What is you response to the statement"I am affraid of religion"..This is more for US folks.?

Question

Organized religion frightens me. I find it frightenting that it is pushing its way in to government.
So to put this into a perspective that some may understand, would you be ok with you if a different religion pushed its way into government? Would you be ok if the US leaders boasted about being Muslim?
What about even different sects of Christianity. How bout a bunch of JWs or Mormons pushing thier way into government, would you be ok with that?
There are a couple of articles that set the tone for this question. One written in 2004 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39968-2004Aug27.html and the other in this weeks Time http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1642651,00.html

Answer 1

I wholeheartedly agree with you. Especially in the US, religion is far to volatile and there are far too many of them to really want that kind of influence in the government. It is asking for trouble.

Yes, our government is predominantly Christian over the centuries, (but only one Catholic president, who was assassinated, as was his brother when he had the gall to run, what does that tell you?) but that does not mean "might makes right".

I strongly feel that any Theocracy is mutually exclusive of a Democracy. You can have one or the other, but not both. Otherwise, it is like Henry Ford: "You can have it in any color you want, as long as you want black." By putting religion into the government, you are saying "all are free to worship, as long as they worship OUR way." Bad, all bad. Look to the Middle East for multiple prime examples.

Answer 2

Well, this country was created "Many Nations under the Great Spirit" ...

Actually, I very much suspect it's the human nature thing ... that if it wasn't organized religion, we'd still have organized group-think kind of dogmatic opinions about how the world needs to be ... iow, political/ social movements can be scary with or without religious discourse in 'em.

Answer 3

Government claims that there is a separation of church and states, but when it comes to our country as a whole, we are "One Nation Under God." Our nation wasfounded by religious people. It is what it is and I agree with it.

If the US Gov boasted about being Muslim, then i would be okay with that too-- as long as they are following the teachings of the Koran and not their own radical ideas. All religions hold basic truths--love, kindness, compassion, etc....

Organized religion is scary. It is when a group of people get together, do as they please, and then claim they are doing it in the name of God. Poor God....

My husband feels that no religion is like a religion in itself. It is a bunch of people without rules and without faith. It wwould be awful to have people like that in office!

We both feel that whomever is elected to govern the people should have good morals, or at least strive to be better. It shouldn't matter what their religion, race, gender, etc.... They should believe in God/Allah/Higher Power or they shouldn't be allowed to serve "One Nation Under God." ")

Answer 4

I'm not okay with any religion pushing its way into government. I think the only way our country could be fair is if we had an athiest president.

Alas, the majority of Americans are to bigoted and untrusting to let that happen.

Answer 5

No religion in government period! Take "In God We Trust" off the money, no praying in the Senate or the House, remove "under God" from the PoA, no mention of God in any way, shape, or form by and government official when conducting government business.

And this gentleman above me needs to realize that "from religion" falls under the catagory "of religion".

Answer 6

There seems absolutely no basis upon which to fear 'a bunch of JWs to push their way into government'.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that true Christians are "no part of this world". Thus, Witnesses pursue NEUTRALITY in political, nationalistic, and social controversy. The bible quite plainly teaches that Jesus himself refused to become involved in the secular controversies of his day, but instead devoted himself to preaching the "good news of the Kingdom".

The benefits of that Kingdom are permanent, while every human work can only benefit temporarily.

(John 17:14-16) The world has hated [the followers of Christ], because they are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world. ...They are no part of the world, just as I [Jesus] am no part of the world.

(James 4:4) Adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world is constituting himself an enemy of God.

(John 12:7,8,48-50) . . .Jesus said: “...You have the poor always with you, but me you will not have always. ...The word that I have spoken is what will judge [a person] in the last day; because I have not spoken out of my own impulse, but the Father himself who sent me has given me a commandment as to what to tell and what to speak. Also, I know that his commandment means everlasting life.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/19950501/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/19980522/article_01.htm

http://watchtower.org/e/pr/index.htm?article=article_07.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_05.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/dg/index.htm?article=article_10.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/ti/index.htm?article=article_09.htm

Answer 7

Well first, it's spelled "afraid." (Sorry, but that is my first response to that statement.)

Secondly, I'd prefer it if they didn't make such a big deal out of their religion. Religion shouldn't be a part of governement in the first place. It makes for oppressive theocracies.

Answer 8

On nation under God.
In God we trust.
God bless America.
I'll bet that really burns you up.
Too bad for you. From the Declatation of Independance to the Constitution to the Emancipation Proclamation...the Judeo-Christian God is all over it.
Come to terms with it or go find another country.
Islam is not a factor, let them start their own nation under allah if that's what they want.
You can start your nation of self-absorbed humanists under darwin if you like.
Ever think you are frightening to others...forcing your opinion on us?

Answer 9

Organized religion has scared me for a long time. At least in America, I am free to practice whatever religion I choose; thanks to our Veterans. This entire planet is going to hell on a hand cart. And, you can quote me on that.

Answer 10

Everyone puts their faith in something, Whatever they put their faith in influences their judgment. It is not possible to separate faith from action.
Our founding fathers were not afraid of "religion" influencing government, in fact they encouraged it. They were afraid of government ruling in the churches.