Religion vs Politics, Which is more corrosive?

Question

They are such potent mixes that I wonder if the bible-thumping, fundamentalists of Birmingham, Alabama and such places should have access to the vote.

Even in a democracy like ours there should be checks and balances.

Answer 1

That's a tough question, but I will say Religion; mainly because it has outlived every political system that was in power when those religions started.

All major wars of the 20th and 21st century (so far) were political ones, but the longest lasting wars are religious ones. The Sunnis and the Shiites have been hating each other every since Mohammed died. The Christians have hated the Jews since sometime after the crucification of Christ.

The idea of having religion separate from the state really didn’t catch on until the US declared independence. Before that most wars had religious basis as well as political ones. The Feudal system was based on the concept that kings and queens ruled by divine right, a power that they got through the church.

The problem with religion is that they brew hatred and discrimination and they don’t go away until the religion is destroyed which hasn’t happened since Rome converted to Christianity and gave up their Pagan Gods. Political systems rise and fall, but religions remain.

Hitler used the Christian hatred against the Jews to unite the German people. They made the Jews their scapegoats and that legitimized all the cruel things that they did to them. Hitler’s forces used the wealth and lands stolen from the Jews to buy support from those that they couldn’t influence any other way.

When the Allies won WWII they founded Israel, taking the land inhabited by the Palestinians in the process. This has incited a hatred against Israel and the US that has continued every since then. All the terrorists’ attacks made by Moslems against the US and Israel are a reflection of this hatred, including 9/11. The 6-Day War, the War with Syria are all products of the hatred against Israel. Terrorism was our motive to invade Afghanistan and to re-invade Iraq. Religious hatred caused the first and second invasions of Lebanon by Israel. The first war in Afghanistan and the War in Vietnam were proxy wars between Communism and the US. Since the Soviet Union has dissolved the reason for those wars have faded. Our relations with China are pretty bad, but they are more likely to talk with the US before declaring war.

The death of the Waco Branch Davidians, the persecution of the Pilgrims and Quakers that caused them to flee to the US were all inspired by religion; as were hundreds of other incidents.

I don’t know if religions have caused more death than political wars, but they are approaching that figure, and they will be around longer than any political system to continue that death count. Political systems engage in wholesale slaughter during their wars. Religions just inspire a continuing hatred and individual killings. Since these religions stay around longer than any political systems they will be responsible for more slaughter and they will probably be continuing their killing long after the US is dust.

Answer 2

dapixeladtor – nails it.

The most horrible atrocities in human history are always the result of religion having real political power.

America’s Founding Fathers were very aware of this; hence, not a single reference of God, Jesus, or Christianity appears the US Constitution.

The 1797 Tripoli Treaty (http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/diplomacy/barbary/bar1796t.htm) clearly states:

“As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion.”

The First Amendment does not say that ignorant white-trash Christians get to run the country.

Our Founding Fathers second fear was a standing military, so they placed it under the control of secular civilian authority.

Finally, they feared liars and crooks would eventually victimize an ill-informed and undereducated populace who would, ultimately, elect people even more stupid than themselves, thus destroying the government and ending their ‘Grand Experiment’.

In a sense then, the combination of conservative Christian and Republican forces together controlling power is the Founding Fathers worst nightmare. Unfortunately, it is not a dream; they are destroying a dream – that of our forbearers, America.

The US would be better served if Bush supporters would do the right thing: confess their ignorance and honor our Founding Fathers Grand Experiment by pledging to never again vote.

Answer 3

Alabama is comparetively a small area so they aren't that much of an influence. However if you want to include all religions, religion is a stable unchanging influence on the morals of the people. That is the role of the church; Unless you want to start legislating morality. Shiraz Come on ease up on "Coro" can't be that bad.or at very least certainly not a Bible thumper.

Answer 4

Religion is the idea and politics is the means. See Iran for further details.

How about Koran thumping fundamentalists in Tehran? I'm sure they'll implement plenty of checks and balances.

Answer 5

It's only corrosive when the two are mixed I think.

As far as Alabama goes, at least they didn't vote in that nutcase ex-judge Roy Moore! :o)
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Answer 6

They're both corrosive-- the most corrosive is mixing the two...

But being corrosive is based on the individual and how they use either politics or religion. Used correctly, either or both can be non-corrosive.

Answer 7

Both are equally corrosive because both can cause wars: WWI, WWII, bush's stupidity blaming all Muslims in the Middle East, The Crusades, etc.

There are people who believe both are worth dying for...

Answer 8

I think politics is more corrosive, most religions do not do what these so called fundamentalist do, everybody should be allowed to vote even if they vote wrong and vote repuglican.

Answer 9

firms purchase out the media The media use faith to get helps from stupid individuals stupid individuals vote for crooked company politicians = Bush + Giuliani + Mitt + H. Clinton = Soviet us of a

Answer 10

Everyone should have access to the vote.