This is a "What if" question, if you don't like hypotheticals, please don't answer, I'm only interested in reading answers of people who want to play along with a hypothetical.
What if your president would convert today to, let's say, Paganism? He would start saying things like "Behind all of life there is purpose, set by the hand of Zeus" and "Thor told me to attack Korea" and "People who don't believe in Ra are not true patriots".
Would you be worried about freedom of religion in your country? Would you be insulted, specially by his last quote? Would you still trust his judgments in political decisions? Would you care about how Muslims, Hindus and atheists feel about a President who talks to Thor?
2007-06-08 01:40:06 · 22 answers · asked by ? 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Skooz, you are aware of the fact that in 7 US states it not allowed for an atheist to hold a place in office, right?
2007-06-08 01:51:22 · update #1
I would love to see it. I could watch all those hypocrites run for the hills when their President starts wanting to spend real money to clean up the rivers for the Naiads and the Pic-up-Trash -for -Pan bus comes to collect trash on the mountains.
When he begins to arm the troops with golden swords and shield they will cheer that they finally got some body armor.
In the spirit of Aphrodite, he will divorce his joyless wife and take six or seven seraphs. Feeling much relieved, he will announce that he no longer has to 'prove' his manhood by creating wars and he will be happy to withdraw from Iraq effectively at the next Bacchanalia.
Christian warmongers and the purveyors of war machines will be moaning and groaning in the pits of Hades.
Ordinary people will go about their business without worrying about a trumped up bogeyman who lives in the hills.
And peace will reign on earth.
Politically...get real again, they shake at the thought of a Mormon, they will put Bush away in the nut house if he ever spoke of hearing Zeus speak, that's where the rubber meets the road when it comes to religious discrimination. You can, apparently run a country by talking to your God if enough believe like you, but if you are caught asking the wrong God, its the little rubber room for you.
You do understand that this is a hypothetical response to a hypothetical question...don't you?
2007-06-08 01:52:54 · answer #1 · answered by justa 7 · 3⤊ 5⤋
I'm worried about any president that's cites his reason for attacking another country on any god. (It doesn't matter which god.) Or who would say that if you don't believe in a certain religion you are not a "True American".
If he said "Behind all of life there is purpose, set by the hand of Zeus"...I'd probably just be amused and get a kick out of having a Hellenic Pagan as president. The other two are troubling though and would make me think he's off his rocker.
2007-06-08 05:21:47 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I would not be worried about freedom of religion in America. You are free to worship any thing and any where you choose, as it should be. I wouldn't be worried about any thing (and I do mean any thing) that Muslims, Hindus or atheists felt. Certainly wouldn't be insulted by what the president was saying. He's ranting about amnesty for illegal aliens, now. I am insulted by that. What I would think is, we should impeach him if he believes in Thor, Zeus and Ra. He probably believes in fairies too...the guy must be totally insane.
2007-06-08 02:01:39 · answer #3 · answered by Nevada Slim 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
it's funny i find him to be an idiot no matter what he does. it would bother me a lot because he hasn't picked a religion but he expects everyone else (hypothetically of course) to pick ra over all gods?
No, i don't think i'd care what anybody felt about a president that talks to thor because "everybody else" doesn't effect me. I'm only worried about what effects my life directly and that would bother me.
I don't have a religion and respect everyone else's but at the same time we would have a president that had no religion but was at the same time trying to force his beliefs on everyone else. that's just wrong.
2007-06-08 01:53:26 · answer #4 · answered by kaluah96 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Speaking hypothetically, I don't believe that President Bush's religious convictions would make a difference in his political savvy. Nor do I think he would suddenly, magically become religiously intolerant. After all, he's not now. Religious tolerance is part and parcel of the liberty Americans are used to having. Anyone who threatens those freedoms is just asking for the s**t to be kicked right out of them and that would include any president who made inflammatory remarks about others' faiths.
2007-06-08 01:45:08 · answer #5 · answered by Granny Annie 6 · 3⤊ 3⤋
Oh come on, you should know that not all pagans believe in gods. I certainly don't.
But seriously, if he became a true pagan he'd be far more focused on saving the environment. That'd be an excellent place to start.
2007-06-08 07:37:51 · answer #6 · answered by Kharm 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Well, quite a "hypo" to say the least. And, of course, you assume some things in your question that aren't true, but OK.
Of course, there have already been atheists and cultists in control of countries. Stalin, Hitler, Lenin, and others. And you do not need a "hypo" to see what happened in those countries.
First, of course, if he did convert he wouldn't care about anyone being a "patriot" or not. Pagans do not consider that as a factor in any of their thinking. But, if he did say those things I would not like it much, but as an elected president I would go along with what he said because I am an American and the president is, above all else, the elected "Commander in Chief." Or I would be free to leave like so many in America are now, free to leave.
Your question assumes that God told President Bush to attack Iraq but I am quite sure that a group of terrorists told him that, by their actions.
2007-06-08 02:02:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 5⤋
If his faith in Zeus was used to help strengthen our country and he didn't force his religion on anyone then I would be cool with it. As long as he continued to allow the freedom of any religion in america, there would be no need to be afraid.
2007-06-08 01:46:40 · answer #8 · answered by comer59 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I believe the system of checks and balances built into our constitution is sufficiently defined to preclude any such thing lasting more than four years.
2007-06-08 01:53:21 · answer #9 · answered by sympleesymple 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't be a bit concerned.
It would be about a week before he was impeached.
Sorry, and I know a million people will disagree with me (study your American history, folks) but despite what you may believe personally, our country was FOUNDED by Christians with Christian ideals as the cornerstone of this country. So, fair or unfair, if the President were to truly begin basing his leadership on the religious viewpoints you suggest, he would not be able to lead this nation.
Non-believers don't wanna hear it, but as I said, bone up on your American History.
2007-06-08 01:58:43 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋