Do you think Christians are a threat to American Democracy?

Question

If you do think this way, what specifically is the threat? If you don't think Christians are a threat to American Democracy, please state your reason why you think Christians should be involved in politics.

Answer 1

Its not Christians in general that are the threat.... It's insane right-wing ultra-conservative Christians who are the threat. Imagine a Theocracy where homosexuals are rounded up and imprisoned in 're-education' camps.... schools (all schools) are only allowed to teach the Bible.... Atheists are burned at the stake for heresy, stuff like that. And if you think than none of that stuff could ever happen in this country, don't kid yourself.... In 1925 most Germans had never even heard of Adolf Hitler, and the ones who had mostly thought he was a punk kid with delusions of Nazi glory, and look what happened with that. We must all stay vigilant and watch for unreasonable changes in our government and its policies or we could end up with another Bush! Ignorance is our worst enemy and their greatest ally.

Answer 2

YES! Actually, ALL religions are a threat to our way of life. I'm not saying everyone should be an atheist but what I am saying is that we had the separation of church and state for a reason. If we turn this into a theocracy, we're going to end up with the same problems as the very people we so criticize - the Muslims. Everyone in this country needs to get over their idea that only people who think like them matter.

Answer 3

In a way, yes... but certainly not ALL christians... I don't think we should generalize like that.

I think there are certain groups of Christians who wish to use the democratic process to get leaders elected who are not at all ok with democracy as it is right now...

They get very angry at groups that protect the rights of minorities because they want the majority (as they see it) to be all-powerful.

The scary thing is - because of some loopholes in our system, they have been somewhat successful over the years.
One such loophole is Gerrymandering.
Gerrymandering is the process by which votes are counted by land mass instead of population... if the votes in this country were done by population alone - we would find that most people are actually very liberal... and whoever won NY would win the whole country every time...

But a rancher in Texas can overrule thousands in Houston... same in Florida... Tampa can overpower Miami because they take up more space and have a unified vote.

It's not fair because it is allowing a few people in rural areas to make laws for large numbers of people that they will never even have to deal with.

This really comes into play when you start talking about abortion and gay rights... the cities resent having to deal with the outcome of laws that were formulated out in the sticks where life is peaceful and people have time on their hands.

But the main point is that REAL CHRISTIANS are also losing their freedom of religion by electing these false prophets. When you allow a politician to manipulate your vote by convincing you that it has something to do with you and your God... you lose... plain and simple...

Answer 4

I'm not really sure what you're getting at. If you're an American Citizen, you should be involved in politics. Race, creed or religion does not matter. At the least, it is the duty of ALL Americans to be involved.

55% of Americans don't vote. People that don't vote should not complain, you're getting the government you deserve.

If you're talking about separation of Church and State, and how that relates to being a Christian, as a Christian in government, you would practice your religion just as you did before being elected, appointed, etc. And obviously, this applies to anyone in government service that practices any religion, or no religion.

Pretty simple in a country that is 80% Christian. That would mean that around 80% of elected officials would be Christian.

I see more problems from the secularists, and anti Christian narrow minded bigots.

Answer 5

Hey, Christians can be involved in politics - just leave the religion at home.

No, the religion isn't a threat to Democracy...but some of the so-called hate-filled Christians are....we must make sure they are kept in check.

Answer 6

Many here have said our country was founded on Christian principles. Actually, it was founded on the principles of religious freedom.

Our founding fathers were not Christians, but were actually deists - closest to todays Unitarian or Science of Mind churches which focus on learning from and respecting all faiths.

To this end, I believe our country should not be run by fundamentalists of any stripe but should be run by more moderate individuals who hold the right to religious freedom in even greater regard than their own beliefs.

People should be free to worship as they wish. This may mean that one child may overhear another praying or that the pledge of allegiance is said ("Under God," by the way, is not part of the original pledge).

The constitution does not guard against you being offended. Just your right to practice your religion freely without persecution.

In George Washington's own words, which our leaders would be wise to heed: "you are to protect and support the free exercise of religion of the country, and the undisturbed enjoyment of the rights of conscience in religious matters, with your utmost influence and authority." [George Washington, to Benedict Arnold, September 14, 1775 from The Washington papers edited by Saul Padover]

"Washington subscribed to the religious faith of the Enlightenment: Like Franklin and Jefferson, he was a deist." [Flexner, James Thomas Flexner, Washington The Indispensable Man. New York, 1974: New American Library, 1974. p. 216]

"Deism is a religious philosophy and movement that became prominent in England, France, and the United States in the 17th and 18th centuries. Deists typically reject supernatural events (prophecy, miracles) and divine revelation prominent in organized religion, along with holy books and revealed religions that assert the existence of such things. Instead, deists hold that religious beliefs must be founded on human reason and observed features of the natural world, and that these sources reveal the existence of one God or supreme being." - wikipedia

And America was not set up as a democracy but as a republic and there was a very good reason for that. To learn more, read The Federalist Papers. Great book and should be required reading in the schools!

Answer 7

I don't feel Christians are a threat to American Democracy. Those whose ideologies are in conflict with democracy are too few in number to be influential in the long run.

I guess the person complaining about the Supreme Court usurping his vote must have voted for Gore in Florida. Yup. I think that would have made me a bit cynical, too.

Answer 8

Do you think that the principles on which this country are founded are a threat to our democracy? Because this country was founded on Christian principles. Take that away and you have just taken away the foundation of the country. Which in turn will cause the country to collapse.

-Can anyone tell me where in the US Constitution does it say the words, "separation of church and state"? Why can't you find it? Well because its not there!! No where in the constitution does it say anything about the separation of church and state. The first amendment says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." When it says “no laws respecting the establishment of religion”, it means that there will be no official government endorsed religion, like back in Europe in the 1700's. They had the official government endorsed Chruch of England. The establishment piece is meant to stop something like this from happening, not to ban religion. The constitution says nothing about having bits and pieces of religion in our government, it just bans a state sponsored church.

Answer 9

Right off hand No, I don't think so. It rather depends on whether your definition of Christian is simply someone who says they are a Christian then lives however they want or whether your definition is, "well I'm not atheist and I'm not Islamic or Buddhist - so I must be a Christian" or whether your definition is "someone who follows the teachings of Christ". Basically this country was founded on the principle that all humans have certain rights because they are humans. Christ pretty much taught that - if not by word at least by example. He taught that it's up to each individual to make their own choices - right or wrong - for or against him. That's why we have freedom OF religion, but not necessarily freedom FROM religion. Choice of religion is a right that was given by Christ himself and those that don't want to allow it aren't following Christ's teachings. ANYONE, Christian or not, that is willing to deny or violate basic rights is a threat to American Democracy.

Answer 10

I do not think Christians are a threat to anyone or anything (By your LOVE shall all men know you're my disciples, said Jesus). However, I do think there are pseudospiritual people who pander to well-meaning Christians thru agendae like abortion, gun control and homosexual rights and they definitely threaten democracy because their goal is not love and building, but power and wealth. How wonderful it would be to encounter honesty...wouldn't you be tempted to vote for someone who said, I don't give a flying flip about your moral values, I just want the job and the money!"?