Is America ready for a non-Christian president?

Question

mitt romney joining the republican nomination race has opened some interesting questions about the us' young democracy.

since ronald reagan decided to involve christian fundamentalists more closely with the republican party during the 1980s the gop has had a headstart in every election it comes to.

do you think the republicans' core of religiously-motivated voters will realise that mitt isn't really one of them, and stay away from the hustings if he is chosen; or do you think that they are ready to take an ecumenical ticket?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6358801.stm

Answer 1

The Republicans are going to have a real problem with the Christians that usually vote for them if they nominate the non-Christian Mitt Romney for President
They will have three choices :
Bite the bullet and stay loyal to the party because they really hate all things Democrat-the anti-vote
Not vote at all
Vote for the Democratic candidate
If the Democrats are as smart as they think that they are, they will reject the Obama /Clinton candidacys and either grab Al Gore off the shelf or nominate a Christopher Dodd / Bill Richardson ticket
That type of ticket would give disaffected Republican voters a place to go just as a McCain nomination would give disaffected Democrats a place to go But the Democrats aren't that smart

Answer 2

I think that there seems to be a change in the air. The country seems to be either heading or tempting to head towards a more non christian state of mind. Over the last many years, many things have happened in the US to weaken or at least dilute religion. The bible, prayer and the ten commandments have been removed from the schools. Nativity scenes are removed from public places. Prayer before public events has been challenged and the rise of certain lifestyles that once were considered sinful are now more frequent and open. Our forefathers were not all christian as some would think and not every person that has served in the upper positions in the white house, have always been religious. So, would it surprise me if a non christian or non religious person in the republican party got to be president? NO. Would it make a huge difference in this country? I don't think it would. It does surprise me that Romney's faith would be questioned so hard in a country that seems to want religion out of everything. Also, consider the rise of eastern religion in this country.

Answer 3

I agree with the first answer you got and just wanted to expand it. The question implies what a lot of people think. There is a belief that openly religious in politics means religious just like we've forgotten that politicians read surveys and say what people want to hear. Our founding fathers were not all Christians. In fact, some of their writings were quite clearly non-theist. I just think that there is a bias still in this country. I know a lot of people won't publicly say it but I know a number of people that would not vote for Hillary because she's female, Barrack because he's black or anyone that stated that they were Atheist. The problem is that America still hasn't gotten over the evangelical images that Atheists are Satanists or anti-Christs.

I realize that not all Christians are this way but unfortunately most would not vote for someone for reasons like the ones previously mentioned.

Answer 4

Mitt Romney is a Christian, Mormonism is a denomination of Christianity.

America has had numerous non Christian Presidents in the past. George Washington, John Adams and Abraham Lincoln included.

Answer 5

Thats precisely the place this is, and don't think of the Baptists are overwhelmed by way of Roman Catholics the two, there replaced right into an excellent outcry while JFK ran for the presidency, with accusations of having the rustic somewhat run by way of the Pope. i think of a few of our previous presidents could ok have been atheists in private, actual few of them made a selection of of a pubic show earlier the ethical Majority of the Reagan era grew to become a reason in American politics. Reagan himself hardly went to church, asserting it brought about too plenty disruption. Neither did Bush, yet Clinton attended often, perhaps he mandatory it greater. Our maximum non secular cutting-part President replaced into, and is, Carter, proving that being non secular would not make you a greater helpful president. Given the detest for Obama and the shown fact that understanding he's not a Muslim and nevertheless takes hits for it, may lead me to have self belief that no, we aren't going to % somebody no longer a Christian.

Answer 6

I think that the best key to your answer is in the last part of your question: what will the religious right make of Mitt? Liberals like me won't vote for him because we're desperate to get Republicans out of the White House, and the thought of who a man like Romney would appoint to the Supreme Court gives us the willies.

Non-religious Republicans seem to like him, so that's not the issue. I know Mormons are Christians, but ask any dyed-in-the-wool Bible thumper and they'll tell you that Mormonism is just WRONG, and God is saving a special smiting for Mormons just as He is for Jews and Muslims and Bill Clinton and homosexuals and Catholics and Janet Jackson's breast that fell out on TV and....you get the idea.

The question is, for this powerful voting sector, what is worse? A Mormon or Hillary Clinton? I expect they'd vote for Romney if it came to that, just because they hate Hillary worse. Many of our elections, unfortunately, come down to us voting for the candidate we dislike the least.

Answer 7

O/C is out and I'm still studying Romney...... interesting. I really liked what he had to say and have been reconsidering my party position, not saying I'm swinging the other way. Just a little disenchanted with the R Party. Even though I think Bush is cool! Hey I even have to defend him in Texas! &&&& R R is a cool mentor for anyone!

Answer 8

Of course America is ready for a non-Christian President, America voted in the guy on the left...

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/04/images/20050425-8_hw9v0295jasjpg-1-515h.jpg

Answer 9

The fact is he is a christian of a different sect.
Most of the money and power in America is in the hands of a few christians and zionists, so if they don`t want him he will soon disapear.
And thats the most likely outcome..!!

Answer 10

Of course, judging by the actions of the current president, we already have a non-Christian president.