do you see faith's increasing involvement in U.S. politics dangerous? yes or no, and tell me why?

Question

i see it as extremely dangerous. and even some christians agree with me. do you?

Answer 1

I think at the moment it's decreasing

Answer 2

First, the premise of your question is about "faith" and "government". Everyone has faith; Everyone believes in something even if it is themselves and no one else; they have the faith that they will make good decisions for their life. So, the premise of your question is flawed.

However, if you are speaking of "religious" beliefs and US politics; I am afraid you can't get rid of it for it is in the founding documents of our nation. The legal system is based on the English model that was built upon the morality of the 10 commandments. So, "religion" will always be a part of our culture and society even though there are many different "religions". Most are based on very similiar "moral" codes of human behavior.

Now if you are talking about these special interests groups that are trying to push their "religions" on our government then I am absolutely against it; and I am a pastor of a Christian church. In my humble opinion; it is all about power and money and not true Christianity. Jesus was not involved in the politics of His day and neither should we be.

However, again, Christianity and other forms of "Abrahamic" faiths are not the only religions. Religion is what you believe and how you chose to live your life. Human secularism is a form of religion; Wicca is a form of religion, etc. So, how do we remove what people believe is right for their lives from the political arena; it is impossible.

Answer 3

Of course it's dangerous. It's completely destroying what the United States was meant to be: a secular country with freedom of religion. If a certain religion dominates the government, you can't really have much religious freedom for minorities, can you? Plus, certain ideas that the religious have do not necessarily have evidence backing the claims (condom safety, abortion information, etc.) made, which means that some people just declare God and the Bible as a reason for a certain bill to pass, no matter if evidence contradict's "God's word."

In the worst-case scenario, this increase of faith in the government could lead to rebellion from within as religious minorities ban together to overthrow the newly-religious government. In the best-case scenario, people will realise that the United States was meant to be secular and that religion is meant to be personal, not something that you force into government.

Answer 4

Do I think faith and politics are a bad mix....not really since this great country was founded on those two principles intertwined. Do I think the right-wing conservatives involvement in U.S. politics is dangerous....you bet I do. I am not interested in a return to the Dark Ages thank you very much.

Answer 5

I see it as very dangerous. We already see things being proposed (if not actually being done) that are based solely on the religious faith based morality of the person or persons proposing or passing those initiatives. Imaging what will happen when that becomes the sole factor in determining which laws get porposed and passed. Does anyone want ot take the risk that they will be based on their beliefs? I don't. Better to keep faith out of the process all together. Including making anyting faith based untouchable by any secular authority.

Answer 6

Faith in humanism (which i believe is a religion and should not be taught in public schools) is growing. Faith in Jesus is decreasing in this country. Since the theory of evolution began being taught in public schools, suicide rates have rapidly increased.

The only time in history the Bible was dangerous was when it was taught in a language people didn't understand. By this i mean it was dangerous before Martin Luther confronted the catholic church about its sale of indulgences ((sp?)they were a worthless piece of paper to get people out of purgatory)

Since then the bible has been translated so it is less easily manipulated for violent purpose. i will conceed that the old testament is very violent but the new testament is full of antiviolence messages.

As long as people have acess to the entire word of God and this country remains a democracy don't fear the christains in this country.

Answer 7

You cannot separate your faith from your everyday life. What you choose in life, whether political, or social or otherwise, is an effect of your core beliefs and what you have FAITH in. That could be God, who DOES dictate morals to His people. Morals are the core of law. Right and wrong, legal or not, is a moral stance. Additionally, how a government is run, (politics) is an outgrowth of policy (or values). Those values don't happen in a vacuum. For instance, the abortion debate is not the right to choose. For if the unborn are not human, then abortion should be legal for anything...but if you believe that an embryo is a human BEING then any reason to kill it could be used to kill anyone else in society. YOUR faith, as to whether life is valueable and WHY, informs who you will vote for. A form of government that values government over free choice will again be a values vote. People who have faith in GOD have JUST as much RIGHT as those who don't to have an opinion and participate in Government. Anyone who says that their values don't inform their voting or their political stance is either lying or foolish.

Answer 8

I think Christian faith in U.S. politics is very rapidly DECREASING....and that is dangerous. But, I do see in increase of new age faith, and ever other kind there is increasing.....that is also very dangerous.

One of the reasons we as a nation are one of the leading nations was because we were a nation under God! We no longer want God in our nation and we are starting to see the out come of taking God out of the U.S.....things will only get worse. I know people don't believe this, but God DOES protect what is HIS.

Answer 9

Well yes, the danger has already happened hasn't it. The states are at war because faith has already intervened in government for far too long. After all, bush and his ilk probably wouldn't have gotten as far as they have in two elections (which I know are a bit circumspect results-wise) if they didn't have the weight of the massive right-wing american bible belt behind them.

Wasn't it a specific neo-con policy (created by karl rove) to go after the right-wing christian vote years ago, which helped get bush in?

I'm not christian but I can see it happening in britain too. The british govt panders far too much to what the so-called "faith leaders" say, even if its got nothing to do with faith.

Answer 10

Yes. To be correct, it is the increasing involvement of one religion that is dangerous. The strengthening of one religious base will suffocate the freedom of religion and the separation of church and states, the two ideals of a democratic country.

Answer 11

We have a Chief Executive who's insane enough to believe in the Rapture. That has basically gone on a crusade through Iraq, and now the idiot VP is posturing against Iran. It's extremely dangerous and scary.