Do you think it's a big mistake mixing up religion with politics?

Question

Especially when everyone doesn't practice the same religion? What are your thoughts?

Answer 1

Religion has no place in politics. Our country is made up of everything from atheists to christians to jews, to whatever...we are very diverse in religion, not to mention, even though we are a majority christian nation, there are like 500 denominations of christianity, so even christians don't agree with christians, lol, so its crazy. Politics should be based on morals , but on basic morals, not the morals of religious zealouts (part of our problem now with the christian right). Even many republicans agree that the party has became one that is mostly worried about religion than policy and this is very dangerous.For instance, the over 100 lawyers that bush hired out of pat robertson's university which was rated barely above accredited, so when we are hiring people to help run the country based on their religion rather than their qualifications...its scary ie: maybe law students from ivy league schools are a little more qualified than the person from pat robertson U (or whatever the real name is).

Answer 2

A radical does not make the group (or vice-versa). A few "antichrist preachers" doesn't mean that all Americans relate religion and politics. That generalization ranks up there with some of the worst. EDIT: A "LOT" of people on Yahoo; what's that come to, maybe 20 at most? 30? Now compare that to let's say half of the US voters last election (assuming half didn't vote for Obama). 30 is definitely a radical minority. Until you can show me a statistic that shows that a good majority of the people think he's the Anitchrist, you still don't have a point to make. EDIT EDIT: A minority is still a minority, whether it's 0 or 30. You know what I mean.

Answer 3

An individual can not be expected to disregard his own Faith when making political decisions. The 1st Amendment, particularly as described by Jefferson, metaphorically, as a "wall of sepparation between chruch and state" isn't about individuals checking thier religious beliefs at the door when dealing with politics. Rather, it's about severing all ties between the (or a) Church - organized religion of any kind - and the governance of the country. The government doesn't tell people which church to belong to, nor tell any church how to conduct thier religious practices; and, the organized heirarchies of those churches stay the heck out of government. But, the religious beliefs of individuals, in forming an important part of thier morality, will certainly inevitably affect thier political decisions.

Answer 4

I do like the separation of church and state, which still exists. However, we do need to mix up morals and politics together. I have heard several Congresspeople say morals should not be in politics. This worries me. If we arent doing what is right, what are we doing? Even though religion and govt should usually be separate, we as individuals should not forget that there is a higher entity than earthly beings, and that this is not the only life.

Answer 5

That's the thing. They dont suppose to be "mixed up", but of course thats not the case. Its a lot of laws and bills out now that have religious aspect to them. But I do think Is a mistake, because it clouds judgement, and adds a bias to decision making.

Answer 6

Religion IS government and vice versa - they both want your money, talk a good game, and rely on a lot of faith (ie: lack of evidence that they make your life any better).

But really, religion is as old as government itself and the primary role of organized religion has been to supplement the power of the government - Judaism in Israel, Christianity in Rome, and Islam in Mohammed's Empire.

So anyway, we want our government to be better than that? We want there to be limits on the government? Too bad.

There WERE limits on the government according to the original interpretation of the constitution, but that got in the way of unlimited taxation and unlimited social spending. Now we have lots of feel-good programs, lots of taxes, religion is creeping in, and those government limits are just a historical footnote. I just don't see how we can expect the people to pick and choose which constitutional limits they support - its all or nothing.

Answer 7

I think its a mistake when one religion dominates politics. The more the merrier.

Answer 8

Religion and politics have a long history of mixing poorly and from that stand point i believe firmly in the separation of church and state. I don't like a government that is prepared to act as a sort of thought police, nor the discrimination that inevitably arise from a government sponsored religion.

Answer 9

Religion must be able to influence the State because there is a need for direction in our country, to direct the people toward Moral and right Ideals.

God has brought our Nation up to who she is, and it's only fitting that we put Him first in everything!!

Answer 10

Huge mistake to mix religion and politics.

Also a huge mistake to discount the huge factor GOD played in the framing of the Republic, Constitution, Federalist papers etc. etc etc.