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"Political leaders should separate themselves from their religious beliefs when making policy statements or decisions."
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| Total # of Responses: 531 - 2/5/04 |
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35% |
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7% |
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6% |
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7% |
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40% |
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We have received feedback on this issue from people all across America. Review the graph to the left for a quick snapshot of the responses received to date, or read the responses below.
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Rod, ID
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... I would support any president that was brave enou ... 
January 27,2004
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I would like to see someone prove that any of the framers of this nation disengaged their religious beliefs during their times of political involvement. I support President Bush and I would support any president that was brave enough to stand up for what they believed. Atheist or religious.
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Susan, GA
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... Religions merely try to answer
...
January 27,2004
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I will first assume that political leaders arrive at policy statements and decisions through an application of ethical and moral principles. Of course I am probably delusional on this point. But I digress. Regardless of your religious faith or non, whether God created man or man created God, there is, I hope, a singular universal underlying truth of right and wrong which is dictated by our nature and design and how we fit into and are in accordance with or in harmony with the nature and design of the Universe. Religions merely try to answer that question. I doubt if, at this time, anyone has gotten it right yet, if ever? The fact that we are a religious nation and yet can so passionately arrive at different conclusions to the same moral question merely suggests that religions have not yet found that singular truth.
Thusly, I hope that all people in a position to make decisions influencing the lives and destinies of others try to find the fundamental and elemental truth by searching the best parts of their nature rather than apply some mythological dogma that was probably developed over a period of time for some one’s or some institution’s self justification or benefit.
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Renee, NY
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... Decisions should be based on what the Holy Bible s ...
January 27,2004
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Because people use the word religion to loose. Decisions should be based on what the Holy Bible says. When you say religious beliefs there's the one true God(Jesus Christ)spoken of in the Holy Bible.Then there are man made god's created by man to justify their actions. To make wrong look and sound right. So it should be based on the constitution and the point of what's equal and best for the welfare of all citizens without regard to their socioeconomic status.With all that said, everything still must to be weighed by the Holy Bible. I would also like to make a rebutal to the priest that spoke tonight.He said that same sex marriages are holy and the same as marriage between a man and woman.The
Bible say marriage between man and woman is holy and the bed is undefiled. It also says homosexuality is an abomination to God,it only brings about confusion,and there can be no reproduction of humans. Where as reproduction can only take place between a man and woman.
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Soubanh, ME
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... those who feel offended by symbols of faith may no ...
January 27,2004
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I feel that those that do not let their beliefs, religious or not, guide them in their life's decisions they are not being true to themselves and to others. I also believe that those who feel offended or theatened be simbols of faith may not be as "peace loving people" as they think they are.
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Marie, WI
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... The laws should be religion blind the same as bein ...
January 27,2004
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I think government employees (including the president) should uphold the laws of the land. They should put the interests of the people who elected or appointed them above those of large special interests. The laws should be religion blind the same as being color blind
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Travis, NC
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... Political leaders that don't seek him in policy m ...
January 27,2004
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Political leaders that say they believe in God, but don't seek him in policy making decisions are hypocrits. They believe he exists but they don't have a relationship with him or put trust in him.
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Ira, TX
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... he should be very circumspect about imposing his b ...
January 27,2004
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I Absolutely agree that a leader should espouse his religious beliefs, however I think he should be very circumspect about imposing his beliefs on public law. At the same time, I believe he should defend those moral issues written or understood in law that are derived from laws as established from Biblical law.
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Susan, GA
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... political leaders arrive at policy statements and ...
January 27,2004
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I will first assume that political leaders arrive at policy statements and decisions through an application of ethical and moral principles. Of course I am probably delusional on this point. But I digress. Regardless of your religious faith or non, whether God created man or man created God, there is, I hope, a singular universal underlying truth of right and wrong which is dictated by our nature and design and how we fit into and are in accordance with or in harmony with the nature and design of the Universe. Religions merely try to answer that question. I doubt if, at this time, anyone has gotten it right yet, if ever? The fact that we are a religious nation and yet can so passionately arrive at different conclusions to the same moral question merely suggests that religions have not yet found that singular truth.
Thusly, I hope that all people in a position to make decisions influencing the lives and destinies of others try to find the fundamental and elemental truth by searching the best parts of their nature rather than apply some mythological dogma that was probably developed over a period of time for some one’s or some institution’s self justification or benefit.
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Rood, AZ
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... organized religions should have no place in making ...
January 27,2004
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Individual beliefs are one thing, but organized religions should have no place in making governmental decisions, as they only create division and cause dissention.
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Dave, TN
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... Man is immoral apart from God.
...
January 27,2004
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Government leaders should aspire to make decisions based on Biblical or "God" based moral standards. Man is immoral apart from God.
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Jim, IL
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... it is very difficult for anyone to divorce his act ...
January 27,2004
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Obviously politicians should not shove their particular religious beliefs
down the throats of others. However, it is very difficult for anyone to divorce his actions from his core beliefs entirely. It is very popular for politicians to make "God" belief statements in public simply as a tactic of pandering to the 70% of Americans who are, on a regular basis religious. In the same manner politicians will not tell you that they intend to raise taxes, even if it is an imperative necessity to keep the country economically afloat. "W" Bush, however has thrown down the gauntlet as the representative of far right Christianity, and I think that,
along with other gauntlets, (pro big business, anti- gays, anti-clean environment) will be his undoing. You can only piss-
off so many large groups of U.S. voters and still get re-elected.
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Neal, UT
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... When do they start telling I have to beleive with ...
January 27,2004
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When do they start telling I have to beleive with them.
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Diane, NJ
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... One will live out what they truly believe.
...
January 27,2004
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Honestly, I don't think one can separate the man/woman politician from his true "religious" beliefs. What one truly believes is expressed in action and not with words. Anyone can say they belong to a particular faith or church, but if their actions don't uphold the teachings of that faith, they do not own it. One will live out what they truly believe. (Therefore one can't say,"I am not for abortion myself yet for another I will vote for it (as law) since I can't impose my beliefs.")-This is hypocritical thus this politician shows what he/she
truly believes.
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Ron, NC
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... You cannot get away from your moral/religious fram ...
January 27,2004
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It is impossible for anyone to "not allow their religious beliefs to influence policy statements or decisions."
What a person believes on moral or religious grounds - theist and atheist alike - will drive their decisions.
You cannot get away from your moral/religious framework or worldview.
To suggest otherwise is simply foolishness.
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Ron, PA
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... How can you turn off your beliefs and pretend they ...
January 27,2004
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Your religious beliefs or the lack of them determine how you act and think all day every day so to me the question seems ridiculous. How can you turn off your beliefs and pretend they don't matter when it comes to a particular policy?
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Theresa, SC
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... If policy is based on a religious doctrine, the co ...
January 27,2004
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A political leader should be basing decisions on moral or virtuous grounds rather than religious ones. There simply are things that are of nature that cut across human kind. We all are parents, sons, daughters, human beings!!!! I doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what that means!!! If policy is based on a religious doctrine, the common human thread is severed. Stop thinking in purely Western religions, and think about how you would like being ruled by a religious leader not of your own liking. What then?
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Janet, TX
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... There can be no separation of God and Man.
...
January 27,2004
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You can take God Almighty out of the Country, but you cannot take God Almighty out of man! There can be no separation of God and Man. At death, I guarantee you Jesus Christ will not judge you on the premise of separation of church and state. To the contrary, you will be held accountable for works, your WILL. Those works I do in life, does not mean my career. Those works, my WILL, are how I loved God Almighty so much HE is always first in my mind, body, and soul in every work I perform HE shapes my WILL throughout life. And I do love my neighbor as I love myself. After all, this lifetime is just a journey to get to eternity. That eternity is either Heaven or Hell. So I strongly disagree with your statement.
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Marcy, IL
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... We want the political leaders to exercise positive ...
January 27,2004
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I do not believe that any political leader or government official can properly make policy decisions based on any conscious use of specific religious teachings or principles. We want the political leaders to exercise positive moral and ethical choices, but those are only considered such by people who approve of the choices. The political leader should not USE the name of the religion as a reason or right to have made decisions that affect government.
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Daniel, PA
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... All ideas are based on a belief system. ...
January 27,2004
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Everyone has religious beliefs whether they realize it or not. If I do not agree with a specific religion, that in and of itself is a religious belief that I have. All ideas are based on a belief system. All political decisions are based on someones beliefs and values. At the heart of political decisions issues is what someone believes, and these ideals, whether good or bad will guide their political decisions. If a "non-religious" person can voice their political views, a religious person also has that right. We are guarenteed our freedom of speech.
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Bill, TX
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... They are elected to protect the Constitution and o ...
January 27,2004
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They are elected to protect the Constitution and our Liberties, not to preach.
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<
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