Thread: Does religion affect in politics?

Does religion make a different in politics? I have been thinking about this topic ever since Barack Obama was running for US Presidency. Its always stund how some general public were reacting toward his religion. There was a nice article in science daily where they discuss this topic very much: "From Barack Obama's controversial pastor to Sarah Palin's "secret religion", religious values have continued to play a dominant role in the presidential election since John F. Kennedy became the first Catholic elected to president in 1960." I am sure if we look back we will find many more cases such that do say religion play big role in any election. It is not only in western society, it does take place many other places around the world. Many uses religion as their "term card" either against oneselves or proselves. A renounded professor Sheldon of University Missouri said " The one thing that struck me the most was that the value differences were rather small – really, people were more alike than different, in that almost everybody favored intrinsic values more than extrinsic values," Sheldon said. "It was just a small relative difference between the two parties. Still, these data suggest that economic conservatives have been 'drafting' on the values of religious conservatives, using conservative Christians' willingness to care for less fortunate others as a cover for their own willingness to exploit the situation."

Religion is more of numbers, which we use in our daily lives and politician uses religion during their campaign almost everday just to give message to their audience that they do follow religion which gives peace.

Is this a serious question or rhetorical? No one but a Christian can become president because no one would vote for them if they weren't. Also, 4 states have it in the books that you must believe in God to run for office.

Yes it does.

Originally Posted by verzen

Is this a serious question or rhetorical? No one but a Christian can become president because no one would vote for them if they weren't. Also, 4 states have it in the books that you must believe in God to run for office.

And who picks the candidates that you vote for hm? Its a big con. People are chosen who get in...

it has to for what a person believes lets the world know about his judgment. romney believes he will become god of his own little planet, so what is stopping him of being reckless with nuclear weapons?

it is no wonder he lost, his beliefs about 'magic underwear' is just too incredible and demonstrates he does not have what it takes to be president.

you would not want a member of the 'children of God', or 'the family' as they are now known, to be president for he would be worse than clinton and his mind would not be all there.

same with many other religions (not christian), their beliefs just push the limits of credibility and you certainly do not want a wing nut in the oval office, for then the whole country loses credibility and influence.

Again the assumption that your faith is the true one...

I could equally argue that only an atheist would be suitable for the job, as they will not be distracted by the obscure, the intangible or the supernatural.

After all, some christians are murderers, therefore they all are. And some murderers hate life, so all christians are therefore life-hating murderers. Are you saying you want a life-hating murderer to be president of whatever country you may live in? Really?

Grow up archaeologist. Stop making sweeping statements based on faulted assumptions.

You can become President in America if you aren't gay, muslim, atheist, agnostic, an evolutionary biologist, mormon, hindu, shinto or buddhist.

Originally Posted by archaeologist

same with many other religions (not christian), their beliefs just push the limits of credibility and you certainly do not want a wing nut in the oval office, for then the whole country loses credibility and influence.

"Hello, Pot? This is the Kettle..."