Should Religion Be Kept Out Of Political Debates?

Question

A person's religion is their personal business, I do not need to hear their religious views.

I don't choose a President based upon how strong or weak a Christian they are, I choose a President based upon whether they can get the job done or not.

I am more concerned on what vision do they have to make America better for all of its citizens.

Answer 1

Yep and politics should stay out of churches until they start paying taxes.

But we know that neither will ever happen. And no I am not a Liberal.

Answer 2

I, too, do not want a person's religious believes to be an issue in politics. I would much rather get them to be nailed down on a certain issue. Not accept a no answer answer. Make it clear to the public. That way if they do not follow through when elected, then they should not be reelected. I do not care if Fred Thompson is born again or Mitt Romney is Mormon. I did not care if JFK was Catholic, I did care that he slept around on Jackie while he was supposed to be at work in the White House. I never knew the religions of Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Johnson, or Ford. I do know that Nixon was a Quaker and Carter was Baptist. The point is it is the philosophy of the candidate that is important and not there theology.

Answer 3

Your's is a sound view. I do believe that it is important to address the issue of religion for only one reason, so that it does not become a campaign issue. John F. Kennedy ran for president and acknowledged his Catholic faith, participation and background. He also made sure that everyone understood that the Constitution of the United States would be the rule of law, and not the Canon Law of Rome. He was thoroughly able to separate his role as a Catholic man and that of President of the United States. Whether you view him as a good President or not, his presentation of the facts was good enough for the American public. Then it was on to the issues at hand. If the current candidates can take the same tact and mean it, not bringing their agendas to rule the lives of others, then their religious beliefs and affiliations (or lack of affiliations) will have no import.

Answer 4

Religion is for many their grounds for morals and decision making. A good candidate to them is one who has a strong religious belief, usually in the same denomination as their own.

To them, if a candidate has a good religious background it means he will make the correct decisions, whether this is correct or not is a different debate.

While we theoretically follow the notion of 'separation of Church and State', nothing prohibits those in the State of supporting a religion personally and making decisions based off of their faith.

While I agree religion does tend to create fanatics, I think religion plays into politics more for the votes in an election or public support for a highly visible bill or movement, and not so much for the actual decision making process.

Answer 5

I believe religion should be OUT of the political debates. While it would be nice to have someone with a recognizable value system it should not be essential. The voting record and what a person has said or done politically are what counts.

Answer 6

You have a point in saying that religion is personal business.But a person's religious beliefs - no matter what they are - quite often will tell how they are inclined to vote or lead on issues.So while you might not care how a person worships their God (or doesn't as the case may be),that person is more than likely influenced by their religious beliefs and teachings.And that is why you should care about their religion.

Answer 7

No. I do believe a person's religion is their own personal business until they run for an office where their beliefs could effect their decision making.

Personally, knowing someone is religious is a negative, not a positive.

Answer 8

A man much greater than anyone in politics today had quite a bit to say about it.....Jefferson knew the price that would be paid if religion became involved with politics and politics became involved with religion. Way too bad that we haven't paid any attention to him....look where it has lead us.

http://candst.tripod.com/tnppage/qjeffson.htm

Answer 9

I think to a certain extent you are right. I don't care about a person's religion unless it is something that would effect their decision making process. For example if they were a radical Muslim who would put his religion before the good of the country then it would matter a great deal.

Answer 10

Religion and politics don't mix very well. Thomas Jefferson wanted tax-funded, gov-operated public schools because private schools, which were all religious schools back then, gave a radical religious education. And Jefferson attended those types of schools, so he would know.