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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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... Human beings are in some way influenced by every p ... 
January 27,2004
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How could it be possible to not be influenced by one's beliefs, whether those beliefs be religious or not. Human beings are in some way influenced by every personal experience. It is inevitable that one would be at least minimally influenced by one's religious beliefs.
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Thomas, TX
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... all laws have elements of religion
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January 27,2004
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Overthrowing religious beliefs influencing laws....in effect throws out all laws.....all laws have elements of religion. Human Rights is in effect based on religious beliefs....with no religion we revert back to a few powerful people ruling over others and slavery would come back as well because no moral or ethical law could be supported to stop it as they might be seen as religiously influenced as God created man equal, therefore if we support equality this could be seen as religious. This view is Anti-American anti Democratic and therefore rogue as we are overthrowing Democracy with this view and courts have no right to overthrow the basis of a founded government. That is up to the people to vote on in a ballot.
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Jake, TX
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... not the Democracy of The Constitution.
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January 27,2004
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Absoulutely!!! The Theocracy of today is not the Democracy of The Constitution.
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Diane, OK
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... not allow their religious
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January 27,2004
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The perfect reason and example of why political leaders should not allow their religious beliefs to influence policy statements or decisions is the Israel/Palestine situation.
People who claim to know how to get to God better than thou all talk of heaven while the only talent they exhibit is how to raise hell.
Hell is all they REALLY know much of anything about, not any heaven or God. Case closed.
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Cheryl, IA
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... country was founded on faith
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January 27,2004
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Our country was founded on faith in God. If our political leaders do not follow God, then I guess we all know who they follow. I do not want a government official that works for Satan or who doesn't have enough stamina to stand up for what is biblically correct. Every time we allow unholy things to happen, we all pay the price.
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John, LA
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... a moral fiber
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January 27,2004
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Most religious beliefs form a moral fiber to which most aspire. Most religions are in accord as to what is morally right and wrong. Politicians should base their policy or decisions only on those items pertaining to civil matters, based on their moral fiber. Let the church alone. Also, CHURCH, let the government alone.
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Suzanne, LA
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... political leader is very much influenced
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January 27,2004
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I feel it is absurd to think that one would not allow his reliegious beliefs to influence policy decisions. My religious beliefs influence every action whether it be considered "right" or "wrong". I feel that today society has determined that nothing is wrong anymore. I hope my political leader is very much influenced by the Bible, the Ten Commandments, and Jesus Christ.
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Jim, PA
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... If a Leader does not tell
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January 27,2004
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Why? Would that not mean that you would not know what a person believed? If a Leader does not tell you what he believes, how do you know if he stands for what you believe?
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Robert, PA
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... requirements of freedom are clear
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January 27,2004
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The Moral requirements of freedom are clear. According to the Declaration of Independance, our freedom comes from a transcendant authority-from the Creator. That means that the kind of freedom our Founding Fathers envisioned cannot be exercised without discipline. If it comes from a certain authority,it has to be exercised with some repect for that authority. Especially from anyone wanting to be the President.
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Mike, IL
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... depriving the other
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January 27,2004
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Please notice, while showing the samples of how religion seems to have infused everyday life, most of those examples were sports figures thanking god for helping them in their pursuit or suplicating for that intercession. Just as combatants preparing to go to war will supplicate their god to smite their enemy. If a god gives aid to one side, he is also depriving the other of fair contest.
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Bob, FL
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... We now have information
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January 27,2004
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That any leader applies their religion to his actions, is their right.
To impose those religious beliefs on those who do not share those beliefs is the worst sort of tyranny!
the scientific method of proving out what is indisputably real is the only way to settle a difference of opinion and belief, where such things are possible.
We now have information unavailable to our founding fathers, so we can now settle questions they could only wrestle with. As well as raise questions that went against common belief in their time. The answer is not to work at becoming ignorant again, much less force that on everyone else.
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David, DE
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... founded on the principles of Christianity
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January 27,2004
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I saw the sculpture which is above the Supreme Court building, where a picture of Moses with the Ten Commandments is depicted! I understand separating Church From State, but NOT God from State! This country was founded on the principles of Christianity, was it not? Our elected leaders need to address and change the powers of those who are oppointed to the "High Court". Especially if the Supreme Court continues to take a posture against the will of the majority of citizens of our country. We need to stop allowing special interest groups to speak for the majority, who feel otherwise. Thank you for allowing me to comment!
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Bob, TX
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... accountability to God
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January 27,2004
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Any person's actions and decisions are based on a core set of beliefs. To disavow the nation's accooun tability to God, and especially the leader's accountability to God, is to claim that God has no role in this nation. This is the same as telling God to stay out of government. He is not welcome there. People can get along very well without Him or His standards. All history fairly shouts the message that such an attitude is a sure prescription for disaster. The PBS program did a very poor job of telling the true history of the subject of God and government in this nation. You glibly ignored the vast amouont of solid history in which there are many official as well as personal statements that we are a nation that must and does depend on God -- the God of the Bible. Yes, we were founded, and for the first 175 years conducted our affairs, as a Christian nation. Our record was hardly perfect in this regard, but those principles lay at the foundation of our national policies. Next time uyou address the subject, youi should interview legitimate authorities on our national history, such as David Barton (of Aledo, Texas).
Your program did not even attempt to define the plain English definitions of words in the First Amendment. It does not call for freedom from religion. Rather it only addresses the subject of the "establishment" of religion and recognizes that the individual states were free to have such establishments without federal interferance. Our courts of the last 50 years have turned the real meaning fo the amendment on its head, and do so with contempt for the intent of the founders.
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Steve, MT
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... Religion is a personal issue
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January 27,2004
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The question misses the mark. Religion is a personal issue. A person's actions should reflect inner beleifs without anyone else needing to know which religion informed them. Keep that to yourself. Just walk the talk. Otherwise, would citizens be allowed to vote on which "god"—and there seem to be many— would be used by the political leaders?
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Jennifer, OH
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... it scares me
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January 27,2004
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Religion is dangerous period. If our political leaders do not sepperate their religious views from their political desisions, what makes them any better then the extremist of the middle east or the christiana crusaders of long ago?
Honestly it scares me. This country is supposed to be a land of equality, yet some religions don't support equality of races, s*x's and orientations. How can this country truely be of equality if policy makers let religious beliefs influnce them?
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Henry, NY
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... caring comes naturally
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January 27,2004
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I am a 75 year old agnostic because my parents taught me to love everyone equally. Mom said, "You know what pain is. Don't hurt anyone. Make no one feel bad." That is all I needed to guide me in life.
I'm an agnostic and my religion is LOVE OF MAN. The children of the world would play together with love and friendship forever except that sometime in their childhood, a parent teaches them a "religion" and that another child may not be "Our kind" (meaning the parent"s religion) and so begins the distorted separation based on the parent's concept of "GOD." This is why men wearing yarmulkes can shoot men wearing turbans and vice-versa. Athiests and agnostics don't kill anyone. We make none of the grown up, "religious" distinctions about people. Who needs religion to know about love? Love and caring comes naturally from tolerate and loving parents.
President Bush believes you must be "Born again" to be admitted into Heaven. This means that Mother Theresa doesn't get in because of all her good deeds alone. Unbelievable!
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David, TX
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... major differences between what is right and wrong ...
January 27,2004
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It depends on your religion, if you worship a god that promotes weed, then no. But, one that promotes purity and the right to express ones beliefs is to exercise our rights that was bought by American blood. The amendments are a bill of rights that is our freedoms. To express our beliefs in law is right. Notice that many radicals have promoted: murder, sex, rape, homosexuality, etc. Religion promotes: purity, restoration, organization, peace, etc. There major differences between what is right and wrong. And everyone has a good idea what they are, whether they admit it or not.
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T., NE
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... that they do not press
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January 27,2004
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This phrase is poorly worded: it is probably not possible for a believer in God or a particular religion to NOT let such beliefs color their moral and political decisions. Yet, what is more important is that when conducting the matters of state, that they do not press such a belief in God or a religion onto others who may have a different basis for their own moral decisions.
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Andrew, MI
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... allows us to be good
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January 27,2004
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When you look at what GOd stands for such things like; justice, care for the forgotten, respect, and love, who would want to have anyone who does not exhibit these attributes. We in this country would like to attempt to be good without Him that allows us to be good, and it is impossible. Outside of God man has never gotten better but gradually worse with time.
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Paul, MI
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... personal and private
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January 27,2004
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Religious beliefs are personal and private and should not be a part of public disscorse or policy
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