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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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Gene, TX
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... this country was based on religious faith
... 
January 27,2004
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I believe that a leader of our nation should have strong moral and religious beliefs. this has been the way from the founding fathers, who used the white house itself as a church, even the civel rights leaders martin luther king jr himself used his religious to shape the nation and the civil rights movemnt itself, but the most important thing that everbody misses is that this country was based on religious faith. and many a leader since has done since then, so what is the problem that bush is doing the same thing is it just that he is a conservitve, oops i said a bad word. go figure.
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Randall, LA
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... God bless America
...
January 27,2004
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God bless America
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Doc, NY
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... no extreme anything
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January 27,2004
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if believing in whatever helps a person be a better person and therefore become a better politician then i am all for it...what ever crutch or incentive you use that works...go for it....
BUT..no extreme anything..
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David, TX
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... One's faith is their character
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January 27,2004
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The statement is an oxymoron, if you can separate a person from their religion then they have no religion. One's faith is their character and conversely their lack of faith is their lack of character. See Enron.
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Nathan, NJ
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... God is Santa Claus for adults
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January 27,2004
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God is Santa Claus for adults. Only good things can come from more separation between church and state.
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Karen, NJ
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... acting as priests
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January 27,2004
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It is my understanding the separation of church and state is one of the fundemental characteristic safeguards of our democracy. When Jefferson was introducing his ideas about separation of church and state to the Virginia legislature heresy was a capital offense. During the times of the founding fathers, within European states, it was required that a person holding public office belong to a particular church. Thus English protestants had access to office while others were barred from positions of power. If our political leaders were to use offices of power to publicly profess their religious beleifs they undermine the meaning of separation of church and state. They are acting as priests and politicians, priests as in "all Christians are priests" and using their public office to evangelise rather then serve the public. The danger lies in creating a trend of political position tied to evengelism. This would lead to a religious state, preferred religious schools designed to produce our political leaders (although one could argue they actually exist, their preference has not been universally secured) Why not just cut to the chase and adopt a conservative Christian version of Northern Pakistani religious schools? Well, that is the point I wish to make. The reason we have seperation of church and state along with governmental acknowledgement of God suggests great faith in goodness of opportunity for many rather than a continuation of a status quo where government and church cooperate as instruments of social control.
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James, KY
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... I want a leader that makes decisions based on thei ...
January 27,2004
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A person's beliefs should be what guides them throughout all of thier decisions. I want a leader that makes decisions based on their beliefs instead of what some poll tells them to do in order to be pouplar.
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Debbie, KS
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... the core of one's identity
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January 27,2004
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Religious beliefs are at the core of one's identity. I do not think a person of high integrity could make these decisions without the influence of religious beliefs.
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John, VA
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... Why should the government care
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January 27,2004
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To the extent that marriage is sacred, then shouldn't that be between the concerned people and their god? Why should the government care who marries? If this is social engineering, and the point is procreation, I suggest that we don't need to increase the numbers of our children. As for caring for children who already exist, my personal experience is that gay couples are doing more for that cause than traditional couples.
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Aaron, NE
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... not be quite so open
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January 27,2004
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Certainly this holds true for international issues, but as for everything else it's nearly impossible to make decisions based on, say, someone else's beliefs. Still, I think they should not be quite so open as George W. Bush is, if simply not to appear arrogent.
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Tiffany, LA
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... NEVER be compromised
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January 27,2004
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Your faith should be the most important thing in your life. That is one thing that should NEVER be compromised for anyone for any reason. It is time to bring God back in every aspect of life (even politics). When God is out of the equation and His laws are twisted there is nothing not chaos.
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Wolfgang, NC
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... the "Dark Ages" ...
January 27,2004
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The belief in what can not be understood is the root of religion and superstition and has no merit in regards to morality, reason, compassion or patriotism. In fact when a religion last controled the majority of secular human events that time was refered to as the "Dark Ages".
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Paul, LA
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... only if they are based
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January 27,2004
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i agree only if they are based on the words of the only true and living God.
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Ann, TX
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... what is left
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January 27,2004
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If the very foundation on what makes up a person is stripped away, then what is left?
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Lon, NY
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... primary force behind any political decision needs ...
January 27,2004
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No person makes decisions in a void- all previous experience should be brought into any decision. However, the primary force behind any political decision needs to based upon the Constitution and the founding "fathers" desire for separation of church and state!!!!
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Alan, KY
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... belief makes the influence better
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January 27,2004
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Of course, beliefs of all sorts will influence public policy, but it does not follow that a belief makes the influence better or, indeed, is necessary at all to make the best decision. For one without a god belief, I'd welcome the erasure of religion as a prerequisite for a moral decision.
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John, NY
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... MUST respect the beliefs of others
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January 27,2004
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Political leaders MUST respect the widely varying beliefs of others, including agnostics and atheists.
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Barbara, MI
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... fairy-tale nonsense
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January 27,2004
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I am so annoyed by the superstitious 'cultists' (referring to and including every -supernatural- worshipper of every existing religious persuasion)tireless efforts to impose their innate character flaw onto other, stronger people. Some of us do not need nor desire to ritualize and revere a lot of fairy-tale nonsense.
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Nancy, NY
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... should let their moral beliefs
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January 27,2004
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Political leaders should let their moral beliefs, be they founded in religion per se or personal, guide their policy decisions. Whether it is a belief in a god or in the better nature of humankind, political decisions should be for the betterment of society at large.
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Julian, DC
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... please leave your religious
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January 27,2004
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Leaders, please leave your religious beliefs in the church.
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