Should any religion be a forefront for politics?

Question

with there now being a multitude of religions out there, do any have the right to try and influence Law?
For instance should the Catholic church have any influence over how the law is shapped regarding abortion?

I was half thinkin of the UK, but it applies to all countries really.

Catalyst - can we come back to the real world here please?

Religion is far from logical.
And with all the current religions, some of which have vast differences in some key aspects.

Which one should we hold as "divine law"?

Herodotus - I think I understand what your saying, that the law should be judged on it's own regardless of where it's come from?

The point I think I'm making tho is that there are some views which belong only to one secular religious movement, i.e. jews don't eat pork, hindu's don't eat beef etc, (i know these are trivial)

Answer 1

Freedom of religion explicitly means just that. They should not have ANY right in any political forum. How can we have those with religious motivations making laws for an entire country of people who may not share the same beliefs?

Answer 2

No no and thrice no. We live in very religiuos times and the less influence that the fundamentalsit elements get the better, let move a secular non paritisan age, responsiblilty for the self and the self family being primary and not religious types getting a lather about what I do in the privacy of my own house, making bad law to appease some minority whilst taking away all my civil liberties to cope with a terrorist threat tha is largely created by those self same fundamnetalist

Rant Over....... Sorry

Sorry not quite done, the american lady who said no and hell no, well done, I unfortunalty have a pretty bad impression of America at the moment, maybe if the atheiest community stood up for themselves in this world and spoke a little common sense, revealed the true size of the atheist majorty maybe it would force the career polititicans into focussing there intentions good and bad into making law and society to suit us

Answer 3

The basic concept behind religion is not to provide rituals of worship, rules of social events (like marriages, births, deaths) alone. Religion is supposed to be a complete way of life for an individual and a soceity. This is based on the premise that humans cannot develop guidelines that are infallible. To be infallible is divine. So human systems (be they economic, political or social) will always have errors in them. This is not the case with divine law. Divine law, i.e. religion, is a set of guidelines to be followed by individuals and soceities alike in ALL aspects of life. And this also includes politics and legislature. The application of the guidelines can be done in a variety of ways though and it is open to the discretion of the time and age but the guideline does not change.

I forgot to add that the religion one follows should be a true religion based on logic.

Answer 4

Since people are influenced by their religion and I am a great believer in democracy it stands to reason that religion will have an influence. Should people influence their government would be a better question. Would I want the church in control. No heck no. But we should all have a voice even if we are or are not "religious"

Answer 5

Why does everyone make this subject so intense. All you have to do to find the answers to every question you could possibly ask is to read the Bible,.

The simple fact is that God does not tolerate politics, he warned us to keep away from it because it is governed by one source-Satan the devil, politics is also in bed with the church and again God has warned us about false religion. You have 2 choices, you either follow Gods word and his warnings in the Bible or you follow mankind's way of doing things, I.E, Politics and going to church, Gods hates both. He warns that if you follow these you will end up going down with them at Armageddon

Answer 6

Only the false ones.

I say that because Jesus told his followers (meaning true Christians) to have nothing to do with politics. (James 4:4; John 6:15; 17:16; 18:36; 14:30; 1John 5:19) As these scriptures show, satan is controlling the worlds political powers. As true Christians would not want to have anything to do with getting the smell rubbed on us.

Answer 7

The laws, in a democracy, are created by and have validity through the governed. Their beliefs will of course effect those laws.

Catholics have the right to change the American Constitution with their votes. If they didn't, it would not be a democratic government.

The right or wrong of a law should be fought on its own merits, and not on the value or source of its supports ideologies.

Answer 8

No.

While it is expressly stated that Congress cant make laws setting up a state religion, it is obviously implied in this that laws based solely on that religion should not be allowed either.

How can one person's religious beliefs be forced on everyone else regardless of their beliefs? More importantly, to the proponents of religious and morality laws, would you still support them if your religion were the minority and your rights were the ones being trampled?


Even in a democracy, being in the majority does not give you the right to force your religious morals on the minority.

Answer 9

Islam is intrinsically political. It was through Islam that the concept of nationhood united by the potent power of religion was forged and transmitted to Christian Europe who expanded the concept and created Christianized empires upon which the sun never set -- at least for a few hundred years ;-)

Consider also that since the Renaissance, the scientific revolution, and humanism we have had secular governments which have also failed to solve the problems assailing humanity. If secularism had succeeded, no one would be running to turn time back to the fundamentals of an imaginary idyllic religious past.

Shutting out and marginalizing either liberal or conservative voices over time always causes backlashes. We never learn.

Answer 10

Religion and policitcs should always be kept separate - look at the problems some other countries have when a religion rules.

Answer 11

In America? No. Not only no, hell no. And if fundamentalist Christian continue to do it, we are going to have some serious problems int he country. The people of America aren't going to stand for it. And if they do, they aren't American. America is for the underdog. Why? Because we WERE the underdogs.