Should religion play a role in politics?

[Fixated]

Should religion be a factor in the political world?

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. It is part of the PRivate spehre

regardless what Joe tells us, for starters, or follow that with George

Our founding fathers had many briliant observations and that was one of them... or what it John Locke

[Deesh]

2. Monday Night TV

When I hear Rev. Jerry Falwell trying to shape a right-wing fundamentalism in politics, I think maybe it is time to re-institute early Roman tactics to emphasize separation of church and state. I propose Monday Night Christian-Lion Fights. I'm sure Fox would jump at this opportunity.

[MODemocrat]

3. Absolutely not

I still believe in religious freedom, and want to be free to worship in my own way. That is what the different religions are all about.
It's disgusting when religion is used as a political tool. Bush is a prime example of that.

[MrSlayer]

4. It shouldn't even be a consideration.

I don't care what superstition you believe in, just don't make it a part of your politics.

[AlFrankenFan]

5. No way

Just no way. It doesn't matter whether someone's a Christian or Muslim or Jew or Atheist....if a candidate has what it takes to lead that's what matters.

[Character Assassin]

6. Of course. What a silly question

If one lives one's life according to the precepts of a particular faith and set of ethics, one naturally experiences the influence those will have on certain political stances and decisions.

Duh.

[sweetladybug]

7. Religion and politics should be kept separate

If not, one religion could control everything and other religions will not be excepted. Look what is happening right now in this country. I really don't want our country to end up in non-ending religious wars. And I don't think the good Lord (or who ever a person chooses to believe in) would want this to happen. I think our leaders should have high morals and good character (although, I know that no one is perfect and everyone has at least some character flaw)I do not think religion should be used to get people to vote against their own best interest in order to benefit wealthy contributers. This is nothing more than a con job aimed directly at religious people. Of course I am speaking of the Republican Party.
RE-ELECT A DEMOCRAT IN 2004!!!!

[LeahMira]

8. Values shape actions and opinions.

If one lives one's life according to the precepts of a particular faith and set of ethics, one naturally experiences the influence those will have on certain political stances and decisions.

That was my first thought also, but I think maybe the question might have been phrased a little differently.

Religion has no place in shaping laws, for instance. No one should be forced by law to attend services or to affirm belief in a supernatural being in order to hold public office.

But of course individual beliefs and values will shape political opinion.

I'd prefer, though, that any argument pro or con any issue be made from a basis of common values and not because some supernatural being "says so."

[arewethereyet]

11. I believe that its possible to seperate the two

and that its not all that hard to do or in any sense hypocritical.

no more different that thinking about math if you're doing math and thinking science whe you're doig science.

I don't think it happens often enough in polititians.

[Muddleoftheroad]

13. For many of us such separation is NOT possible

Our religion and our beliefs are a part of who we are.

[Silverhair]

9. Depends on the situation.

A person religion, or lack thereof, is part of the internal makeup of the candidate. It tells me what that candidate will use as a touchstone for his/her moral decisions. For an important office, just as POTUS, I want to know what the candidates moral compass is.
There are some religions and denominations that I would have serious reservations about accepting a candidate from those faiths.

As an extreme example to show the principle, would anyone want a "Moonie" as POTUS?

Also, and I'm going to get flamed for this, the effect of the POTUS faith on the rest of the world is a consideration. I like Joe Lieberman, but can you imagine the difficulty with the Arabs if he became POTUS? And Joe is a decent guy that I believe would do his best and would be honest in the job, but we have serious enough trouble with the ME as it is.

So the answer to the question is: It depends.

[Laszlo_Hollyfeld]

10. The question is a little vaguely worded,

in the same sense as asking "should the world contain mean people."

The easy answer suitable for an ideal world is that 'no it should not.'

No, the world shouldn't have mean people in it, and no politics and religion shouldn't comingle.

Now let's talk about reality. Everything comes in shades of grey. Everyone one is mean once in a while and some people are mean often.

Religion and politics have both been the tools for power in evil people since the dawn of mankind. They've also both been the tools for good.

As much as we may wish to, we cannot jetison the spiritual aspect of men and women in power. Human beings cannot separate themselves, cannot divide themselves simply because it's convenient. For that reason some aspect of politics always creeps into religion, and some aspect of religion always creeps into politics. It's the degree and the intent that determines whether it's right or wrong.

[terryg11]

12. If that's the way you like it then

who the hell is going to stop you?

[Blue_Chill]

14. Yes it should

While some may disagree with religion I do believe it shouts morality at a level needed in this world. Not all it's rants are needed, like it's anti-gay crap it has been spewing lately. But some are, because religion forces people to question the good of all things. Advancements can be good or evil, the people making/creating these leaps in tech/society don't have time to stop and consider them, religion does. Some may not like it but it is what it is, a counter-balance.

This of course works into all aspects of life including politics. This is all just my opinion of course.

[Selwynn]

15. Personal beliefs will influence public policy, and that's not a bad thing

What is a bad thing is when religious institutions are made into the fourth branch of government.

So, institutionalized religion? No. It should not have a role. Personal religious convictions? It is impossible to separate them from the person who holds them, and they will bear influence on policy for good or ill.

[evil_orange_cat]

16. religion? absolutely not... religious institutions are special interests..

but, should people's faith or sense of morality play a part in politics? sure... how can it not?

But there's a difference between faith, God, and religion...

religion is a bureaucracy... nobody needs another person to talk with God... and religious institutions seek the interests of their leaders and their own agendas. No one person should have more political power than another. And a special interest group, corporation, or any other social institution should not have more political power than the individual citizen.

[nemo137]

17. i don't care what, if any religion any particular pol practices

so long as he keeps it out of my home and my church.

[IndianaGreen]

18. Religious leaders can make calls to our conscience

and they do this on a regular basis, whether it is abortion, the death penalty, or the war in Iraq. There is nothing wrong with religion playing a role in the public square, as it always had.

It is quite another to have religion play a role in the public sector.

While a candidate's religious views is important to know, particularly if those views are intolerant of other religious viewpoints (including agnosticism and atheism), I totally disagree with the current trend by some candidates to wear their GAWD on their sleeves.

[haele]

19. No more than marital status -

or amount of children, or whether or not they own a house...

It's purely personal.

Haele