To further the conversation on presidential politics...

[intcvlcphlga]

A New York Times/CBS News poll found that Americans want their candidates to have strong religious beliefs and to voice them in their campaigns. The related NY Times article can be found here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/11/us/polit...elder.html?8dpc

To get the ball rolling on this discussion, I responded to the NY Times piece with this opinion: "Hasn

[MadVlad]

And one wonders why we are in our precarious position today....

[Lowerdeck]

Just remember everyone, with most of America, you can't get elected unless you mention Jesus 300 times in a two minute speech.

[Pillsbury]

I just think it's so stupid. I'm a Christian. I go to church. But who wants to sit there listening to some politician go on and on about how spiritual or Christian or whatever he is? Who cares? It's all a show anyway. They'll pay lip service to how much they love churches or God and they'll talk highly of those military kids making the "ultimate sacrifice" in Iraq and all that rubbish, even though they've not stepped foot in a church since their confirmation and they would never ever ever let their kids join the military. It's all a sham. Democrat or Republican. They're all just following the latest polling trends. They look like idiots. I don't care if Hillary Clinton loves her United Methodist church; I don't want to hear Bill Clinton's mangled sermons in a Southern Baptist church; and I really don't care about how George Bush's spiritual awakening. Keep it at home like the rest of us do.

[kayman]

I just think it's so stupid. I'm a Christian. I go to church. But who wants to sit there listening to some politician go on and on about how spiritual or Christian or whatever he is? Who cares? It's all a show anyway. They'll pay lip service to how much they love churches or God and they'll talk highly of those military kids making the "ultimate sacrifice" in Iraq and all that rubbish, even though they've not stepped foot in a church since their confirmation and they would never ever ever let their kids join the military. It's all a sham. Democrat or Republican. They're all just following the latest polling trends. They look like idiots. I don't care if Hillary Clinton loves her United Methodist church; I don't want to hear Bill Clinton's mangled sermons in a Southern Baptist church; and I really don't care about how George Bush's spiritual awakening. Keep it at home like the rest of us do.

[dxartist]

I usually turn a deaf ear by touching the mute button on the remote every time a politician starts speaking about his/her religion/faith on tv.

[erdogs]

Religion should be a personal matter not for public consumption. You can give lip service to your beliefs, but your actions ultimately define you.

[ohioaninSC]

What has happened to seperation of church and state? Religion should be personal, but if you are going to lead this nation, you shouldn't use your religious beliefs to govern the nation, as most of us might not have the same religious beliefs. GWB has been the ultimate failure as to why it's wrong to govern based on your faith. His gay bashing(against same sex marriage), and his refusel to fund potentially vital stem cell research is hurting this country big time.

[krazeeboi]

There wouldn't be nearly as much "backlash" here if one's religious principles aligned perfectly with a liberal agenda. The issue here really isn't religious beliefs, but what those beliefs dictate.

[Gusterfell]

There wouldn't be nearly as much "backlash" here if one's religious principles aligned perfectly with a liberal agenda. The issue here really isn't religious beliefs, but what those beliefs dictate.

[erdogs]

Do you really have no problem with your political leaders claiming, as Bush did, that they converse with God and he told them to invade Iraq? That is the sort of thing the backlash is against.

[krazeeboi]

How do you figure? There are plenty of religious liberals, but they generally understand that there is a seperation of church and state in this country, to protect each from the other. If you read the Bible and look at what Christ actually taught, the core principles of Christianity actually do align very well with the liberal agenda. The same is true of most major religions. The problem is that religion has been converted into a political propaganda tool by the right in the US and elsewhere.

[Gusterfell]

Christ's message is not to be politicized on any front

[MadVlad]

I never did get the whole "don't let your religious views influence your political views or decisions because it constitutes a violation of church and state." The whole concept of separation of church and state (a phrase not even found in the Constitution) deals with institutions, not individuals. It does not mean that there is no room for religion or religious views in the public square.

You say that what Christ taught lines up "very well" with the liberal agenda? I'd like to see how (and I would say the same about the conservative agenda. Christ's message is not to be politicized on any front). And let's not be selective with such teachings.

[monsoon]

I must have missed it, when did he say this?

[krazeeboi]

On one hand you say there is room for religious views and religion in the public square, and then in the very next paragraph you say Christ's message should not be politicized on any front. I think you need to decide which you mean.

[erdogs]

• "God told me to strike at al Qaida and I struck them, and then he instructed me to strike at Saddam, which I did, and now I am determined to solve the problem in the Middle East. If you help me I will act, and if not, the elections will come and I will have to focus on them." --June 27,2003 in speaking to Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas

Bush is a man who was never taught moderation. He stays drunk and high on drugs until his 40s and now he is addicted to religious extremism with some idea that God put him in position of power to rid the world of evil. (never mind that evil is in the eyes of the beholder) I never understood this brand of Christianiaty that seeks to "save" people by pointing a gun barrel at them. Unfortunately this has proven that faith is an important part of politics in America only because if the people get non-complacent about it, then we get extremists elected to office who are hell bent on destroying everything in the name of religion.

The good news here is now that the true colors of these people have finally come out, that states such as SC are leaning towards the Democrats. And if a state such as SC is going back to the democrats the GOP has to be worried indeed.

[monsoon]

^You know, I really don't have any idea. You asked for when and where he said it and I provided exactly that. If you choose not to believe it that is your choice, but given the multitudes of other things he has said in using religion to justify his actions, I certainly don't have any reason to not believe it. I do note that Bush has not denied it.

[erdogs]

^You know, I really don't have any idea. You asked for when and where he said it and I provided exactly that. If you choose not to believe it that is your choice, but given the multitudes of other things he has said in using religion to justify his actions, I certainly don't have any reason to not believe it. I do note that Bush has not denied it.

[monsoon]

..... because it was presented as fact, when it should have been said allegedly.

[erdogs]

Ahh. I will remember this next time you post something.

I don't see the reason that ANY leader in the world would have a reason to lie about GW Bush and certainly not Abbas. He is highly dependent upon Bush and the American administration to keep the reigns on Israel when it comes to dealing with the Palestinians. Maybe you don't understand what is going on over there, but the last thing that Abbas needs is the trouble that would come from making false statements about Bush.

[monsoon]

^Or most likely, he is simply telling the truth.