Why does religion effect voting?
349549
You need to look at the religious issues that each side accepts as it's moral grounding. Republicans usually stand on a platform built on values that include Pro-Life, and the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman. There are many other issues to be concerned with, but these are the majors. \nDemocrats generally believe the opposite and go with a more liberal approach to abortion and Pro-Choice is their platform. Also, the take on the gay marriage is usually widely accepted with the Democrat community.\nIf you are looking for a "side" to stand on, I suggest that you do some serious research and decide for yourself which you prefer. I don't know anyone that agrees with everything that their party does, and just because the current President is a Republican, don't let the things that you've read on this site skew your beliefs. You have a choice to believe what you want. Choose wisely.\n\nAnd just a side note......Vote Republican, those Democrats are morons.
1041717
Religion and Politics.
1027554
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
882317
I agree with you.  I think that politicians prey on the superstitions of the public and try to convince the public that their agenda has a "GODLY" basis.\n\nPeople are pretty vulnerable to this tactic and vote for politicians on this basis but where in the Bible does it ever say that if the majority of the population wants something, it is the right thing to do?\n\nIn the Bible and every religious book, the majority has always been counted on to do the WRONG thing...\n\nThe majority wanted Christ crucified, the majority made fun of Noah building a boat in the desert, the majority (according to the Bible) are going to "HELL" or destruction.  According to the Bible, the minority are considered the "salt of the earth" and the majority are corrupt.\n\nIf we really listened to the Bible instead of picking and choosing the parts that will get a particular person elected, we wouldn't have a democracy at all but a Theocracy (a THEO-CRAZY)  \n\nI don't believe our government should be based on religion or  people's interpretation of any religion at all!  \n\nHow many people believe in Democracy at all?  If people do, then how can they say they are Bible Believing?  The Bible in no instance condones Democracy.  So do we believe in Democracy or the Bible.  (Actually, I choose Democracy but what we have today is not a democracy in the U.S. but a Republic of Corporations.  The "BIBLE" has been twisted to mean that if "GOD" approves of a people, he makes them rich...if he disapproves of them, "HE" makes them poor." Is that scriptural?)\n\nReligious politicians think that "GOD" must love Americans and hate every poor country.  Is that realistic?  Is it even scriptural?  I think not but the general public loves that idea and votes for the politician that they think will make them rich...how twisted!!!
329504
It usually is due to religious beliefs or arbitrary prejudices.
1065705
Yes. You could see it in the election of Bush. The religious right that elected him think they have the right to make him push their policies. It is detremental. Though maybe not any more detrimental than having big business/oil impacting politics. \n\nCan't there be some type of limits on special interest groups like Focus of the Family pushing their agenda in Washington? It's a blight on the fact of democracy when big money and influence wins power in our government . . .
1098041
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.
1110438
Religion and politics don't mix.  One is "man's" law, and the other is man's interrpretation of God's (or whomever's) law.
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.
320981
no. even though i am christian and a spiritual person, i strongly believe that faith-based issues should stay out of politics. that is one of the main reasons y Bush won the last election.....he got the support of the christian-right voters. now look what state our country is in.
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.
1027498
Religion and government are two different things. Officials should be, and are, elected based on how well they serve the state or national government. Not because of religion.
1184960
Religion gives you identity, it gives you a sense of belonging, it makes you understand the purpose of you existence. It makes you understand that these sufferings are not permanent. All these things are very important from psychological point of view. And hence it gives you happiness.
1094132
history shows that the usa votes christian. they wouldnt vote for the buddhist or muslim because of prejudice based on propaganda. i vote libertarian in hopes that they reach a million votes someday so they can be in the debates. the dems & repubs have run this country since day 1 & have done more harm than good. the things the rest of the world has always admired about us are innovations from people, the same innovations the government has always tried to stand in the way of or tax when successful. government doesnt give us our freedom, the fact we're alive does. the constitution & bill of rights are restrictions on gov power.
1038273
I think the government should stay out of Religion and Marriage since it is usually a religious act.  On the other hand, every religion in the world has a set of morals (minus the demonic types or extremists) which involve not killing others and be nice to people, which I think the governments of the world should take notice of. Does that make since?  \nSo, yes, religion is a personal belief and should not affect the government in such a way as it currently is.  I also feel that a candidate's religion should not be public so that people will vote for him or her based on their intentions for the US rather than "oh he's a good Christian man"
1132640
I am an independent and I like Romney a lot. He's on my short list of hopefuls along with a couple of Democrats and another Republican, all of whom, surprisingly enough, have very similar views.\n\nReligion has little to do with my decision on who to vote for, because a lot of politicians use religion as a tool to get votes and don't practice the compassion or tolerance that their religion teaches. I am a Christian, but I'd vote for an atheist if I believed that he would do a good job and he was a good person. Too many "Christian" politicians need to learn to "practice what they preach", or, to be more precise, what He preached.
674363
I guess now lots of presidents in the world are catholics, but it doesn't change anything, cause people vote for a president not according to his religious belif, but political and social programs.