This would blow the mind of a lot of religious Republicans.

[Funtatlaguy]

What if our nominee OPENLY talked about his/her faith during the general campaign and challenged Trump on his lack of faith.
This would be turning the tables on what they have done against Democrats so many times.
I know that Mayor Pete openly talks about his faith and some others do as well.
But, I think we should take it a step further with something like this:

“In the uncertain times in my life and when I’ve had the really tough questions or situations to face, I’ve turned to my faith as a rock to rely on. We all fall short as humans and none of us have all of the answers. But what has genuinely concerned me about this particular current President is that he has said he doesn’t pray and he doesn’t ask forgiveness and he doesn’t think he ever needed Gods guidance or forgiveness because he is never wrong. How can that be?

Mr.President, you have claimed to be a Christian when you’ve wanted to get votes from people of faith. But when asked about your favorite Biblical passages, you’ve not had any. You wrongly named Two Corinthians as a book that you’ve read. I’d love to discuss some of those passages with you.
In fact, I’d love to discuss one of my favorite Biblical passages with you.
It very well could pertain to the times that you’ve locked little children in cages, mocked the disabled, lied constantly, committed adultery against three wives, been a horrible steward of the earth. The list is endless. And to those things, the appropriate Biblical passage would have to be,
‘Jesus wept’.”

[Cary]

1. What if we all unified behind our candidate and turned out en masse?

Then what?

[Funtatlaguy]

5. Of course. The two are not mutually exclusive.

[Cary]

9. That wasn't my point

You aren't going to cure the cult of their authoritarianism. It just will not happen and it is dysfunctional and co-dependent to hope for their recovery or even strategize for it.

We can only control and affect ourselves and the lesson of 2016 is that we must have discipline or we allow fascists to cheat and steal.

[Funtatlaguy]

13. You only have to peel away a few or have them stay home.

The Repubs have been great at doing this to Dems with “wedge” issues.
The latest Evangelical magazine situation has given that opening.
You don’t think that Repubs would use it against us.
Of course they would.
“Trump lies about everything, even his supposed relationship with God” .
Trump believes in Trump and only Trump.
He believes that he is the ultimate higher power.

This is a gift, Democrats.
Please use it.

[Cary]

60. The less I have rely on useful idiots the better.

I don't believe I need them for anything.

[Adelante]

2. I'm all for Pete

But enough with God Talk already is what I say.

[Funtatlaguy]

4. Why? We already have most of the Atheist/Agnostic vote.

Go after their supposed strengths.
Lee Atwater and Karl Rove knew how to do this.

[Adelante]

7. Separation of church and state is why

That's what I believe in.

[Funtatlaguy]

10. As do I. However, It can be framed that way and

still used to our political advantage.
Especially with something tricky like abortion.
I think Biden has said that he is personally opposed to abortion but as a legislator he has honored Roe as settled law and supports each individual’s right to choose.
You can be religious and still support the separation of church and state.
I am. And I support the taxation of all churches because they violate that separation.

[True Blue American]

14. So do I!

Our candidates need to stick with the issues that need to be fixed. Solving the many problems we have in this Country.

An infrastructure that is falling apart, affordable Health care, well paying jobs, an unfair tax structure.

Then, they can quietly go to the Church of their choice, join in helping others, quit trying to make points attacking other Democrats.

Truthfully, I think we, as Democrats should do the same. Attend Town Halls, make our voices heard, work to elect Democrats, volunteer at the polls to make sure our votes are counted.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, all.

[DeeDeeNY]

21. Perfectly stated

In a nutshell you just said it all!

[cagefreesoylentgreen]

17. It's drive this atheist away

I know the more any candidate talks about some sort of deity, the more I’m opposed to them. Don’t take my atheist vote (or anyone else’s) for granted that you can get away with this consequence free.

[Dennis Donovan]

20. Obama gave a "faith" speech in response to the right attacking him for Rev Wright...

...it was one-off and that was that - it defused the situation.

[True Blue American]

23. If I want a Sermon

I go to Church. But I give the same courtesy to those who choose other wise.

[Duppers]

62. Well, this atheist supports the idea 💯%

This is about marketing period.

An atheist is not yet electable in the US & so we must order our priorities to the best advantage in order to evict that monster from the WH. He & his minions are destroying our democracy. Saving it must be our no.1 priority.

[Dennis Donovan]

18. This isn't really a church/state separation issue. It's marketing.

Candidates sell themselves like your grocer sells produce. Sprays the lettuce down, oils up the cucumbers, puts their best green peppers in front of the freakish ones. A candidate talking about their faith is basically cucumber grease.

[True Blue American]

26. Religion is not marketing!

It is also not politics! The minute someone begins to tell me how pious they are is the minute they lost me.

[Dennis Donovan]

27. Politics is marketing one's self in a pitch for elected office

You, like myself, are turned off when politicians start going on about their faith. However, others are looking for that in a candidate.

[True Blue American]

28. Is that what makes us

Democrats?

The marketing of Religion by Televangelists, Trump supporters is driving millions out of Churches, too.

[Dennis Donovan]

32. Yup!

[Funtatlaguy]

47. Exactly. We don't market like Repubs do. We need to.

[Duppers]

61. +1000

[mountain grammy]

45. Agree

Religion will get us all killed. It’s far too toxic now. The First Amendment got it right, now we have to follow it.

[BlueMTexpat]

56. I'm absolutely with you on this.

Enough of candidates wearing religion on their sleeves!

A candidate's religion - or lack of it - should not be the basis for any choice!

JMO.

[handmade34]

6. probably not...

because Evangelicals use "faith" and "bible" and their religion to justify what they want.. they would most likely refer to Luke and twist the passage to condemn the Democrat...

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Merry Christmas!

[Funtatlaguy]

11. I would welcome that conversation about Trump.

[handmade34]

16. you and I see it

but... I grew up with a fundamentalist (Evangelical) and it's useless to try and converse... which is ironic because while they claim to strictly adhere to their "scripture" they really manipulate it to their means... (especially prosperity theologists - unfortunately not my mother... she saw poverty as a virtue)

once in awhile there comes along a Evangelical with a bit of independent thinking skill and then it is a fun conversation but the thinking ones usually aren't diehard trump supporters

[True Blue American]

15. Same to you!

And I agree!

[True Blue American]

24. 100% agree!

[bucolic_frolic]

8. Trump is the God of Televangelists: SEND MORE MONEY and you will be heeled!

[Funtatlaguy]

12. Hit on him as a Con Man. He even cons about religion.

It’s all a con.
Expose it.
Why not.

[localroger]

39. Is beeing heeled like when Will Smith gets birded?

[nini]

19. No. Let's keep Christianity out of poltics

Any religion for that matter.

Having faith is one thing, using it as a political tool is another. Religion is a huge part of how we got into this mess in the first place.

[sinkingfeeling]

22. I'd rather they all keep their religion to themselves and stressed

that government is secular.

[True Blue American]

25. I just want to hear

What they plan to do if elected.

By their actions you see what they are. They do not need to tell me.

[localroger]

41. This. Faith is personal.

Letting me know occasionally that faith informs your actions is useful information, but going on and on and on about it is just TMI and off-putting.

[True Blue American]

54. If you pray

For the glory of man, that is all you ever get.

[jberryhill]

31. What a radical idea

It’s a good idea, but my all-powerful invisible friend does not like to be left out of the conversation.

[True Blue American]

33. We will just

Let the greatest Christian of them all keep blurting out his version.

If there is an Almighty he knows!

[jberryhill]

59. Why don't we just hold them underwater for a few minutes

And see which one’s god is most merciful.

[Wabbajack_]

29. They'd call him or her a baby killer

And that would be that. Waste of time.

[calimary]

30. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!

Holy Cow, Funtatlaguy!

What a piece of writing! Out-freakin’-standing! Your pen is not just mightier than a sword, it’s a freakin’ bazooka!

[softydog88]

34. Christmas morning...

and I'm going to say that the problems of the world are exacerbated by religion and faith and have been for most of recorded history. There are major problems in the world, and they need to be addressed by science. Climate change, hunger, poverty, disease, lack of education, housing and more. And the one thing that will make all the others moot is climate change. If we can't solve this, the planet will become uninhabitable by human life, period. And the people gumming up the works are the ones that say only god (yes, lower case 'g') can influence the weather, and therefore climate change is not man-made and not something to which we need to devote time, energy or funds. It's akin to Pat Robertson praying that hurricanes won't strike land and his ilk saying that other natural disasters are the result of god's anger with us for being such sinners. With that attitude, we're doomed. It's an uphill climb, and I'm worried that it's ultimately futile. But I have to hope, and in the meantime, I like to remember the words of George Carlin after he had whittled down the ten commandments to two, and then admitted one more would be good: "thou shall keep thy religion to thyself."

[jberryhill]

35. They should challenge all their gods to a fight

And we should elect the one whose god kills the other gods!

[KayF]

36. I don't think they care about that

remember, he beat Ted Cruz badly. They know about all you mention, they don't care. What they like about Trump is that he gets a lot of terrible judges on the courts. They know any Democrat wouldn't do that.

[kag]

37. I'm surprised anyone thinks this is a bad idea.

You've gotten pounded by a few here, but this atheist loves this idea.

The plan is not to preach, but to challenge the orange hypocrite with one of his biggest constituencies.

I think any opportunity to show the world what a monumental hypocrite he is should be jumped on.

[LongtimeAZDem]

42. This atheist thinks it's a bad idea; if you think the partisanship is bad now, start a holy war

[Funtatlaguy]

49. Thank you. I wasn't suggesting our nominee become a minister.

Just use Trumps fake religious statements against him when they come up.
Like in the debates.
If they use abortion, show his many statements when he was pro choice.
Ask if he was “born again” or “saved” to change his mind.
He would have no idea what you we’re talking about.
He would be exposed and humiliated in front of the “true” religious folk.

[Alpeduez21]

38. Trying to convince repukes

Is like trying to teach a pig to sing. It’s a waste of time and annoys the pig. They vote republican because that is their religion. Using reason and logic to displace religion won’t work because logic and religion cannot coexist

[LakeArenal]

40. This is one of those false litmus tests.

Like serving in the military.

I don’t want a religious president, Christian or otherwise. I don’t want a General for president either, American or otherwise.

[yellowwoodII]

43. Please, No!

This would be a vote-killer for me. I would view the candidate the way I do TV preachers. The ideal candidate will have to create a "big tent" which includes a wide diversity of philosophies. Hopefully, it will reflect humanitarian values to which we can all adhere.

[BuffaloJackalope]

44. This assumes "religious" Republicans care a fig about following Christ.

They've proven time and time again they don't.

[MrScorpio]

46. GOPr voting Trump cultists will disregard any religious pronouncements by Dems

Because they believe that all Democrats are “ungodly” by definition and and Trump has been “anointed by God.”

White evangelicalism isn’t about that teachings of Jesus anyway, it’s about sadistic behavior and white supremacy.

Appealing to the religious right should be a non-starter.

[Gore1FL]

48. I submit we need to extract Religion from the debate.

Arming everyone with a religious platform seems to intensify the problem rather than remediate it.

[Duppers]

63. Yes but the R hypocrites aren't doing it.

We must beat them at their own f'n game. I know many believers who'd listen. Let their preachers try to contradict the facts.

Atheism is a growing sector; we're not there yet but we will be. In 2 or so decades religion will be gone from this discussion.

- an old atheist cootess here.

[azureblue]

50. "faith" boils down to religious dogma

Faith simply means believing and that has nothing to do at all with how a person treats others. Which was the foundation of Jesus' teachings. Which are, incidentally, pretty much universal. Love your fellow man, treat him or her as you would yourself, help those in need, etc. All summed up in Matthew 25:31- 46. Along with a definite penalty for those who do not. These principles are found in other religions / philosophies, too. The part that modern Christianity warped is what is known as salvation by faith. That is, you are saved from hell simply by believing but Christ made it plain that faith without works is empty, and Christians should focus on doing, and letting their works speak for their faith. Which is the part that Don and his ilk fail miserably..

[Roy Rolling]

51. It's a great idea

It’s being done by Trump himself.

With his Christianity Today trashing he’s opened up a gulf between traditional, moral Christians and Trump-worshipping Christians.

As for Democrats, stay out of the way while a candidate is destroying himself.

Everything Trump does shows he’s a hypocrite to humble Christians. They don’t like hypocrites like the modern-day evangelicals do, And Trump has created a war between Christian groups.

How Christ-like of him.

[3catwoman3]

52. I would love to see a face-to-face...

Trump and John Fugelsang.

[vlyons]

53. Attacking his "faith" seems like the wrong approach to me

I'm a Buddhist. I don't believe in a deity, and I don't blindly have "faith" in silly notions like a virgin birth, or anyone escaping earth's gravity without a rocket ship to ascend into heaven, wherever that is. Or a 3-day old corpse coming back to life.

But what Trump should be called on his hypocracy. He merely pretends and postures to be a Christian. If Islam were the predominate religion in this country, he would masquerade as a Moslem. The real teachings of Jesus are about brotherly love, tolerance, peace, generosity, charity, patience, forgiveness, patience, and personal sacrifice for the greater good. None of which Trump is reported to have observed very much.

Trump's "Christianity" is a hypocritical scam. Call it what it is.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

55. No thanks.

[bitterross]

57. They are NOT Religious. They are RACIST, XENOPHOBES - Anti-anyone not like them.

They are not religious people at the core. That is not what is really driving them. They are racists, bigots, xenophobes, anti-everything that isn't a WASP.

Trump hates the same people they hate. He gives them permission to do so openly now. That's what they love.

Let's keep religion out of politics.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

58. The problem I see here is that the evangelical Trumpers already believe

that someone who doesn't ascribe to their particular brand of Christianity is a heretic anyhow. If any of the candidates is asked whether his/her religious beliefs, if any, influence or inform his/her ethical or political positions I see nothing wrong if they offer an answer explaining whether and how that is the case - and that there is a lot of hypocrisy among the Christian right-wing. I think Buttigieg, for example, has handled the issue well: "We should call out hypocrisy when we see it. And for a party that associates itself with Christianity to say that it is OK to suggest that God would smile on the division of families at the hands of federal agents, that God would condone putting children in cages, [that party] has lost all claim to ever use religious language again.” https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/mayor-pete-buttigieg-faith-christianity-primary-election-913808/ But Buttigieg isn't an evangelical, he's an Episcopalian, which is about as mainstream (and liberal) a denomination as there is, and the evangelicals don't consider them to be "real" Christians.

So I think debating about religion and trying to hang Trump and the fundies up on claims of hypocrisy is going to be difficult, and might just annoy voters who already think religion carries too much weight in politics. You can say Jesus wouldn't approve of children in cages and refusing to help the poor, and the fundies will just natter on about abortion, which they claim is the very worst thing ever even though Jesus never mentioned it. I think it's a lost cause. But Buttigieg did make another point in the same article: "And if you find that what you’re being told politically cuts against the idea of compassion, sooner or later that’s going to lead to a reckoning that just might invite people to reconsider their political commitments. It’s just that you have to invite people there rather than drag them there, and that can be the hard part, I think, for us on the left."