Do you agree with Romney? What does the atheists say?

Question

Shouldn't freedom requires HOPE, not religion?

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/06/romney.speech/index.html

"Freedom requires religion, just as religion requires freedom. Freedom opens the windows of the soul so that man can discover his most profound beliefs and commune with God. Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone," he said.

Answer 1

Pfffth!

Religion exploits freedom...

Freedom has no need of religion.

Answer 2

Freedom From Religion.

Answer 3

You are right. Hope is a much better term, but I think that freedom simply requires self-motivation.
What a stupid statement... that freedom requires religion. In reality, religion is a tool of opression. Just take a look at the Middle East.

Answer 4

In this case, Romney seems to be directly contradicting Thomas Jefferson (the drafter of the Declaration of Independence).

You can find many Jefferson quotes that assert religion is an opposing force to personal freedoms which he often refers to as liberty.

Answer 5

Well, of course, we think he's full of bildge.

Freedom most certainly does NOT require religion.

Since most Americans are religious, all politicians have to appeal to religion.

But I tend to favor the ones who don't go on and on about it, and certainly dislike those who imply that we atheists are something to be gotten rid of.

After all, if he's applying for the job of being MY president, he needs to get a clue, and not say that I shouldn't be allowed -- which is basically what he's saying in the quote. Those who don't believe in his Sky Bully are either incapable of, or don't deserve to be, free.

Oh, well. He never had my vote, anyway. So he's lost nothing.

Answer 6

What do all the rest of those runing for president say? What god do they believe in? Is it the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross or do they believe in the god of this world? 2 Corinthians 11: 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11: 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Answer 7

I think there is an element of freedom needing religion in that it needs lots of different religions and different beliefs in a nation to keep checks and balances on itself.

Answer 8

I am an atheist, and I do not believe freedom requires anything, except maybe trust and indeed hope. There is total freedom in Ursula Le Guin's book: The Disposessed, and it only requires trust.

Answer 9

Freedom requires many things: hope, sacrifice, vigilance, liberty, and many more. Religion is one of them. It does not appear that Romney was saying it was the only thing it needs. And he is correct the freedom and religion go hand and hand with each other.

Answer 10

When I first heard that, I was PISSED.

Then I realized - in context, I think he's saying that religious freedom is required, for any free state.

On the other hand, you could interpret that to mean exactly what it says: freedom requires religion. Many Americans do indeed believe that. Its scary.

Answer 11

As a big Romney supporter since February, when he announced his candidacy, I agree with him. As a non-religious person I agree with him. Religion allows some people who cannot feel free otherwise to feel so, yet some people do not need this aspect of their life to feel free and happy and fulfilled. To each his own, but we as the greatest country in the world need to allow everyone to find their own definition of freedom and happiness so long as it is safe and ethical.