Especially when it comes to religion and politics. How can one politley reject these people
198882
I think everyone's entitiled to my opinion.
185990
Speaking out against them is one thing, promoting hatred and actual assault is another.  Words are all we have sometimes to convey ideas, and most religions are a quest for truth, which is an idea hard to present in another way.  Sometimes the only way to define the truth is to point out the lies.\n\nIf the words do not promote/encourage hatred of people or criminal activities (riots, assaults, suicide bombings, etc) then let them speak.  Truth will always prove itself out in the end.
622905
Most politicians in Christian countries try to do this because they think it makes them look good.  A bit like kissing babies.\n\nYou can have moral debate without mentioning religion at all.\n\nUsing Christian religion in politics is a huge mistake.  \n\nFirst off it alienates all the other religions in that country,  Jews, Muslims, Sikhs etc.\n\nSecondly it alienates not just other countries but whole religions.  Much of Americas problems with Muslims is that it is seen as Christianity hunting down Muslims and other religions.  A lot of the time when Bush talks about bringing democracy to other countries he sounds like he is saying Christianity to many people.\n\nWhere politicians are supposed to represent the people they are so biased to Christianity that it insults the vast majority.  Quite apart from the other religions many people are non believers.\n\nReligion should be kept well out of politics and if that could be achieved governments and presidents would be seen as more open and even handed and peace would be given a real chance.
395956
i m with you....those two topics really can get out of control...so whenever i hear politics or religion, i just avoid by leaving making up some important work.....
546254
none.... religious movements are all politically motivated
389242
Because politics are negative.
648617
IMHO, governments should keep away from all matters religious in the same way that religious figures and organizations should keep their hands off politics.\nThis kind of interference with the public's right to learn someone's point of view is an ugly violation of freedom of speech.
658240
He's a leader of a church -- we'd all be a lot better off if church leaders would stay OUT of politics completely rather than get more involved.  Their involvement in politics over the centuries has caused more trouble than any other single influence.
18723
Christians are given lots of contradictory advice in their scripture.  They can pick and choose what to follow and what to disregard depending upon the prevailing politics.  All religion is essentially political in nature- not spiritual.
468259
Not afraid of them.  Worried about the Extremist Christians we have in our political system.  Hopefully some other group will come along and make them worry as well.
352621
Any group can choose someone to represent them, and to act as a liason through which the group communicates their thoughts. That applies equally well to religious groups as any others.\n\nAs far as sending clergy to the White House, the Bush regime does have an office of Faith-Based Initiatives, which oversees and promotes religious solutions to social problems. It's primarily Christian in make-up, so any non-Christian group is likely to be margianlized, if not outright ignored. But Scalia and Alito say that's Ok, because they're not mainstream religions.
538572
I came to this conclusion about politics and religious types a few years ago and I will share this with you now ok...\n  Religious people feel the need to believe there is a greater force out there so that they think their lives have meaning. They have a Bible, they follow the Bible, they think that if they do not do exactly as the Bible says they will not go to heaven. Part of the Bible is to spread the word of God to as many people as possible. Part of the Bible is also that mankind has freewill to make their own choices and do as it pleases. \n\n      So the problem I have with religious zealots is that they remember the first and forget the second. \nWhy would someone want to join a religion where you come across sounding like a half baked loon to anyone you talk to about God?\n Wouldnt it be better to be loving and accepting of everyone and happy with yourself to the point where people ask you wow why are you so happy what are you doing right with your life? Rather than trying to cram it down our throats and legislate morality.\n Teach through example, be a good kind tolerant person who respects peoples wishes.  Uh there is more to is, but yeah Jesus would most definately be a liberal.
426137
Little if any.  Most reasonable people don't equate religion with a political party.  If they do, they constitute the most dangerous threat do our country. What Haggard did was very bad not only for his church, but his teachings. It only proves that we must be tolerant of other people. God would not want us to be judgmental. God does not hate homosexuals. Only man can hate.
580148
Good questions!\n\nHowever, the same argument could be posed by the SAME people who have the different religious ideogy that you oppose. For example a muslim living in America and paying taxes could be thinking "why do my tax dollars have to support christian-related issues".\n\nI guess the answer lies in the politcal system, join it and try to get enough support to change what you don't like about it - of course no change is possible without a majority of people willing to vote for your point of view.\n\nthanks
547865
Don't treat religious people with kid gloves.  Tell them the truth at every chance you get.  This is the only way to get rid of religion.
421253
I have read some of the above and these answers are ridiculous. Politicians use their 'faith' in some religion to exploit more voters. Religious people like to 'follow' someone or something that claims to represent 'good', so the politicians use that tool to get them voters. Bush says he is a man of God, he starts a war killing thousands of civilians and almost 3000 Americans. Is this what a Christian or God fearing man would do? A 'godly' man supposedly hasn't made mistakes if you believe a politician. They haven't 'sinned' by drinking a beer, lusting after a woman, smoking a cigarette - they tell us this anyway. Frankly, I want an elected official who has life experience and isn't perfect, maybe someone who has had a few knocks, because they have lived and know what a loaf of bread costs in a supermarket. Do you think W knows what it costs? Jerry Falwell? Mark Haggard? Hell no, they have no idea because someone else buys it for them.  They don't go to stores like you and I do. If they claim to be 'religious' they don't get my vote.  One needs to only look at the Catholic priest/pedophiles and Haggard to realize that "Godliness" is not all that it is cracked up to be.
57420
Many people don't see religion as casting all humans as inherently bad.  For some of us, for example, our belief in a higher power incentivizes us to do good even when society would permit us not to.  In my own personal conduct, integrity is the hallmark of everything that I do and say.  I trace that integrity to a belief that at some point in the future I will have to answer for (i.e. justify) my every choice, word, and action.  In other words, even when it appears that no one is observing my conduct, I behave because I believe that Someone is.  It has become fashionable in political circles to mention one's religion, and particularly one's fundamentalism, much in the same vein as one lists other credentials (i.e. education, business experience, and political involvement to date).  I am tremendously skeptical that many if any of our political leaders truly believe the faith they profess.  I am convinced that if more of them anticipated justifying their conduct to a higher power, the world would automatically be better and, for example, the war in Iraq might never have begun under such false pretenses.