Why shouldn't politics and religion mix?

Answer 1

"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God; that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship; that the legislative powers of the government reach actions only; and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, nor prohibiting the free exercise thereof, thus building a wall of separation between church and state."

-- Thomas Jefferson, in letter to Danbury Baptist Association, 1802.

God wants us to love him because of our faith, not because we are forced to. It is a slippery slope to say that my faith should be your faith. I am not advocating an absence of God from the public sector. I do not see a problem in public prayer or allowing any religous practice that doesn't harm others. A seperation of church and state as Jefferson invisioned it was not having a state sponsered religion nor prohibiting religous practices. This is the only way to guarentee everyones right to freedom of worship.

Answer 2

Because not everyone has the same belief system. Would you want to be forced to live under someone Else's beliefs?

Remember, when our Founding Fathers came to this continent, they wanted to break away from the Church of England.. the State Religion. They included in the Bill of Rights the Freedom of Religion, which states that Government can NOT endorse or prohibit any particular system of beliefs.

Also, a few years ago we sent soldiers to the Middle East to eliminate the TALIBAN. The Taliban is what can happen if we allow politics and religion to intertwine. Would you want to live under a system like that? I know I wouldn't.

My policy is to live and let live... If your actions don't hurt me (or anyone else) I have no problem with whatever it is you want to do. The people who want to mix the two want to make MORE laws governing personal behavior... and if they had the chance even personal beliefs.

Answer 3

So which religion governs? Whose religion would you base political secular law on? If the laws take the views of one particular religions will the other religions get hurt by it? In this country even though the majority of people are one type of religion you still have to respect that there are people who don't practice it and don't want to be forced into situations by it.

Religion and politics are separate entities and should remain that way.

Answer 4

That's a good question, perhaps it has something to do with the facts politicians demand a high salary for their services and Religion is considered a non-profit organization...Politics is not as interested in whats ethically and morally right and religion is not as interested in financial stability...unfortunately there isn't a balance between the two organizations...why do you think that hasn't happened...even to the point politics are keeping religion out of our public offices... I would like to see more of a balance in our political system....politics use to be based on religious freedom.

Answer 5

Politics and religion do mix. In the US, religion is just one faction in what we call representative government (democracy). But, religious leaders are not allowed to dictate to everyone else.

The state has the ultimate authority to take someone's life, freedom and property, and having that authority, should not be allowed to use that authority based solely on religious doctrine.

The pope is an excellent example of why politics should not be controlled by religion. If he had the authority to execute heretics, there is little doubt he would do so.

Answer 6

Look at history. When has it ever worked? I don't know of any instance where a Theocracy has actually worked and the people were at peace.
And if you mixed them, which ones would you mix? Would it be only the Christian religion? Or would you support Wicca to be mixed into politics. *We just may end up with a "happy naked dancing day" in our holidays*

Answer 7

The biggest concern with politics and religion mixing is the matter of who's religion will be represented -- and then what about everone else?

I think a lot of traditional religions, such as Fundementalist Christianity, feel they should be involved with government for "moral" reasons.

But how would they feel if we voted and our government was suddenly run by Buddhists? Or Zoastrians? Or Satanists?

Answer 8

If politics and religion were "mixed" all the man made laws would have to be more inline with God's Laws ... various religions would be forced by the Government to be more inline with what God is really all about. Think too many people would have to change and many politicians and Televangelists wouldn't like that.

Christianity would also be run like Islam, who do keep religion and state together. (Think about it)

Answer 9

Two problems:

1. Politics becomes hopelessly biased towards one worldview and is unable to administer pure procedural justice.

2. Religion cheapens itself into a governing system with time. Soon the difference between "Christian" and "Republican" is nil and being Christian is more about certain ways of governing states than an adherence to truth.

Of course, I styled my answers toward the current Religious right push. In fact, you can see these unfortunate events in play today....

(E. Ann Rynd's "Liberal = Godless" canard.)

Answer 10

That happened before in a country's history and totally... it was messed up. The government (politics) will be giving extra more privileges to the religion they like/love/are-in. So that will end up in an unfair treatment whereby riots, protest and wars will be acted upon to justify certain matters.

Answer 11

In free society, you cannot promote one religion because it negates the ideals of a free society. The laws of a democract must recognize life liberty and the persuit of happiness. Therefore the laws cannot mix with religion.