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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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Sally, AK
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...
influencing their decision-making process, but o ... 
January 29,2004
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There is no way anyone can prevent their core belief system from influencing their decision-making process, but overt expressions of religion, or bias toward one particular belief system (or bias against atheism) has no place in public life.
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Deanne, CA
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... Leaders should be influenced by intelligent reason ...
January 29,2004
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Leaders should be influenced by intelligent reasoning, compassion, virtue, and enlightened thought, not by blind obedience to dogma.
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Virginia, MN
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... leaders should practice politics in accordance wit ...
January 29,2004
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Political leaders should practice politics in accordance with the wishes of the people who voted them into office. If a political leader is appointed (vs voted in), then they ought to practice their poitics according to what is right, true, fair, and just. Of course, personal beliefs ALWAYS play a role in decision-making; but the major factor(s) influencing the decisions of our political leaders ought to be those described above.
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Sandy Mapl, MN
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should NOT do is implement policy that FORCES th ...
January 28,2004
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This question is moot. Our leaders WILL allow their religious beliefs or lack thereof to influence their decisions. We are our background, our upbringing, our culture; we are not purely logical machines. What our leaders should NOT do is implement policy that FORCES their religious beliefs on the citizenry.
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Jeff Burri, WA
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... Let the issue be one of semantics
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January 28,2004
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On the issue of gay marriage:
If the institution of marriage is a religious union between a man and a woman, what happens if an atheist, heterosexual couple would like to marry? Will they be subjected to the same descrimination as gays?
If the religionists want to keep their "marriage", let them. Just give "civil unions" exactly the same rights and priveledges as a "marriage". Let the issue be one of semantics so philosophy students can argue about it instead of policy makers.
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Dwaine, OH
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... How can I make a judgement?
...
January 28,2004
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Quite the contrary, leaders most of all should convey the true feelings about religious
feelings. It is important to me to know if a person has a strong conviction of his religion, even if I may not agree with his interpretations. If an individual has moral convictions they should let them be known. How else can I make a judgement (not for his salvation)as to his qualification to hold the office of leadership?
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Gene Stran, MN
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... vital to past and future
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January 28,2004
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The holder of our highest office publically acknowledges the creator as does our congress in opening with prayer. This acknowledgement of God and his presence is vital to incorporating the basis for our country's existence in the past and in the future.
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Lydia Howe, MN
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... My problem w/religion-as-politics
...
January 28,2004
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It's impossible to assert leaders' religious belief not influence their decisions. Now, it's the Falwells who are seen as "guided by God";but, wasn't Martin Luther King Jr. ALSO acting on his belief? My problem with current religion-as-politics is that it seems in the service of DENYING peoples' human rights--rather than protecting and expanding human rights. As a democracy, we should be concerned by this trend.
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Jim Kirby, MN
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... personal should stay personal
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January 28,2004
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In any workplace personal lives should stay personal.
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Melanie, IA
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... Who did we turn to on 9-11?
...
January 28,2004
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What is the purpose of having any belief if it doesn't build you in character to the person God intended you to be? If your faith does not influence your decisions personally and those decisions which impact the good of your country as a whole, where is the solid foundation of your beliefs? Personally, I will vote for a man of integrity, who has a relationship with Christ. For it is a living God who has blessed this country and it's forfathers.
Who did we turn to on 9-11?
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Chris, MN
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... OPENLY gay
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January 28,2004
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"Gene Robinson, the first
OPENLY gay bishop in the Episcopalian church"
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Billy Quin, ID
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... threaten the good ...
January 28,2004
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Republicans paint the picture in black and white terms rather than independant choices based in personal beliefs and morals. e.g. "OK - the Bible says that man (has a soul therefore)starts his life at conception therefore, abortion is taking a life (which is a sin). The policy would be therefore, no abortion (anywhere, any time.)
Democrats state (responding to the Buchanan/Pedesto portion split into D and R) that may very well be true as far as many people believe or think morally - and - that's all right, except that it has no business authoring public policy or legislation. Act according to one's conscience in areas of morality. Where those actions threaten the good of the community or the civilization as a whole, the civil law will apply. Unless civil law applies choice is appropriately reserved (ironically in a very conservative syle) to the individual freely. Same goes for sexual orientation and behavior.
Bauer and Buchanan are free to preach sin wherever they may see it, but they have no right to expect me to feel compelled to agree with their preaching nor do they have the right or constitutional approval to try to legislate morality that sources from their specific brand of christianity.
Thanks for the show, I'll be showing it in my American History class.
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Allen, ND
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... respectful word ...
January 28,2004
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I think any relationship that has faith, committment, honesty, and trust is good. Same sex relationships cannot, by definition be called marriages. Those that want the relationships called that should spend their time & effort finding a respectful word for it and promoting it's use.
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Michael, MA
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... too many moral positions
...
January 28,2004
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Political leaders are beholden to a civilian authority. There are simply too many moral positions within that authority for a political leader to invoke a Jesus or Mohammed.
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Pete, PA
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... wouldn't it be absurd
...
January 28,2004
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If by "religious beliefs" you mean belief in a God who is eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-compassionate, who controls the outcome of people, nations, and events, wouldn't it be absurd for the President (or anyone else) to make any significant decision without considering God?
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Doug, TX
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... be VERY careful
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January 28,2004
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Policy statements should be retained in a secular form, unless the politicians making them wish to have their policies revoked after a short period of time. I don't believe it is possible to withhold a person's belief systems from decisions, however: be VERY careful about who you elect.
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No Name, CT
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... must rule their decisions
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January 28,2004
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Absolutely. Their consciences must rule their decisions not what their constituents want. They need to listen to all of their constitutents and then do what they believe is right according to their consciences which are affected by their religious beliefs or lack of religious beliefs. We need more politicians with faith, who trust God and yet who Fear Him, who have respect for all of His creation, as well as respect for logic and science which is what atheism "worships".
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Bill, CA
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... nothing wrong with that
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January 28,2004
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If our president chooses to make his decisions based on sound bible principles; there is nothing wrong with that. However, if decisions are based on what religious leaders say, then that could cause serious problems because some are worse than you or I. Anyone that has actually studied the bible knows that the word of God is wiser than that of any man.
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Max, CA
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... a lack of belief
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January 28,2004
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I want my political leaders to understand, protect, and enforce the freedoms and rights guaranteed by this country's constitution, not to inflict someone's interpretation of a particular religion on me. The basis of this country's greatness is it's freedom of speech and it's freedom to believe--or not--as one sees fit. The evangelical Christian folks need to get over trying to impose their narrow brand of belief on everyone else. THIS, not a lack of belief, is what has historically resulted in most of the tyrannies of the world.
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Hans Gunth, FL
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... out of schools ...
January 28,2004
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Along the same lines: It can be said that students don't go to church to study Mathematics; so why should students pray or be made to pray in school?
It's imperative to keep the supernatural worship out of schools and out of politics.
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