How has your religion or lack of religion affected your political views?

Question

Do you support a Christian theocracy? Has your lack of faith made you more liberal? Free trade? Please share your political views and if your lack of/faith has influenced them.

Please state your religion or stance on the existence of a God somewhere in your answer.

My atheism has had no influence (that I am aware of) on my political stance.

Answer 1

My faith is integral to my political liberalism. Christianity tells me how to prioritize my values - helping those in need, loving my enemies, the avoidance of greed are things that any Christian will profess but I take these as ethical priorities.

That said, one has to form a secular belief of the role of government. I am on the FDR school of thought (democratic socialism) moreso than the Hoover school of thought (conservative liberatarianism). Christianity can be squared with either, in my view. In large part I find it dependson whether you view the government as We the People and thus the actor for large community problems or as an entity that exists entirely independently of the citizens and acts primarily to protect its own bureaucratic existence.

Thus, a Christian who loves their neighbors as themselves and loves their enemies as well but thinks government should be as limited as possible and private charity and such should fill those needs is every bit as theologically robust as I am, in my opinion.

Answer 2

I am a Catholic and a former atheist. I think that my religion has made me more conscious of the needs of the poor, the handicapped, the ignorant, the mentally Ill, and the criminals. I believe in free trade, and a free economy. I believe that business leaders who cook the books to cheat on their taxes or deceive public shareholders, must be held accountable for their dishonest behavior. I believe that those in government, the churches, and the professions who break the law or abuse their trust, must be held accountable. I believe that we must enforce the law against drug peddlers and others who perpetrate crimes; especially crimes of violence. I do not believe in a theocracy. I want people in office who are persons who are sincere, have a sense of justice, and show consideration of their fellow men (and women). I do not vote on religious lines, but on the quality of the person. My economic views have been influenced by my father, a small business owner, college courses in economics and labor law. My social views on love and justice in our society have been formed by the Jesuits and the bible. I believe that democracy is the best form of government.

Answer 3

actually I found that my religion made me a lot more politically conservative, very 'back to the constitution' libertarian type.
It also made me endorse work ethic as the lost art of the US.
I have ALWAYS felt that the seperation of church and state was important, I now feel it a lot more keenly that I am not in the majority. It is really scary to look at your child and wonder what the future holds for him after you watch a political debate where each of the candidates openly declares for a religion completely opposed to yours.
I am Asatru, or Germanic recon. I believe in the strong spiritual presence of the Aesir, and I trust their leadership as the oldest and strongest of our ancestors. That's not exactly the same as endorsing them as gods, can't really give you a clearer answer than that.

Answer 4

Its got to be hard to separate your religious views from you political views I think. Religion is supposed to be the way you live your life and politics can somewhat dictate that with laws and regulations.

Now, I think that my religious beliefs do dictate to a degree my political beliefs. I do believe in a God and I do believe that He had something to do with setting this whole thing in motion. I don't think He's very active in our day to day lives though.

Interestingly enough, I think government should be much the same way. Set the business of the country in motion but don't lord over me like I'm some kind of servant to the way you think this country should be run. The freedoms we enjoy and that are afforded to us should never be compromised for any reason and we should be allowed to pursue our happiness in our lives without government interference.

I also think that religion is a very personal venture and should be between one person and his/her God or if they have no God that's fine too, because its really none of my business. My religious beliefs work for me and I would not expect them to work for you or the guy sitting next to you or anyone else for that matter.

But all in all, I do believe it is difficult to not allow one's political views to be influenced by their religious views. There is too much power with the government that those who feel they know the path to God and those who feel there is no God are trying to get ahold of that it's almost always going to come down to the two factions fighting for power. If we could decrease the power of government then their would be less of it, but a government that's allowed power has a hell of hard time giving that power up.

Answer 5

I would say yes, I have watched the greed with Bush administration and how it has led to a Imperial leadership. Starting wars for capitalistic Gaines so your buddies get rich and doing trade policy's with other countries that hurt the American worker and make big profits for big business. So if Bush is a "Christian" I want nothing to do with them. Vote Libertarian. The two party system is not working.

Answer 6

I'm a christian and I vote liberal on the provincial stage (I live in Quebec and I don,t want to separate so I don't have much of a choice! but if I did I would vote green) and I vote green on the federal stage.

I think my faith as influenced me in my decision a little bit, you know taking care of God's creation and so forth. Consuming less but better fits more with the christian lifestyle described in the Bible. But honestly, it's not written in the Bible who you have to vote for, everybody is free to make their own decision, my pastor to my dismay is a separatist, but that doesn't stop us from believing in God and me listening to his teachings because he doesn't tell me who to vote for.
I hate self-proclaimed christian republicans, they are a real stain on my beliefs and a threat to mankind in general.

Answer 7

when i was christian, i didnt pay any attention, voted as i was told to.

now as an atheist, i pay attention to politics and government. I vote according to the best possible option i look for freedom of all people. I am definitely more liberal on some stuff, conservative on others.

I am very very very against religion influencing politics.

Answer 8

Mostly is doesn't until a candidate gets up and preaches about making this country a Christian nation and how God tells them to start wars. Then I get a little picky.

Answer 9

I'm agnostic but my belief really hasn't effected my political views. I would say my work place and life experience have. I'm more of a Republican than anything. (Pretty funny being a young adult and agnostic. People don't picture me as a Republican) People have their own responsability and more or less the controller of their own destinies.

Answer 10

No, but my classes in economic thought sure did. They made me fiscally conservative but socially progressive.

(Other than my opposition of religion entering politics, which is not due to my religion or atheism, but common sense.)