It seems the candidates are fighting each other over who is more religious. I thought we were a secular democracy. What is happening?
2007-10-21 04:51:02 · 11 answers · asked by Elaine P...is for Poetry 7 in Politics & Government ➔ Government
We ARE in a secular democracy. KIND OF. The Constitution says "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion". That's all it says though .
1. We live in a republic with democratic tendencies not a democracy.
2. What people say in their campaign speeches and the debates is designed to attract voters. Most people in this country (according to all the polls) believe in God . People tend to vote for someone who shares their values, therefore politicians from both parties want to appeal to this huge voting block. Remember it was religious people who gave G. W. Bush so much support both during and after his campaigns. Democrats don't want to just let the Republicans have the Christian vote by default so they are saying "Hey I'm Christian too!!!"
As for Mitt Romney he is nervous that his being a Mormon will hurt his chances with Evangelical Christians and other conservative groups so he is adressing faith directly hoping to eliminate it as an issue early in the race.
It is important to remember however that there is a difference between campaign politics and public policy. A certain candidate getting the support of religious voters ( even if he/she wins the election) does not mean that their religious views will become law anymore tha an atheist winning an election would mean everybody who had faith had to renounce it.
It is also important for people to realize that tolerance is a two way street. The believers and the non-believers have to tolerate EACH OTHER . Freedom of speech protects all of us even when we sound like fools.
2007-10-21 07:23:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The fact is that religion plays a large role in campaigns and in peoples perception of candidates, especially among evangelical voters (about 30% of the population, who also have great financial sway). Mitt Romney wants to portray himself as a devout person, to assuage any fears regarding his belief in Mormonism. Most of them are unfounded (fears that he is a polygamist/supports older men marrying teenage brides) but they are there nevertheless. Barack Obama is taking a slightly different approach. For years the GOP has been percieved as the more religious party and Barack Obama, trying to portray himself as having broken the religious monopoly of the Republicans wants to convert some of the voters who are religious yet have become disillusioned with perceived GOP failures over the past several years.
2007-10-21 04:57:41 · answer #2 · answered by mannzaformulaone 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The fall of an empire is what's happening. The same thing that happened to every nation based on religious right and view. They destroyed themselves. It says right in the Bible, in fact even Jesus hinted at this fact, that government and faith have no place with each other. Government is there to keep structure and build a society while religion is there to keep hope and build integrity. If we mix the two, it becomes something evil and wrong. Each in itself is good but when you mix religion and politics it becomes a fight for power. It's no longer about what's right but what is religious.
Mixing religion and politics creates a storm that is very hard to stop. It becomes about something more than just who is a better candidate. It's about God, and what are people more passionate about than their religious beliefs. That can be more destructive than anything. This in itself could tear apart our nation. At this point it will be a fight between those who are Christian and those who aren't. This will create separatism and possibly bring back the harsh racism our grandparents fought to rid of.
If you are so passionate about your beliefs then read the book that was written about them. Most religions believe that politics and faith have no place with each other. Most religions believe that faith should be kept private and not forced on others. We are going to create a religious war in our own nation if we don't stop this.
2007-10-21 05:16:42 · answer #3 · answered by computerqfl 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You, my dear, might want to live in a secular democracy, but we who are in the know realize that if you want someone in the White House that would give America a good and decent administration (something we've done without for many a long year), you've got the best chance with someone who has a personal code of morality, and good to work from.
2007-10-21 04:58:09 · answer #4 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In wager i might seem to work out if it develop right into a sequence up prank and then i might take a seat returned and watch them slug it out. the sole concern is that fights in actual existence are under no circumstances as, permit's think of exciting(?) as on the videos, so i might in all probability be bored stiff after a minute or 2.
2016-10-04 07:07:06 · answer #5 · answered by lograsso 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Barak and Mitt Romney have hardly turned their focus towards each other. Maybe you're watching a different campaign.
2007-10-21 04:56:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
More religious has nothing to do with it, its what they believe. I looked into the beliefs of Obama denomination and they don't even recognize Jesus as God. He is not a true christian.
2007-10-21 05:03:31 · answer #7 · answered by robyoung84 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't think Obama knows what he is, and there is no way I would vote for a man who has a religion that condones marriage between old men with preteen girls.
2007-10-21 05:17:06 · answer #8 · answered by niddlie diddle 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Mitt Romney Rulz...
2007-10-21 04:53:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
that would be a bigger reason NOT to vote for them.
the more religious people are, the more likely they are untrust worthy
2007-10-21 04:54:46 · answer #10 · answered by D 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋