again, the oppression of religion by government is not a progressive trend either...

 

My various religious/spritual/whatever views have no affect on my politics, and I think that is how it should be, they are completely seperate topics and have nothing to do with one another.

 

I hope none of you are voting for Kerry, who's now running ads touting the [allegedly] strong influence of his faith on his political life.

 

The topic of this thread is how YOUR religious/spiritual beliefs affect YOUR politics.

This is not about any individual politician whether it's Bush, Kerry, or any other public figure.

 

Well, I'd like to know what any of you think about Kerry's overtly religious posturing. If his faith permeates his politics, is he guilty of "imposing" his religion on others?

 

So start another thread.

The topic is not about ANY politician.

It's about us voters and how our religious leanings affect our political views.

Does every thread in here have to de-evolve into Bush vs. Kerry?

 

What's wrong with asking people here how their views impact their voting? Given that we're in the midst of a major presidential election, it seems like a fair question!

 

I am all for separation of church and state, so I do hope to find canidates who don't waste time with religious issues while in office.

 

Because we already know how everyone here is voting.

Every other thread in this place degenerates into Bush vs.Kerry.

Frankly they are both full of shit and don't deserve to be President.

I'm trying to get a conversation going on a broader topic.

I can already see this thread turning into: Bush is a Nazi/Kerry is a Commie. Like EVERY THREAD.
Forget it...

 

I STRONGLY believe that religion and politics should NEVER mix and I would never support a candidate that would seek to change this. I could never support a candidate who felt he was "appointed by god" to be president. I could never support a candidate who, through legislation, would attempt to enforce his religious beliefs on the rest of people.

For a leader to have a strong "faith" is fine as long as that "faith" does not does not cross the boundries of Seperation of Church and State, nor become the force behind their decisions. Their religious beliefs should never be forced upon anyone, or any country for that matter, through political/legislative processes.

 

Agreed on the "appointed by god" thing, come on, you have to be Louis the 14th (the sun king) or a pharoah to pull that off!

 

I'm trying to specifically point out what I see as a very obvious hypocrisy on the part of liberals when it comes to mixing religion and politics.

If you don't want to talk about Bush or Kerry, how about the US Catholic Conference? Its proclamations on civil rights, economic justice, foreign policy, environmental stewardship, etc. are often praised by the left as morally courageous and prophetic, but their opposition to gay marriage and abortion is bemoaned as a sinister attempt to impose a repressive sectarian morality on the general public.

 

Well since Kerry said specifically he could never legislate his religious beliefs i think that makes some people feel better. But this thread isn't about a paticular presidential candidate.

 

You think using religion soley for a political advantage is done only by liberals?

Kind of a bold statement don't you think?

 

I'm anti-fundamentalist religion, you might say to a discriminatory level but I don't care, there is one of the canidates that is and one that isn't, makes the choice easy in that respect, but once again, this isn't supposed to be about Bush.

 

i would have to say a qualified yes. my religous beliefs do affect my political views, however i do not believe that my views should necessarily influence and certainly not affect the political and religious freedom of others. of course, as someone who practices a minority religon, much of my political views are grounded in the separation of church and state, since that separation is what guarantees my freedom to practice my religion.


however, many of the political causes i support are for spiritual, as well as practical reasons. for example, my faith is earth-based, and so for me ecological causes have a spiritual basis, as well as the very practical not wanting to drink polluted water or suffer the severe weather caused by global warming. when god is present in every human being, to me that means i can't turn my back on oppressed groups or justify their exploitation by greedy elite simply because they supposedly pay more taxes. do i expect these views to be carried out because i believe "god/dess is on my side?" no. the spiritual aspect is my personal motivation. but i do believe they are worthy of support anyway from a human rights/common sense point of view as well. i do not expect other people to share my motivation.

 

I agree shane99.

Today I feel religion has been abused by our government.

 

I'm not religious, perhaps spiritual, but not religious. Religious people bother me for some reason. At least the ones that attempt to usher you into their delusional belief system.

If my lack of religion affects my political views, it would be to vote against a candidate that incorporates their religion into their political agenda.


For instance, abortion: I am pro-life for myself, I wouldn't have an abortion (with the exception perhaps of rape or my life was in danger). But I don't think gov. should tell other women they can't have an abortion.
My stance on abortion isn't religion-based, it is moral-based. I couldn't kill my own child. I do advocate safe sex education, not just abstinence like the religious right wingers.

I have my own ideas about what is basically right and wrong, I don't need to attend a weekly brainwashing (church).