Would you vote an Atheist into office?

[QUOTE="mindstorm"][QUOTE="worlock77"]

I'm always amazed at how many people want their religion melded with their government. Kinda flies contrary to that "render onto Caesar" bit I think.

realguitarhero5

A politician running on "Buddhist values" would be the last person I'd vote for.

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

Yes because they have to do with the government, religion does not. :|

airshocker

But being Democrat or Republican influences voters. By your logic it shouldn't be tolerated. I hope you see how ridiculous it is to think that candidates who are religious only get elected because they're religious. Or that they're somehow going to legislate their religion on the rest of America. Makes you guys sound as bad as the conspiracy theorists, honestly.

That isn't my logic at all. If I was going by that than any stance the candidates have on any political issue would be be tolerated since they are influencing voters. I'm saying that one's religion should not even be taken into consideration since hteir political stances are all that matters. Instead they spend time going around trying to give off the image that they're a "good Christian". And I never said that candidates only get elected by being religious. Some things they do take it over the top though, like this (GS won't let me link it(

http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/perry-prayer-rally-draws-30-000-1704786.html

The event was called "The Response: A Call of Prayer for a Nation in Crisis" and they played Christian music for hours. Is that really showing his stances or is that just a punlicity stunt to try to improve his image?

That isn't my logic at all. If I was going by that than any stance the candidates have on any political issue would be be tolerated since they are influencing voters. I'm saying that one's religion should not even be taken into consideration since hteir political stances are all that matters. Instead they spend time going around trying to give off the image that they're a "good Christian". And I never said that candidates only get elected by being religious. Some things they do take it over the top though, like this (GS won't let me link it(

http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/perry-prayer-rally-draws-30-000-1704786.html

The event was called "The Response: A Call of Prayer for a Nation in Crisis" and they played Christian music for hours. Is that really showing his stances or is that just a punlicity stunt to try to improve his image?

BPoole96

Then, again, why does it matter if someone is religious and holds office? They aren't violating the separation of church and state just by being religious. I guess you should have a problem with Obama as well, since he's been ending all his speeches with God bless America. Hell, he even went so far as to say during this jobs speech that we ARE one nation under god.

[QUOTE="airshocker"]

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

Yes because they have to do with the government, religion does not. :|

BPoole96

But being Democrat or Republican influences voters. By your logic it shouldn't be tolerated. I hope you see how ridiculous it is to think that candidates who are religious only get elected because they're religious. Or that they're somehow going to legislate their religion on the rest of America. Makes you guys sound as bad as the conspiracy theorists, honestly.

That isn't my logic at all. If I was going by that than any stance the candidates have on any political issue would be be tolerated since they are influencing voters. I'm saying that one's religion should not even be taken into consideration since hteir political stances are all that matters. Instead they spend time going around trying to give off the image that they're a "good Christian". And I never said that candidates only get elected by being religious. Some things they do take it over the top though, like this (GS won't let me link it(

http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/perry-prayer-rally-draws-30-000-1704786.html

The event was called "The Response: A Call of Prayer for a Nation in Crisis" and they played Christian music for hours. Is that really showing his stances or is that just a punlicity stunt to try to improve his image?

I think that these politicians who advertise their religion just do it to get more support, and the fact that it works just goes to show you how much of an effective tool it can be. I personally don't really care about a politicians's religion, as long as they aren't some nut job who allows his personal religious views to influence his critical choices.

A politician running on "Buddhist values" would be the last person I'd vote for.

worlock77

As an example, I do not care about the homosexual marriage debate as I do not believe the government should have any say so on marriage whatsoever. I do not believe the government should have any say so on marriage at all as they are not the ones who truly makes the marriage official. Personally speaking, if I were/am capable I'd rather not even have a marriage license but have a simple wedding under the authority of God. In fact, I do not even want a pastor to officiate the wedding but prefer to simply exchange vowels, have a wedding banquet, and then continue married to one another.

...but this is my continuing to rant and go off topic....

According to this study [ http://www.secular.org/blogs/mike-meno/six-10-americans-less-likely-vote-atheist ]6 out of 10 Americans would be less likely to vote an Atheist into office

BPoole96

:|

What the hell do one's personal beliefs have to do with the ability to run a country?

I really hate people sometimes... :x

Questions like this only seem to be relevant in the US. The rest of the western world has moved on from this being in any way, shape, or form, a deciding factor on who people would vote for.

[QUOTE="BPoole96"]

That isn't my logic at all. If I was going by that than any stance the candidates have on any political issue would be be tolerated since they are influencing voters. I'm saying that one's religion should not even be taken into consideration since hteir political stances are all that matters. Instead they spend time going around trying to give off the image that they're a "good Christian". And I never said that candidates only get elected by being religious. Some things they do take it over the top though, like this (GS won't let me link it(

http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/perry-prayer-rally-draws-30-000-1704786.html

The event was called "The Response: A Call of Prayer for a Nation in Crisis" and they played Christian music for hours. Is that really showing his stances or is that just a punlicity stunt to try to improve his image?

airshocker

Then, again, why does it matter if someone is religious and holds office? They aren't violating the separation of church and state just by being religious. I guess you should have a problem with Obama as well, since he's been ending all his speeches with God bless America. Hell, he even went so far as to say during this jobs speech that we ARE one nation under god.

So you don't think having a Christian rally for 30,000 people as a part of a campaign is a little overboard?

This isn't so much about being religious and being in office. The point of this thread wasn't to say that all President should be Atheist. It's just whether or not someone would vote an Atheist in or not. And I dont have a problem with them saying "God Bless America", its even on our currency and apart of the national anthem.

The problem I have is how the candidates parade themselves around like saints and hold these religious events just to gain popularity instead of actually getting their stances across. Come election time most people won't even know who stands for what, its "Oh yeah thats the guy that held that Christian rally. That was cool and I'm Christian too so I'll vote him.

It's hardly a step up from a high school class council election since it basically just comes down to a popularity contest, not what the person actually stands for