Religion vs. Politics

[Sonny Clark]

[ This is an edited version of a piece that I wrote on 5/12/2005. In my opinion, it's certainly applicable today. ]


Religion vs. Politics



Since the beginning of recorded history, civilized society has weighed two elements when considering the laws that govern mankind. At times, the two have been very close on morals and ethics, but as a rule, the two have clashed so strongly, that wars have been fought, and kings and governments have been over-thrown. The two elements, religion and politics, have never mixed well together. This has been evident in recent years, not only around the world, but here at home.


Some of the issues that have been at the forefront of national attention are The Ten Commandments, Gay Rights, Abortion, Evolution vs. Creation, and Prayer In Schools. When politicians try to force a change in our behavior, which conflicts with our religious beliefs, then the “Separation of Church and State” becomes null and void. The government can’t have it both ways. Either we have religious freedom, or we don’t, there’s no middle of the road or gray area with respect to our faith. Politicians, or any governing body, should never dictate our religious beliefs, which solidify our faith.


This country was founded on religious freedom, insuring the rights of individuals respective of faith and worship practices. A few objecting to an issue shouldn’t dictate the behavior of the majority. Unless an individual is forced to observe, read, listen to, endorse, or defend a principle which conflicts with their own personal belief, the government should respect the separation of church and state. On all issues except abortion, which is usually split down the middle, a very small minority has tried to bring politics into the arena of religious differences.


“Separation of Church and State” should never be compromised by politicians wishing to gain favor with a particular group, further their political careers, or appease political party leaders. When The Supreme Court of The United States considers matters of religion, the foundation of democracy and religious freedom, the principles that built this nation, should be weighed, not the wishes of a small minority.

 

[Pogo]

Religion should have zero to do with politics, period.

Know who else needs to separate the two? Wikipedia. You look up a politician on Wiki and there's always -- always-- a line in there along with their birth date and years in office, listing their religion. What for, no one knows. Presumably so some bigot can jump on them wailing about Mormons, Catholics, Pagans, Jews, Muslims, Zoroastrians, Atheists, whatever. One more way of hanging labels on people, the only purpose of which is to divide and despise.

 

[Avatar4321]

If your moral code to conduct life has nothing to do with your politics you have a seriously corrupt government

 

[TheOldSchool]

If your moral code to conduct life has nothing to do with your politics you have a seriously corrupt government

Religion is not a necessary piece of a moral code.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

If your moral code to conduct life has nothing to do with your politics you have a seriously corrupt government

Nonsense.

In fact, poor governance is often the consequence of seeking to conjoin church and state, with such examples as measures designed to deny gay Americans their right to equal protection of the law and laws intended to violate the privacy rights of women.

And as already correctly noted, those free from faith are perfectly capable of abiding by a moral code absent the bane of religion.

 

[Avatar4321]

If your moral code to conduct life has nothing to do with your politics you have a seriously corrupt government

Religion is not a necessary piece of a moral code.

Sure it is. Though some like to pretend otherwise

 

[Agit8r]

When we look at countries in the world with the greatest amount of religion in government, they are always among the worst examples.

 

[UllysesS.Archer]

[


Some of the issues that have been at the forefront of national attention are The Ten Commandments, Gay Rights, Abortion, Evolution vs. Creation, and Prayer In Schools. When politicians try to force a change in our behavior, which conflicts with our religious beliefs, then the “Separation of Church and State” becomes null and void. The government can’t have it both ways. Either we have religious freedom, or we don’t, there’s no middle of the road or gray area with respect to our faith. Politicians, or any governing body, should never dictate our religious beliefs, which solidify our faith.


.

Im just gonna focus on this paragraph.

The Ten Commandments are great rules to live by, in a civilized society. Even if you rule out the first 4, numbers 5 through 10 should be followed by everyone.

Gay rights should not be a religious issue, and if the homosexual agenda, would just remove the word marriage from what is truly a civil union, then they would find they have much less opposition in the battle, but, they don't see it that way, (think about spoiled children)

Abortion = murder

evolution/creation just an argument in beliefs.

Prayer in schools. Well, in public schools, that is paid for by everyone's tax dollars, then there should be no prayer in public schools, and if Christians don't like that, then send your kids to private schools, they aint as pricey as you might think. That being said, if a child in a public school wants to pray, that child has every right to bow down anytime they please(without causing a disruption in class, etc.)

 

[UllysesS.Archer]

If your moral code to conduct life has nothing to do with your politics you have a seriously corrupt government

Religion is not a necessary piece of a moral code.

True, as is the fact, that no ones moral code is totally equal to another's moral code.

 

[UllysesS.Archer]

If your moral code to conduct life has nothing to do with your politics you have a seriously corrupt government

Nonsense.

In fact, poor governance is often the consequence of seeking to conjoin church and state, with such examples as measures designed to deny gay Americans their right to equal protection of the law and laws intended to violate the privacy rights of women.

And as already correctly noted, those free from faith are perfectly capable of abiding by a moral code absent the bane of religion.

Name just 1 politician you consider to be of high moral character, and I guarantee someone will disagree.

 

[tipofthespear]

While I agree that "religion" does not mix well with Governing, Christian morals and values certainly do.

 

[jwoodie]

When we look at countries in the world with the greatest amount of religion in government, they are always among the worst examples.

How about Nazi Germany, USSR, China, Cambodia...

 

[Agit8r]

When we look at countries in the world with the greatest amount of religion in government, they are always among the worst examples.

How about Nazi Germany, USSR, China, Cambodia...

Even if you were only to include those four, it is still AMONG them:

"The National Government will regard it as its first and foremost duty to revive in the nation the spirit of unity and co-operation. It will preserve and defend those basic principles on which our nation has been built. It regards Christianity as the foundation of our national morality, and the family as the basis of national life"
-- Adolf Hitler; from national proclamation (Feb. 1, 1933)

 

[jwoodie]

"The National Government will regard it as its first and foremost duty to revive in the nation the spirit of unity and co-operation. It will preserve and defend those basic principles on which our nation has been built. It regards Christianity as the foundation of our national morality, and the family as the basis of national life"
-- Adolf Hitler; from national proclamation (Feb. 1, 1933)

That speech was for public consumption only. Organized religion played no part in Naziism other than an occasional fascination with Norse mythology and the occult. The most likely explanation for Hitler's antisemitism is that he was infected with a venereal disease (probably syphilis) by a Jewish prostitute in Vienna. This provided him with a rationalization for blaming "Jewish interests" for Germany's defeat in WW1 and ensuing economic depressions. This conveniently tapped into Germanic antisemitism dating back to the Black Plague.

 

[Pogo]

"The National Government will regard it as its first and foremost duty to revive in the nation the spirit of unity and co-operation. It will preserve and defend those basic principles on which our nation has been built. It regards Christianity as the foundation of our national morality, and the family as the basis of national life"
-- Adolf Hitler; from national proclamation (Feb. 1, 1933)

That speech was for public consumption only. Organized religion played no part in Naziism other than an occasional fascination with Norse mythology and the occult. The most likely explanation for Hitler's antisemitism is that he was infected with a venereal disease (probably syphilis) by a Jewish prostitute in Vienna. This provided him with a rationalization for blaming "Jewish interests" for Germany's defeat in WW1 and ensuing economic depressions. This conveniently tapped into Germanic antisemitism dating back to the Black Plague.

You are an insane person. This confirms it.
Anti-Semitism was rampant in a lot of the world in that time, and Germany being both no exception to that and suffering from whirlwind inflation/degrading economy, Jews made a convenient scapegoat, which Hitler exploited. It was a golden opportunity to acquire power, and if there's one thing Hitler knew, it was how to exploit opportunities to acquire power.

To suggest it came from being infected by a Jewish prostitute long before in Austria is beyond absurd. Here's an idea: run the post through your own head before sending it out to the world to see if it makes any sense.

 

[Agit8r]

"The National Government will regard it as its first and foremost duty to revive in the nation the spirit of unity and co-operation. It will preserve and defend those basic principles on which our nation has been built. It regards Christianity as the foundation of our national morality, and the family as the basis of national life"
-- Adolf Hitler; from national proclamation (Feb. 1, 1933)

That speech was for public consumption only. Organized religion played no part in Naziism other than an occasional fascination with Norse mythology and the occult. The most likely explanation for Hitler's antisemitism is that he was infected with a venereal disease (probably syphilis) by a Jewish prostitute in Vienna. This provided him with a rationalization for blaming "Jewish interests" for Germany's defeat in WW1 and ensuing economic depressions. This conveniently tapped into Germanic antisemitism dating back to the Black Plague.

You are an insane person. This confirms it.
Anti-Semitism was rampant in a lot of the world in that time, and Germany being both no exception to that and suffering from whirlwind inflation/degrading economy, Jews made a convenient scapegoat, which Hitler exploited. It was a golden opportunity to acquire power, and if there's one thing Hitler knew, it was how to exploit opportunities to acquire power.

To suggest it came from being infected by a Jewish prostitute long before in Austria is beyond absurd. Here's an idea: run the post through your own head before sending it out to the world to see if it makes any sense.

Indeed. Hitler's rhetoric on the Jewish people was not much different from the mainstream of Christianity at the time. Whether he actually believed in Supersessionism is hard to say. Regardless, the Far-Right base certainly were not averse to it, which is why he said things like:

"In boundless love as a Christian and as a man I read through the passage which tells us how the Lord at last rose in His might and seized the scourge to drive out of the Temple the brood of vipers and of adders. How terrific was His fight for the world against the Jewish poison. Today, after two thousand years, with deepest emotion I recognize more profoundly than ever before - the fact that it was for this that He had to shed His blood upon the Cross."
-- Adolf Hitler; from speech in Munich (April 12, 1922)