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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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Don, WA
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... beliefs WILL influence
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January 28,2004
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"Should they allow" is rhetorical. Religious beliefs are part, if not the heart, of who we are, political leaders included. Ideally, we should know our leaders' true character because their beliefs WILL influence their decisions.
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Charlene D, CA
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... sad situation indeed
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January 28,2004
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If leaders need to be in fear of a supernatural deity to be moral, it's a sad situation indeed.
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Zeb, CO
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... Freedom requires virtue which requires faith
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January 28,2004
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Dr. Os Guiness said it perfectly last night. Freedom requires virtue which requires faith (something centring one's morals) which requires freedom. There are many sources of morality, however any source must be unyielding otherwise relativism will lead to the destruction of virtue.
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Gilberto, MD
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... an acknowledged atheist?
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January 28,2004
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I was born in Mexico, a very religious place. Since I came to the US, I have noticed elements of the american society that I do not undertand. One that strikes me particularly is the general perception that a person needs to have a religion (pretty much any religion) in order to be a moral person. Why is it that it is a political suicide to be an acknowledged atheist?
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Clint, MO
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... supernatural victories
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January 28,2004
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Religious beliefs should be a major part of our political leaders. God honors those that honor Him. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit leads us to victory, so I want a leader who knows to listen to God's Spirit, and obeys. The Bible also talks about not being ashamed of God, so leaders should let their beliefs be known. Looking at the Bible, I see all of the nations that had leaders that followed God, and obeyed His leading. They were the strongest nations, the richest nations, they always were victorious in every situation, providing that they obeyed what God told them. Only when they disobeyed did they experience defeat. Our country was founded on God, and being led by Him was very important to America's early leaders. And they experienced supernatural victories. The Brittish army was the strongest, most powerful army in the world, and was defeated by farmers, with far less numbers. God has helped this country excel as fast as it has, to the position now of the most powerful country in the world. It is no coincidence that this has happened because America is the most religiously free country, throughout its history keeping God in high priority. Yet, in more modern times, as God has been slowly removed from various areas, those areas have started deteriorating. God was removed from the schools, and kids started stealing, raping, and killing each other. As God ahs been taken out of Government politics, the country has gone more and more in debt every year. Every area that God has been removed from has lost its favor, and began a downward spiral. The only remedy is to put God back where He is supposed to be. I feel the country needs more leaders like President Bush, who is not ashamed to let his belief in God be revealed. If every leader was led by God in every situation, every single thing that this country did would work perfectly. God is Good.
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Max, MD
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... recent initiatives
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January 28,2004
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I have been angered by recent initiatives by the Bush administration in which religious beliefs are used to trump science and constitutional rights.
Example #1 -- Bush severely restricted stem cell research based on religious grounds. This science has the potential to conquer many diseases like Alzheimer's. Even a good conservative like Nancy Reagan thinks he went too far on this one.
Example #2- Voters in Oregon passed a right to die with medical assistance. Attorney General Ashcroft has diverted resources from the fight on terroism to prosecute Oregon physicians who assist their patients with suicide. This seems to be a patent trumping of state's rights, an issue which used to be important to conservatives.
Example #3- Bush has terminated the Hubble space telescope program in order to provide funds for the Lunar/Mars program. The Hubble has been the most successful space initiative to date and has provided a wealth of new data on the origin of the universe. Evangelical Christianity which is espoused by President Bush is highly threatend by the data provided by Hubble.
Policy based on religious beliefs seems to run at odds with medicine, science and the constitution. I have concluded that it is dangerous and unhealthy (literally!) for a free people.
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John, IN
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... deeds and actions
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January 28,2004
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It is apparent that someone wasn't thinking in the future when they said this.
If one is predisposed to thinking in that manner, you simply cannot remove their choice to do so; regardless of their position in any government or company.
How do you propose to remedy this, elect only those that have to religious affiliation?
All people have the right to be themselves and this right cannot be taken away. It is their right to include whatever beliefs they hold true in all their thoughts deeds and actions. That seems to me to be basic freedom, and I am pretty sure that our country was built upon the idea of freedom, right?
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William, GA
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... should our leaders
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January 28,2004
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The constitution acknowledges God, so should our leaders.
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Tom, IA
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... politically correct
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January 28,2004
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All decisions should be made according to God's Word. The sad part is that many government officials profess to being Christians, yet their stand on issues and their actions do not reflect that. They are wolves in sheeps clothing. You may tell them by their fruit. When they stand before God some day and have to answer for compromising God's truth Do you believe God will tell them it was okay to go against the Word of God so they could be politically correct or ecumenically correct? They will reap what they sow. What a sad day for them. Don't they know that you are either for God or against Him? There is no sitting on the fence or He will spew you out of His mouth.
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Doug, OH
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... destroying our country
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January 28,2004
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If we separate God from our leaders decisions, it leaves self. Selfish decisions are destroying our country. I want leaders who will look to God and make the tough decision, instead of the easy and selfish way.
It is absurd to think you could seperate a mans religious beliefs from his decisions. If it is a godless decision wanted, then the only option is a godless leader.
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,
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... confusing people
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January 28,2004
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Have you noticed that the response text doesn't make sense? The NOT in the question is confusing people, so they are responding backwards from what their text is saying!
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Roy,
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... no place in our government.
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January 28,2004
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This question is phrased backwards! Religion has no place in our government.
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Julie, MN
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... influence public policy.
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January 28,2004
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The athiest in government should not be the only ones to influence public policy.
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Fred, NH
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... wave it in everyone's face.
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January 28,2004
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Religion is a private and personal matter. One should not wave it in everyone's face.
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Craig, NC
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... appropriate to believe
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January 28,2004
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If I do not live by what I believe, I am not faithful to my belief, no matter what it is. If I am true to what I believe, would it not be appropriate to believe that it will affect others. For if what I believe does not effect others, then what I believe has no value. If I claim to be a doctor yet have no knowledge or belief in medicine, would you trust me to operate on you? If my President claims to be a Christian yet I see no evidence of this in his life, then I believe him to be a hypocrite and I do not want such a man running the affairs of my country.
If a man can be faithful to what he does not see, touch and hear, would it not be feasible to believe this same man would also be faithful to his country and to his country's people whom he can see, touch and hear.
To strip any man, women, or child, including the President of his or hers right to share his belief is to strip them of their God given right and the freedom from which our country was founded.
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Thelma, FL
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... we strongly object ...
January 28,2004
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The question is worded in the negative. It should read, do we want to acknowledge God and adhere to the constitution that says we should not restrict the free exercise of it. We do not want God taken out of the public square. The law was founded on Judeo-Christian principles which are the basis of our law and freedoms. Our freedoms are being taken away and we strongly object when cast in the negative.
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Emebet, LA
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... GOD who made me
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January 28,2004
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why not it is GOD who made me
HIS word my comand. For me and my house we will serve The Lord.
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Eduardo, NY
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... will always exclude
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January 28,2004
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Religious leaders are charged with making decisions based on their beliefs. As a voter, I would NEVER vote for any politician whose policies & decisions are based upon someone's faith. That practice will always exclude Americans who don't "think like us."
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Mark, AZ
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... found in the Bible!
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January 28,2004
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Our country was founded on the belief in the God of the Bible. As this country drifts farther and farther from these truths that made our country great we will as a nation fall under the judgements that are a result of rejecting these truths! There can only be one truth! That truth is found in the Bible!
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Jeff, TX
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... above the Constitution
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January 28,2004
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Once elected, the influence of their beliefs is inevitable. We shouldn't elect people who set their beliefs above the Constitution in the first place.
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