Religon and Politics

[mcbr4481]

I wanted to get some opinions from other Christians, I know that the other groups will have opinions but i wanted to see specifically how other Christians felt about this. (no offense meant to any other groups) But do you think we should involved Religon in politics. Should we vote how the bible and God would want us to?


Well it seemed pretty obvious to me but my friend who is a catholic tells me he thinks we should not vote our religon. So any input would be nice?

[Confused]

I wanted to get some opinions from other Christians, I know that the other groups will have opinions but i wanted to see specifically how other Christians felt about this. (no offense meant to any other groups) But do you think we should involved Religon in politics. Should we vote how the bible and God would want us to?


Well it seemed pretty obvious to me but my friend who is a catholic tells me he thinks we should not vote our religon. So any input would be nice?

Should this not be posted in the Christians only section then?

[mcbr4481]

Hey if you want to hate God and Christ, thats your buisness but just let a man try to get a fellow mans opinon with about being a jerk.

[bernee51]

Hey if you want to hate God and Christ, thats your buisness but just let a man try to get a fellow mans opinon with about being a jerk.

What's this about hating your god and Christ? Who's being a jerk?

[Confused]

Hey if you want to hate God and Christ, thats your buisness but just let a man try to get a fellow mans opinon with about being a jerk.

WOOOOAAAAA there cowboy. First off, what makes you think I hate God or Christ. Second off, I don't think what I said was being a jerk. But if you post in the open forum then anyone can reply. The only point I was trying to make is that if you only want Christian opinions then there is a forum that is only for them that allows only them to post. Third off, I don't know God, so how can I hate Him. If my questions lead you to that assumption then perhaps you are reading to much into them. You don't know a thing about me but presume to pass judgement already. Perhaps because of other posts in other threads. Asking questions is the reason for debates. If I find a path to God, so be it. If I don't so be it. But don't accuse me of being a jerk without some ground to stand on.

[micatala]

Moderator Intervention

Hey if you want to hate God and Christ, thats your buisness but just let a man try to get a fellow mans opinon with about being a jerk.

Confused is correct that there is another forum, the Holy Huddle Room, that is intended to restrict responses to members of the Christian group. You are certainly free to ask for the opinions of members from any groups or with any particular views anywhere in the forum. However, you cannot expect others to not reply if they so choose to.

If you wish to leave the thread here, that is fine, but if you really do not want non-Christians to respond, let me know and I will move the thread.

ALso, do not refer to other forum members as jerks. This is against the rules.

In addition, the comment concenring 'hating God and Christ' seems to me to be jumping to a conclusion. Regardless, it is not really relevant to the thread.


Hope this clarifies things.

[micatala]

I wanted to get some opinions from other Christians, I know that the other groups will have opinions but i wanted to see specifically how other Christians felt about this. (no offense meant to any other groups) But do you think we should involved Religon in politics. Should we vote how the bible and God would want us to?


Well it seemed pretty obvious to me but my friend who is a catholic tells me he thinks we should not vote our religon. So any input would be nice?

I am not a proponent of telling people of faith that they should not be involved in politics or let their religious views affect their political views. In a free society like the U.S., we should all feel free to support whatever views or candidates we wish for whatever reason we wish, within reasonable bounds dictated by maintaining a safe and civil society.

Should we vote how the bible and God would want us to?

I would say we are free to vote how we believe the bible or God would want us to. However, there is often very wide disagreement on what the bible or God would want us to do, even among Christians.

In a recent election, I voted for a law restricting abortions and against a ban on gay marriage. I believe I have ample Biblical support in both cases. I also allow that those who feel differently than I do have Biblical support. I will not be ashamed to own up to these votes when I meet Jesus.

In general, I tend not to support laws which are religiously based or motivated unless there is a compelling non-religious reason to do so. I would, for example, not support a law which says everyone has to worship at a Christian church, or observe Sunday as the Sabbath, or offer burnt offerings to Yahweh, or make the Bible the main textbook in public schools.

Other biblical principles I would support as they would have additional reasons to be supported. Prohibitions against murder and stealing and even lieing in certain circumstances (e.g. in court) are important for the proper functioning of a civil society. Other people, besides the ones committing these acts, are harmed. THe examples I cited above are not, and neither in my view is a prohibition against gay marriage.

Abortion is a more difficult issue for me. In this case, we can at least make the case that others are being harmed, although I do not think it is an obvious open and shut case.

[4gold]

I wanted to get some opinions from other Christians, I know that the other groups will have opinions but i wanted to see specifically how other Christians felt about this. (no offense meant to any other groups) But do you think we should involved Religon in politics. Should we vote how the bible and God would want us to?


Well it seemed pretty obvious to me but my friend who is a catholic tells me he thinks we should not vote our religon. So any input would be nice?

As a Christian, my answer is absolutely not!!!

The First Amendment of the Constitution and the First Commandment are mutually exclusive. God tells us not to worship any other god. The US Constitution says you may worship as you see fit without fear of government retribution.

And there are several other examples too: while I think that idolatry is a sin, I don't think it should be illegal. While I think adultery is a sin, I don't think it should be illegal. While I think homosexuality is a sin, I don't think they should be legally discriminated against.

And it swings the other way too: I think abortion is wrong and should be illegal. I think homosexuality is wrong, and I don't think there should be gay marriage.

Our country's laws and the Bible are not meant to be intertwined. While you may derive your principles from the Bible, keep the law out of it!!

[mcbr4481]

ok, thanks that awnsers things pretty good for me, Would you agree that it has its place and time then maybe?

The only other thing is, well first idolatry is a tough one cause you can't vote on things like that because it violates seperation church and state and just will never be an issuie. i would agree adultery is not illegal but it does have leagal repercusions. and i agree with your homosecuality thing, i dont think they should be discriminated against but i dont think they should be legaly recognized, and maybe that is descrimination.. what do you think?

[micatala]

While I think homosexuality is a sin, I don't think they should be legally discriminated against.

. . . . I think homosexuality is wrong, and I don't think there should be gay marriage.

Hmm. If homosexuality should not be legally discriminated against, on what basis would you prohibit gay marriage? I have a hard time not seeing this as discrimination.

We allow heterosexual adults to marry the partner of their choice. It is an agreement between mutually consenting adults. It is a civil institution for all, and a religious institution for some.

If two consenting homosexuals want to marry, what legal rationale could their be for prohibiting them from doing so? Why should the state recognize heterosexual marriage for tax purposes, etc., and not homosexual marriage? How could the state make a distinction and not be engaging in discrimination?

The only other thing is, well first idolatry is a tough one cause you can't vote on things like that because it violates seperation church and state and just will never be an issuie.

We can vote on almost anything. In most states, you get enough petition signatures and it goes on the ballot to be voted on. The remedy if a law some consider unconstitutuional is passed by the voters is to take it to court. That is why an independent judiciary and a set of rights not subject to 'majority rule' is so important. Many laws passed by voters are later found to be unconstitutional.

Majority rule in the south used to mean slavery and subsequently egregious discrimination. Only the independent judiciary got the wheels of justice rolling the other way, albeit every so slowly.