Should Religion Play a Part in Who You Vote For?

[puppydog]

Can you run the country? Can you run it well, without predjudice, malice or bad intent. Yes? You get my vote. Couldn't give a continental stuff what religion you are.

 

[skittledoo]

My religion influences my beliefs, morals, and values and I am not going to vote for someone who goes against those. So I vote for the person that has the most similar beliefs to mine. I don't ask what religion they are, just what they stand for.

I think I'm going to have to agree with zoe as well.

 

[blue]

Didnt the country go through this debate when JFK ran for President? Wasnt the White House used on sundays for church services when George Washington was in office?

 

[milos_mommy]

Obviously some issues will cause religion to play some part... but I think it comes down to where you fall on a political spectrum more then a religious spectrum... people of many different religions are conservative for example... so they will vote for a candidate who adheres to their values that doesnt mean that person needs to be of the same religion.

true. but the question isn't "will you vote for someone of the same religion", it's "will religion affect your vote", which it will. Religious beliefs dictate or at least influence morals and values, and values definately play a part in elections.

 

[Fran27]

Trying to buy votes by mentioning God is the worst manipulation I've ever seen from politicians.

 

[Jules]

Didn't quite read through all the answers so if I repeat what someone else has said- my bad

Shouldn't state affairs and religion be strongly divided? So yes, I think it is wrong that religion plays a role in politics and election

 

[blue]

Trying to buy votes by mentioning God is the worst manipulation I've ever seen from politicians.

Your kidding us right?

 

[lives4dogshows]

I would like to say that religion would not effect who I would vote for but unfortunately it is so embedded in our culture that even if you try to ignore it, it crops up in some issue somewhere. If someone has religious views different from mine (I'm agnostic) but we agree on many important issues then I will not let religion come between me and voting for them.

 

[Renee750il]

Trying to buy votes by mentioning God is the worst manipulation I've ever seen from politicians.

Your kidding us right?

I don't think Fran's kidding and I'd put it up there in the top five - maybe the top three - most heinous forms of political machinations.

 

[blue]

How about the current canidates actualling attempting to buy votes? No religion, just cold hard cash.

 

[Renee750il]

Trying to buy votes is pretty straightforward compared to the tactics of emotional manipulation if you think about it. It's still rotten, but at least its straightforwardly rotten.

 

[blue]

Baby bonds isnt emotional manipulation? How about universal health care, thats not emotional manipulation? After all its for the betterment of everybody.

Besides how are the above programs anymore honest then "Vote for me Im Protistant!" I doubt being Jewish got Lieberman reelcted as an independent.

 

[Zoom]

Beat me to it.

SHOULD religion play a part...I can't say. DOES it play a part...yes. Zoe put it together pretty succinctly, I'll leave it at that.

Colbert in '08!

 

[Renee750il]

Oh, that is manipulation. Outright money for votes, though, is almost refreshingly "honest" in these times.

 

[Zoom]

Sad but true.

 

[blue]

Thing is Renee, pols have been buying our votes for years, both with cash and religion. This isnt anything new, JFK. The real problem is how do we get the dead, not to vote democrat.

 

[Renee750il]

Funny. Last time it was all those dead Floridians voting repugnican . . .

Doesn't make much difference between the two though. The only way you can tell 'em apart is they lie about different things - then do exactly the same kinds of idiotic bullshit when they're ensconced in office.

 

[blue]

Cept they arent promising monetary value to go along with religious values they want to be elected on.

 

[Renee750il]

Who isn't?

Every last one of 'em is promising to write checks that OUR asses are gonna have to cash!

 

[blue]

What check is Mit Romney planning on writing if he got elected?