Is it appropriate for religions OTHER than Christianity to have political influence in America?

Answer 1

No, it is just as inappropriate as allowing Christianity to have political influence.

Answer 2

It's not even appropriate for Christianity to have a political influence in America.

Answer 3

I don't see why not, as there are other people besides Christian people in the US. But that's only if religion HAS to have an influence on politics. I'd really prefer it if there was no influence at all by religion in the government.

Answer 4

If Christianity is going to sneak into our government, then all religions should have equal access. However, I believe no religion should have any actual political influence unless the politics directly affect the function of churches.

Answer 5

It is inappropriate for ANY religion to have political influence in America.

Answer 6

Personally, I wish no religion had political influence in America.

But, concerning your questions, any person, religion, ethnic groups, etc is free to have as much political influence as their wallets can pay for.

Answer 7

America’s Founding Fathers viewed all religions equally. Thomas Jefferson said that religious liberty was “meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and the Mahometan, the Hindu, and infidel of every denomination.”

And, Washington wrote, “happily the government of the United States ... gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance. ... Everyone shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.”

However, the bottom line is clear; by unamimous vote of the 1797 US Congress and signed into law by President John Adams:

• “As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion,…”

http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/diplomacy/barbary/bar1796t.htm

Answer 8

everyone votes their own perspective. In that sense, we all vote our religious perspectives. Or, we don't have much faith, eh?

Atheists vote their religion as well. They typically vote pro-abortion, anti-God, and anti-morality. Occasionally, they will vote their pocket book as well.

Christians typically vote pro-life, pro-God, and pro-morality. Why? Because it is what is important to them. Occasionally, they will vote their pocket book as well.

Jews typically vote for "tolerance" and Israel despite not actually having a lot of tolerance for Jews that become Christians. (They get very bitter at being betrayed)

I have no idea how other religions typically vote. But I expect there is a religious aspect to their voting.

As far as not having a litmus test on whether one can run for office as an atheist, I believe with all my heart that you can be any religion you want to be and the Govt. cannot prevent you from running, but it is important to me whether you share that basic set of beliefs. So I reserve the right to vote for or against you on something even so simple as faith.

Answer 9

Yes. As long as that religion isn't an oppressive dictatorship type of idiot regime, why not?

It would be interesting to see what a Pagan or Buddhist president would do.

Answer 10

The only political influence I'd like to see non-Christians have in America AS religious bodies is in the realm of religious freedom.

As in, urging our government to impartially uphold each individual's right to worship freely, or to be without religion at all.. And to keep this in the realm of our personal lives, not in public, tax-supported displays or in tax support for religious organizations.

I'd really like to see non-Christians unite in overturning the anti-atheist restrictions on holding public office. For one thing, it's utterly unconstitutional to have any kind of religious test for holding public office, and that *includes* requiring any kind of statement about believing in "God". I'd like to see non-Christians unite in forcing the government to uphold the laws that forbid religious bodies from influencing voting in their congregations.

I'd like to see an end to politicians speaking at churches, synagogues, mosques, etc. I'd like to see an end to "God speech" in political campaigns.


And I'd like to see patriotic American Christians join us in all of this.