The Role of Religion in the U.S. Presidential Election

[duraaraa 203]

Most of the world would find the idea you could separate religion from politics an impossible task.

Most of the world, maybe, but definitely not all of the world. There are countries which are run in a very secular manner.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

For that, we may need a celebrity to run.

Reagan wasn't good enough for you? Eisenhower? Teddy Roosevelt? Grant? Washington? If you can't make celebrity status, you probably won't get very far in politics. Nobody really bothers to look for the most qualified candidate - they vote the D or the R or some other party line, or who seems the most like them, or who has the best hair, or who they dream of waking up next to on a stormy night.

Most of the world, maybe, but definitely not all of the world. There are countries which are run in a very secular manner.

So they say. Secularism is a religion of its own right.

[duraaraa 203]

Reagan wasn't good enough for you? Eisenhower? Teddy Roosevelt? Grant? Washington? If you can't make celebrity status, you probably won't get very far in politics. Nobody really bothers to look for the most qualified candidate - they vote the D or the R or some other party line, or who seems the most like them, or who has the best hair, or who they dream of waking up next to on a stormy night.

So they say. Secularism is a religion of its own right.

Wasn't taken in context, I think. I made a joke, saying that for a non R/D to be popular enough to win, it would have to be a celebrity -- I used that to joke about a Scientologist president. *shrug* It must be my broken sense of humor.

So they say. Secularism is a religion of its own right.

Those countries tend to treat people very fairly, and give people a good quality of life.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Those countries tend to treat people very fairly, and give people a good quality of life.

List a few.

[duraaraa 203]

List a few.

Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Japan...

[BaBamSam 239]

Thou shalt not kill.

This is why the abortion argument never progresses: some people argue it is life or death, while others don't believe it's a life.

And the bible says thou shalt not kill - but then goes on to talk about punishing people with death by stoning, etc. for other sins. Also, the death penalty is legal in many states and in this country at a federal level. Are we arguing about protecting life? Or are we just arguing about when it's OK to end a life?

Edited April 26, 2013 by BaBamSam

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Japan...

Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark - All officially Lutheran, 75% or more membership

Netherlands - Very Secular, 75% profess no belief in God

Japan - Live Buddhist, Die Shinto, Venerate Emperor as living god. 85% or more of births are registered with either a Buddhist or Shinto temple.

[duraaraa 203]

Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark - All officially Lutheran, 75% or more membership

Netherlands - Very Secular, 75% profess no belief in God

Japan - Live Buddhist, Die Shinto, Venerate Emperor as living god. 85% or more of births are registered with either a Buddhist or Shinto temple.

Membership and actual belief are different, but...

Their laws are not based on religion, which is my point. If I recall correctly, Iceland and maybe others of them are moving away from any religious affiliation.

And in Japan, where I have extensive experience, nobody takes Buddhism, Shinto, living gods, etc. seriously. It's just tradition/superstition. Sadly, not even the Buddhist monks there seem to take Buddhism seriously.

Edited April 26, 2013 by duraaraa

[spookyturtle 9,465]

This is why the abortion argument never progresses: some people argue it is life or death, while others don't believe it's a life.

And the bible says thou shalt not kill - but then goes on to talk about punishing people with death by stoning, etc. for other sins. Also, the death penalty is legal in many states and in this country at a federal level. Are we arguing about protecting life? Or are we just arguing about when it's OK to end a life?

Jesus said let the one among you who is without sin throw the first stone at her. The death penalty shows that religion isn't involved. A true believer in God would be against death.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

on what?

you were responding to me directly. obviously you want me to ignore you and let you respond to me however you wish. no problem. have at it.

I did quote you but I was speaking in general. My error for doing it that way.

[BaBamSam 239]

Jesus said let the one among you who is without sin throw the first stone at her. The death penalty shows that religion isn't involved. A true believer in God would be against death.

That doesn't address the fact that in the bible there are "crimes" punishable by death. Or that society, especially the most devoutly religious, have been killing as punishment for centuries.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

That doesn't address the fact that in the bible there are "crimes" punishable by death. Or that society, especially the most devoutly religious, have been killing as punishment for centuries.

That's in the Old Testament. The New Testament is what Christianity is based upon. Love thy neighbor. If someone strikes you, turn and let him strike your other cheek. Judge as you shall be judged. Forgive.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

That's in the Old Testament. The New Testament is what Christianity is based upon. Love thy neighbor. If someone strikes you, turn and let him strike your other cheek. Judge as you shall be judged. Forgive.

Pay unto Caesar, that which is Caesar's and unto God, that which is God's. Pay your taxes, and if anything is left, send it to JesusLovesYou@MyBank.com

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

That's in the Old Testament. The New Testament is what Christianity is based upon. Love thy neighbor. If someone strikes you, turn and let him strike your other cheek. Judge as you shall be judged. Forgive.

Now how do you reconcile that with drones dumping ordinances? Are you saying we ain't as Christian a nation as some would like us to believe?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Are you saying we ain't as Christian a nation as some would like us to believe?

Church on Sunday. War Monday thru Friday. Make love to the wife on Saturday. What is more Christian than that?