Religion and Politics

Serious Paul · Post by **Serious Paul** » Thu May 10, 2007 6:51 pm

What sort of role does a candidates religion play in how you vote?

The reason I ask, is I saw this, and although I know many of you are atheists, or agnostic in some way I was curious as to what your views on this sort of thing was.

Instant Cash · Post by **Instant Cash** » Thu May 10, 2007 7:17 pm

Organized religon has long outgrown its usefulness, in fact I am less likely to vote for someone the more outspoken they are about religon.

Ampere · Post by **Ampere** » Thu May 10, 2007 7:38 pm

Same here IC.
Unless they are talking about actual Freedom of Religion, I'm not very likely to get excited about them as a candidate. Honestly, I don't see that happening. The liberal side of the fence will stay away from it entirely because they don't want to alienate the folks who support organized religion, the conservaitves already have the Religious Right on their side.

At this point, I'd go for some Religion as a Non-Issue for the Government for 1000 Bob.

Liniah · Post by **Liniah** » Thu May 10, 2007 8:03 pm

I think too many people are bringing religion into politics. I think they should be very seperate. I was so pissed off about this a few weeks ago. I don't really want to bring that all up again.

MissTeja · Post by **MissTeja** » Thu May 10, 2007 8:05 pm

I'm less concerned with what religion they affiliate with and more about what effects it has on their policy stances.

Daki · Post by **Daki** » Thu May 10, 2007 9:04 pm

Teja hit it on the head.

I am usually put off by candidates that make their religious beliefs the central point of their campaign. So long as they don't use their particular religion to pressure their political agenda, I don't care.

Then again, if a candidate came along who said they were buddhist, I'd probably be more inclined towards liking them.

3278 · Post by **3278** » Fri May 11, 2007 11:56 am

Well, ahh, I've never voted for a religious candidate, I can tell you that.

Szechuan · Post by **Szechuan** » Fri May 11, 2007 1:39 pm

Daki wrote: Then again, if a candidate came along who said they were buddhist, I'd probably be more inclined towards liking them.

That would make them more of a philosopher than outright religious anyhoo.

The likelihood of my voting for a candidate is inversely proportional to their religiosity. It's pretty cut and dry.

Daki · Post by **Daki** » Fri May 11, 2007 2:48 pm

Szechuan wrote:
Daki wrote: Then again, if a candidate came along who said they were buddhist, I'd probably be more inclined towards liking them.
That would make them more of a philosopher than outright religious anyhoo.

The likelihood of my voting for a candidate is inversely proportional to their religiosity. It's pretty cut and dry.

Exactly.

ak404 · Post by **ak404** » Fri May 11, 2007 6:12 pm

I find that the more one talks about how religious they are, the more they fail to live up to the standards of said religion.

I mean, if you have to remind everyone that you're a Methodist...

Jeff Hauze · Post by **Jeff Hauze** » Sat May 12, 2007 3:11 am

About the only highly religious candidate I could get behind would be one who says that his religion dictates all places of worship will henceforth be put to the torch, including his own.

ak404 · Post by **ak404** » Tue May 15, 2007 10:45 pm

In the news today, Falwell's dead.

I'm betting some doctor out there is telling his family, "You know, if we had some fucking stem cells, we could have saved his ass. You see, we baby-killing humanists have figured out a way to live to 500 and beat cancer, it's you Jesus freaks that're fucked."

See, if a Christian can believe in God but not Santa Claus...something's fucked up.

Crazy Elf · Post by **Crazy Elf** » Wed May 16, 2007 1:31 am

Szechuan wrote:
Daki wrote: Then again, if a candidate came along who said they were buddhist, I'd probably be more inclined towards liking them.
That would make them more of a philosopher than outright religious anyhoo.

Don't think that Buddhism runs short of having crazy fundamentalist views. According to Buddhist tradition, homosexuality is wrong, as well as masturbation, and as well as <i>sex during the daytime</i>. Any religion that gets organised ends up floating away from its core text.

If it were just about core texts, then I'd vote for an Islamic candidate, as the Quran is very specific about accepting and not interfering with other religions. It says that once people of other religions are under your protection, you must treat them just as well as everyone else. That view is pretty much absent from every other religion that I know about.

Daki · Post by **Daki** » Wed May 16, 2007 2:24 pm

You're right Elf. I should have said I was more in favor of a candidate that focuses on the philosophical aspects rather than some of the fundamental texts.

Tryyng · Post by **Tryyng** » Wed May 16, 2007 2:51 pm

I'd love to have an athiest or agnostic candidate, but I understand we're a ways away from that. Barring that, give me someone who take's Christ's name in vain more often then in prayer, and I'll be happy. A good president should curse - if he's involved enough, there will always be reason to.

DrunkenMaster · Post by **DrunkenMaster** » Wed May 16, 2007 4:57 pm

Tryyng said:

A good president should curse - if he's involved enough, there will always be reason to.

Well, we had Nixon. That didn't turn out so hot. Maybe R. Lee Ermey, running on the no Fat Bodies ticket?

Serious Paul · Post by **Serious Paul** » Thu May 17, 2007 3:49 am

I'd vote for Ermey. Twice.