Why should Religion affect the government?

Question

Right now there has been many issues with religion in government. A few minutes ago I was reading a question about what would be first a African American, Homosexual, Asian, Woman, or an Atheist President, and I was surprised many people though atheist was one of the least likely. Shouldn't your religion be your personal belief and not affect how the government precedes or you candidacy for public office? Why does it matter if I believe in God, or I don't? If I'm Hindu, Muslim or Jewish? Why do politicians want the 10 commandments in Congress? I personally Believe that Religion is a personal belief you may or may not have and you have your privacy with that, but it should not affect our government.

Right now there has been many issues with religion in government. A few minutes ago I was reading a question about what would be first a African American, Homosexual, Asian, Woman, or an Atheist President, and I was surprised many people though atheist was one of the least likely. Shouldn't your religion be your personal belief and not affect how the government precedes or you candidacy for public office? Why does it matter if I believe in God, or I don't? If I'm Hindu, Muslim or Jewish? Why do politicians want the 10 commandments in Congress? I personally Believe that Religion is a personal belief you may or may not have and you have your privacy with that, but it should not affect our government.

Edit: More! This is in reply to the first poster... I happen not to beleive in God. But that doesn't mean I don't think its wrong to kill someone? I still have respect for people and their lives. I do know right from wrong. But I didn't need God to find that.

Edit: More! This is in reply to the first poster... I happen not to beleive in God. But that doesn't mean I don't think its wrong to kill someone? I still have respect for people and their lives. I do know right from wrong. But I didn't need God to find that.

Sorry about the triple posting guys... Total Accident didnt know I could post another 1000 characters thought I could just add on so I copied and pasted :(

Answer 1

I think the government should stay out of Religion and Marriage since it is usually a religious act. On the other hand, every religion in the world has a set of morals (minus the demonic types or extremists) which involve not killing others and be nice to people, which I think the governments of the world should take notice of. Does that make since?
So, yes, religion is a personal belief and should not affect the government in such a way as it currently is. I also feel that a candidate's religion should not be public so that people will vote for him or her based on their intentions for the US rather than "oh he's a good Christian man"

Answer 2

The president is supposed to be someone who represents the people. Most people in this country are christian so the idea of nominating an atheist would go against this. But as can be seen having a different religion like Juddism doesn't disbar you from public service (Joe Lieberman).

Most politicians do not want the 10 commandments in congress, not sure where you go that but then ten commandments are moral principles which almost everyone can agree with. So the idea that recognizing them is endorsing a religion is incorrect. Moral principles are often shared by multiple faiths and even those without it.

Answer 3

First of all....Thomas Jefferson was an atheist and he was a great president.

Anyways, I agree that it should not matter what a person's beliefs are but there is nothign wrong with the 10 commandments and having a politician live them out in his/her career. Think about it, the 10 commandments are basically the same things regular old society values. Do not kill, do not steal, do not commit adultery, etc. If religion is what helps a leader make good choices then there is nothign wrong with that. What.....just cause a person gets elected senator or president means they should automatically give up their religious beliefs so others will stop complaining?

Oop forgot to talk about the gay marriage thing, but people are always going to be split on that. Who knows.

Answer 4

Well, in my oppinion it shouldnt!

For example, in Israel, the religion (judaism) made the country a wacco because of few reasons:

1. Non-Jewish people cant become citizens.
2. The religious holidays are the holidays of the country.
3. You cant find non-kosher food in the big shops (no pork, and other stylish food)
4. The international holidays arent in Israel (for example - New Year (so called "Silvester" (31 December - 00:00)) for example - you get yourself drunk like $hit - and you dont have any holiday on the next day!! :) hahahahaahhaha!!!

I think that all the people should live wherever they want - and this religious idea is aweful.

Answer 5

Well you need morality and with out believing in God or some semblance of right and wrong than how could you possibly run a government?

Our country was founded on faith, our courts, law and government are faith based.

Your personal belief could be anything, just as murders find nothing wrong with killing and thieves feel justified in stealing.

Personal "belief" has nothing to do with God, God IS with or with out man,

If you need examples of government with out God just look at other countries history, Germany, Iran, Africa... I certainly won't want that type of government.

Thomas Jefferson DID believe in the creator, he did believe in God so you can call that Christian or not but as far as I know believing in God the creator is not atheist.

Answer 6

It seems to me that both religion and government tell you what to do. Conservatives fashion themselves as believing in a less intrusive government, but it seems to me that conservatives are intrusive, but you know how. No gay rights, no abortion, you will be exposed to our beliefs and so on.

I agree with you that religion is not a factor. It should be the role of government to protect peoples rights (which stop at the invasion of someone else's rights). And to provide security. I do not think an effective government need to impose upon our rights to do this (although some would disagree).

Government and Religion should be completely separate. Those guys who founded our country were smart fellas who thought this was a good idea. We should listen to them.

Answer 7

It shouldn't, but there are people who have unusual beliefs, such as "you have to believe in a god to have morality". Since most Americans are "christian" they add to that "you must believe in 'my' god to have morality". The problem is that people do not trust themselves and therefore they do not trust others, so they run to religion to make believe they know what is "right and wrong". From this they make clans and those who are not part of their clan are mistrusted more. It's a stupid world we live in really, your question requires more conversation than anyone on this list could answer in one writing.

Answer 8

You're right. Religion should have no effect on the government whatsoever. The Church and the State should be completely separate entities.

Answer 9

Yes, your outlook is correct, but the religious whack-jobs scream too loudly and Atheists are the last minority that is universally discriminated against.

Answer 10

the reason why ppl wouldn't vote for the athiest.. is because most americans claim to be christian.. and thier minds assossiate athiests w/ anarchists & the like.. no, perosnal beliefs shouldn't affect the gov't.. but they do cuz it affects the voters..