Why do we let religion play such a huge role in politics?

Question

Why do Americans let the religion of a candidate define the candidate?
Just because they're atheist, jew, mormon, catholic, whatever, doesn't mean that they are going to force that religion on us. We don't mind that politicians have low morals, commit adultery, etc., but we do mind what religion they are.
And depending on the religion, we immediately slap stereotypes on that candidate, often misconstrued or incorrect assumptions about that person or religion.
Am I the only one seeing something wrong with this picture?

Answer 1

Religion has played a major part in the entire history of this country. From when the pilgrims came here to be able to practice their own forms of religion to the Declaration of Independence. Congress begins every session with a prayer.
So far, from what I've seen, the media is who is making the religion of a candidate the big issue.
BTW, the First Amendment does NOT prohibit religion in government. It DOES prohibit the FEDERAL government from instituting a "Official State Religion" (ie the Church of England). It DOES prohibit the FEDERAL government from denying the free exercise of religion.
I personally could care less if a candidate is a man, woman, white, black, brown, pink and purple polkadoted, an athiest, a jew, a morman, a catholic, a baptist or a budhist. The person who best represents my beliefs on what is best for the country will get my vote.

Answer 2

*"We have Christians. And they do not always agree with each other on certain tenets of faith"* But they're suppose to! That's the general idea. That's why they argue amongst themselves because they are ALL suppose to follow every word in that indoctrination bible to the letter. If they don't then they are not really (in the sense of the word), a real *Christian*. That's the part that you left out. And the majority of the people in this country *think* it to be a *"Christian nation"*, that is why they base EVERYTHING including politics especially on *Christianity*. Islam and the Mormon religion, Scientology and other *different* religions other than Christianity are generally frowned upon by the masses in this country STILL. Even though there are so many different religions here today living side by side. It's still a very bias country regarding religion and other things. I don't see that ever changing overall.

Answer 3

Because religion, by nature, favors doctrine and following the whims of religious leadership over logic or critical thinking.

So, if you have any sects that demand sheep-like compliance to that degree, it makes it a larger, more efficiently obtained bloc of votes if you're "in bed" with the few leaders.

Beats working for and earning their votes.

Imagine the outrage from the religious, and the "I told you sos" from the "secularists" when the former head of Bush's faith-based initiatives office came out with his book that said that the administration, while wooing the religious voters and creating phony moral non-issues, really only did it to manipulate them, and actually had contempt for those voters and their values.

Still, they are the flock, so they will act like sheep, follow as a herd, and get fleeced for it.

Again, realize I'm talking about the typical, non-thinker who brays the loudest about being religious and wears the faith on the sleeve.

There are plenty of religious, righteous people out there who live their lives by the example they should, through deeds, and not just rhetoric. Most of them also want religion and government separate, as well. As did our Founding Fathers.

Answer 4

People are what they are.

It is not stereotyping when one infers that a candidate will have certain philosophies that are consistent with his/her religion.

For example, three of the leading Republican candidates do not believe in the concept of Evolution. This speaks to their scientific knowledge and how they would support or not support new technologies that are being developed by Science.

My personal belief is that God would not have given us the intellect to develop technologies that could be helpful to humankind if God did not want humankind to develop these technologies.

I may be right or I may be wrong, but in any case I have no choice but to evaluate candidates based upon their beliefs and philosophies...religious or otherwise.

Answer 5

Republicans uses the Religious Right Wing to create wedge issues such as Abortion, Gay Rights, Prayer in Schools etc.

The Religious Right Wing contributes a lot of money to the Republican Party, so that they can exercise influence over the party.

During the 70s, the Religious Right Wing did not exercise influence on the party, and the party was a lot more moderate. Democrats and Republicans were able to work together on a number of issues.

I think the Republican Party would be a lot more tolerable if the religious right wing was kept out of the party.

Answer 6

Religion plays a more important role in the lives of Americans than in other western nations. And therefore Americans use it as a criteria when determining leaders. To change that, more Americans would have to be less religious. Until then, this is not going to change.

Answer 7

No...you are NOT seeing something wrong. The separation of church and state was created for a good reason: religion has NO BUSINESS in politics or the running of a country.

Religion, as I see it, is a human-created crutch. It is also a cancer that spreads, usually by force. (Today Christians--or whomever--don't kill you into believing, but try browbeating you into "THEIR CONCEPTION OF TRUTH!)

Anyway, a belief system should be a personal one and not a reason to embrace or dismiss a candidate or, for that matter, another human being with a dissimilar belief system.

Answer 8

thats a very good quesiton
all religions are equally retarded....but most people arent intellectual..they go with the fuzzy feelings they get when the politiicans say stuff similar to what their preachers say

Answer 9

Our country was founded on faith. Without morals or religion our system cannot work. I don't think we should stereotype, but everyone does, (although they say they don't).

Answer 10

we should send our military pastors into this holy battle in iraq to fight hand to hand.