How adversely does Religion effect politics and the decisions made.?
145211
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.
394121
I don't think it is just poor people. I believe people let religion choose their political affiliation because religion goes to the deep areas of what people believe about right and wrong. And in many cases people fear they won't be able to go to heaven if they don't agree with their church. Unfortunately even though a particular political group may be overall bad for people economically they are more likely to agree with that group if they feel the group meets their moral needs and beliefs.
342925
Religion, and its social impact on morality and war.
156810
I hope not.  Perhaps however, you are thinking of the Right to Life Party.  I don't believe any political party limits its membership based on religious affiliation.
777437
I certainly can, in our civil society religion shouldn't matter.  In fact however, it does and I prefer to know not so much the religion but how devout the politician is--the more devout, the less I like them because the more likely they are to let their religion color their decisions.  I don't want anybody forcing their religion or the implicit results of their religion on me.
1044068
The problem is that people tend to hide political issues behind religion as a way of defending their actions. The whole Israel thing has little to do with religion and more to do with power and greed. Same with my country Ireland for a long time.
511654
No, but the Republican party is sure touting that there is a war on Christianity to polarize certain groups because that will get them put into office.  There are also groups that think the US should be a theocracy but that is blatantly unconstitutional.  Sorry, it's a democracy where all of us have the same rights.
38556
Religion can have a huge impact on a person's political and "social issue" views.  As a VERY general rule conservatives tend to be active Christians or inactive Christians who still "believe" to a degree.  Liberals tend to reject religion or place much less emphasis on it.  If you watch debates on issues like abortion, prayer in school, the theory of evolution VS Intelligent Design, etc., you'll generally find (but certainly not always) that liberals tend to favor the the view taken by people who are not religious.  Hence they will favor abortion, keeping prayer out of school. the theory of evolution etc.
624001
False, I think, on the hypocrisy count.  Religion has certainly contributed to a lot of rotten sorts of abuses by groups of people.  Anytime someone thinks they are carrying around "truth" in their front pocket, abuse and hypocrisy are absolutely certain to occur.\n\nHowever, I don't think that's all religions contribute to the human experience.  After all, believing anything about anything creates hypocrites.  (Republicans believe in minimal government, but create more of it.  Democrats believe in helping poor people but regularly increase sales taxes in localities.  Any belief makes hypocrisy apparent and maybe necessary).\n\nReligion, though, is important.  It mobilizes people to act altruistically, for instance.  If you go to a homeless shelter, most of the people working their (and likely running the place) are people of faith.  Furthermore, religions create consistent opportunities for people to think about the part of them that isn't just matter and (even if you don't believe in souls) to think about matters above and beyond mere survival.\n\nSo, even though I would wish for people, and by extension religion, to behave better, I do think religion offers society more than just hypocrisy.
1028554
Of course not. God gave people free will. Politics caused the Senate to reject a ban on gay marriage
286046
I do consider their religion when I vote only in the sense that they allow their religious institution to influence them. Otherwise, what their actual religion may be is not really the reason I vote for them. I listen to their views on different issues and their ideas for resolutions to problems on the various issues. If they say that their religion is "blank" and then say that their religion helps to guide them in the decision making process, that does not necessarily make me go "Oh no can't vote for you". Instead what I look at is how close their ties are to their religious institutions and whether they say things like "Well my religion tells me......and therefore this is how I will vote on that issue". In fact, the more they bring up "what my religion tells me" the more likely I am not going to vote for them. Reason...I've found that politicians that use the phrase "My religion tells me" are often the same politicians that are very closely tied to their religious institution and therefore what their religious institution is advocating, well it is them, not us the electorate, that they represent and listen to. If they say "Well I believe..............and I got this from what my religion teaches about............and the lessons I learned from that teaching helped me with some aspects of my plan" well the key words are "some" and "believe" and "teaches" and "lessons". The politicians like this usually hold strong beliefs, but if you look over their plans you'll see that they are not framing their religion into law, but instead have considered that others might have a different perspective. These politicians, while religious, often also do not always agree with their religious institution and will often outright say so on the areas where they disagree.
270676
Religion and politics have had a spill over effect with regards to each other, to a large extent in Pakistan. Religious 'Islamic' parties have furthered their political agenda on the basis of religion as a unifying and vote-gaining factor. This is where in my opinion most of the problems have erupted. Religion, be it any, does not advocate unwarranted violence. \nWhile in the case of Pakistan, political protest has more than often taken a violent turn, and since the religiohs parties are inviolved at times, it has been associated with the religion being violent. \nReligious ppl here in pakistan, the educated kind, are not at all violent. They are regular ppl that you would encounter on the street. They might have a beard, but that does not mean that they are trigger happy ,or weild a sword at every non-muslim. \nThe violence emerges out of political unrest, and soem reliogious political leaders, who claim themsevles to be the vanguards of the faith, utilise it to garner votes. So its important to seperate any understanding of religious people and those who use religion to further political gains.
521801
Not all religion. I would have to say though that FUNDAMENTALIST religion IS INDEED a tool of mind control that allows a small group of people to wield enormous influence over the masses, and I think that's wrong.
429285
In some cases, yes. As can be seen with the stem cell debates that started a few years back. \n\nIt isn't just religion though, it is general social standards and responsibilities in general that can determine what is right and what is wrong when it comes to certain research.
276532
politics and religion dont mix you will love one more than the other as well have to choose between them
356472
i don't think so, the law shouldn't be affected by the church. and if you're Muslim and want to vote, wouldn't you feel unconfortable in a church?  I think that only Christians would vote if the elections were held in churches, and that isn''t democracy.
1023514
What i thing is how does it affect his religion. come on people use your heads. it is bad in many religions if that is what you mean and it is looked down upon.