Maybe older users / veterans of US politics can help me stand wrong on this, but it seems that since the 2008 election a candidate's views on religion have gained tremendous importance. People might remember the vicious attacks on Barrack Obama saying that he was Muslim, that he wanted Sharia Law in the US, etc. Even the Democrats had a debate about faith, something that, from my Canadian point of view looked strange. Here we are told (no attack intended on anyone) that it is the Republican Party that has all the "religious nuts".

I do not want to create a whole "Is the US a Christian nation" debate, but why should one care about a politician's religious views? Unless their views meant they would vote laws that would violate the Constitution (although THAT does not seem to stop anyone), why can they not believe in anything they wish (or nothing at all for that matter)? Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Atheist... Is religion not supposed to be something personal?

Even in Canada, whose constitution explicitly mentions RELIGIOUS school boards as a right, does not have any debate about candidates' religious views. Granted, when there is, it is to mock them when they tend to have more conservative views - Stockwell Day was laughed at because he did not campaigned on Sunday - but even at the time of the Reform Party Preston Manning would not talk about religion, at least not the way Rick Santorum or Mike Huckabee do.

So, should you candidate's religious views matter at all? Would you rather vote for someone of your confession but who wants to bloat government or for an atheist who would actually shrink the government? Suppose that neither candidate talked about regulating morality in any form (abstinence-only sex "ed", abortion) and would leave everything as is.

janus :   Since you've posted in Christian Conservatives you're going to get a "Christianese" response.  I'm not from the US so I cannot comment on the political aspects anyways.  The Bible teaches that whoever is placed into power, we need to respect the leadership of the country, since it is God in His foreknowledge who appointed him / her:  "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God." (Romans 13:1)  So whether they are religious or non-religious, it does not matter.  God has placed them there for a specific purpose and as a Christian, you should submit to that authority, unless they enforce laws that goes directly against God's commands.  A really unfortunate but good example is Obama who legalized abortion to name but one.  It's just another form of holocaust.  This has been made legal in my country as well and I personally believe that by saying it's ok to mass murder babies in the womb for example, the leader/s of that country is bringing judgment over themselves and whoever supports them.  Regardless, God is even using that for His glory in some way or another and He will one day, have a final say in the matter.

So looking at it from a Christian perspective, it is extremely important to cast your vote for those who stand on Godly morals.  I personally will not vote for someone who advocates same sex marriage, murder of babies and a slew of other ungodly views just to be esteemed by people and make everyone happy.  I am not picking on America, but since they are a world leader and in the spotlight almost all the time, it is evident looking from the outside in, that the US from a especially a moral point of view (and of course in other sectors as well), is declining fast.  Do not make a mistake, my country is following suit and I believe it's because the leaders of that country and of many other countries, have forsaken God.  He has been taken out of schools, out of government and this might sound like an oxymoron, but even out of the "church" as well.  It is no wonder that chaos reigns, but to the Bible believing Christian, this should be no surprise as it is the proverbial "sign of the times" and it is both sad and exciting, because we know the time is very near when Jesus Christ will be coming back.

If only, "...My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

janus : There were and still are reasons to doubt obama's honestly about his faith. That's a bigger concern to me that what it actually is. Not to mention the likelihood that he wasn't even born in Hawaii. Kim Davis at least was a democrat speaking of religious nuts by the way. (I assume she would meet your criteria) Atheist nuts can be worse. Ask a burnt down church. But please don't try to tell me that any Christian is a pedophile. Pretty sure that one's hard to reconcile with God. A pedophile is a pedophile. Child porn rings aren't run by Mr nice guy either way. It's one thing to be secular, but you don't have to go around pretending to be offended by a nativity scene on public property. The anti-religion, liberal media paints a picture and sells it. That's the only way democrats even stand a chance ever. "vote for us, we'll give you free table scraps for everyone!' How many lies did Billary tell during her last debate?(if you want to call it that) Some sources said over 20. Even left-leaning sources had to acquiesce.(even though they still say she 'won') I'm totally independent and will NEVER vote even if they throw me in jail. That's my right. I pay taxes and I'm a citizen so I get a voice like anyone. I hate republicans for some of their policies and I hate democrats for theirs. I should be king. A president ought to represent the majority of voters though probably. At least in action. When people are knocking on doors and throwing Christians in the street and butchering them while obama golfs and doesn't even mention it people get perturbed. The vast majority of Americans identify as Christian still. Our current president has more sympathy for non-Christian causes at times it seems. But why does one side have to label the other as crazy(nuts) anyways? If we have a different view, it doesn't make one of us crazy, it likely means that life circumstances have effected different priorities on our value system. I'm pro-life. That also means I'm anti-death penalty. Many people think they can have their cake and eat it too. Either you're stoning people for adultery or you believe that Jesus shed his blood to make that sort of judgement unnecessary. Personally, I believe the science that says a human fetus feels itself being killed in vitro. And it hurts. It's not even a religious thing. Morning after pill go for it. Pay for it. Execute a man and he can never find personal salvation. Throw him in a cell and give him a Bible if he asks for one. Besides the innocents that are executed and the fact that it's simply cheaper to incarcerate a person for life anymore. But when Billary thought it would help her cause, she was against gay marriage. So was obama until AFTER he was elected a second time. Politicians who play the minority game are scum and what truly hold back progress. Denial of a problem is never a solution. Why do you Donald Trump is so popular? People want their problems actually recognized with real-world solutions presented. The blame game only creates a bigger rift(as we've seen). If your life sucks, fix it. I'm not accusing you of anything personally Janus, if you feel that way I apologize. Like my rambling response? 

janus : There were and still are reasons to doubt obama's honestly about his faith. That's a bigger concern to me that what it actually is. Not to mention the likelihood that he wasn't even born in Hawaii. Kim Davis at least was a democrat speaking of religious nuts by the way. (I assume she would meet your criteria) Atheist nuts can be worse. Ask a burnt down church. But please don't try to tell me that any Christian is a pedophile. Pretty sure that one's hard to reconcile with God. A pedophile is a pedophile. Child porn rings aren't run by Mr nice guy either way. It's one thing to be secular, but you don't have to go around pretending to be offended by a nativity scene on public property. The anti-religion, liberal media paints a picture and sells it. That's the only way democrats even stand a chance ever. "vote for us, we'll give you free table scraps for everyone!' How many lies did Billary tell during her last debate?(if you want to call it that) Some sources said over 20. Even left-leaning sources had to acquiesce.(even though they still say she 'won') I'm totally independent and will NEVER vote even if they throw me in jail. That's my right. I pay taxes and I'm a citizen so I get a voice like anyone. I hate republicans for some of their policies and I hate democrats for theirs. I should be king. A president ought to represent the majority of voters though probably. At least in action. When people are knocking on doors and throwing Christians in the street and butchering them while obama golfs and doesn't even mention it people get perturbed. The vast majority of Americans identify as Christian still. Our current president has more sympathy for non-Christian causes at times it seems. But why does one side have to label the other as crazy(nuts) anyways? If we have a different view, it doesn't make one of us crazy, it likely means that life circumstances have effected different priorities on our value system. I'm pro-life. That also means I'm anti-death penalty. Many people think they can have their cake and eat it too. Either you're stoning people for adultery or you believe that Jesus shed his blood to make that sort of judgement unnecessary. Personally, I believe the science that says a human fetus feels itself being killed in vitro. And it hurts. It's not even a religious thing. Morning after pill go for it. Pay for it. Execute a man and he can never find personal salvation. Throw him in a cell and give him a Bible if he asks for one. Besides the innocents that are executed and the fact that it's simply cheaper to incarcerate a person for life anymore. But when Billary thought it would help her cause, she was against gay marriage. So was obama until AFTER he was elected a second time. Politicians who play the minority game are scum and what truly hold back progress. Denial of a problem is never a solution. Why do you Donald Trump is so popular? People want their problems actually recognized with real-world solutions presented. The blame game only creates a bigger rift(as we've seen). If your life sucks, fix it. I'm not accusing you of anything personally Janus, if you feel that way I apologize. Like my rambling response? 

I think for reference I'll say I'm an atheist and even though I do tend to critcize what I find to be negative aspects of religion, if I agree with their policies not really. If they're a a very devout religious person it wont matter as long as they don't try to incorporate the beliefs of said religion I don't agree with into their policies. In which case I probably wouldn't agree with them to begin with.

It's not really that big of deal here in Sweden, I actually don't know for sure the religious beliefs of our prime minister or of the leaders of the other parties (aside from the christian democratic party ) even though I could probably find out if I wanted to or make an educated guess.

SoL@R : I am well-aware of where I posted this thread, since it would mostly reach the people to whom it seems to matter so much. I now understand it better; I completely disagree but at least I understand. Personally, the only thing religious that would influence my vote for someone (should I ever be voting again) is if that person wanted to violate the Constitution (or worse, amend it) to instill religious principles. This Republic was founded on the principles of individual rights and freedoms, and it worked pretty well that way. Thank you for your respectful answer.

Ferdinand : Someone once told be a good reason to be suspicious about his origins (his social security number was from Connecticut). However Obama still keeps seemingly constitutional dubious actions like federal monies to religious groups and the national day of prayer, among others. And OF COURSE not do I not imply that every priest is a pedophile. There have been quite a few but unless an inquiry shows they all are, I will not cast that stone.

However, putting ANYTHING religious on public property is... dubious too. By accepting ONE, they have to accept all the others, as the Satanist trolls have shown in Detroit (?) recently.

Zlinqx : I am the same way, but even in the Prairies (highly conservative) it does not seem to matter.

janus : I thought all successful politicians were devil-worshipers anyways. To vote is to vote for satan basically.

Honestly? Yeah it matters. It matters because some religions teach and encourage things contrary to the principles that the U.S. was founded on. As such, I would say no, someone who holds one of those religions as their own should not be a president.

Example? Look at Obama. He and the democratic party have turned our nation on it's head by going against the very ideas we were founded on. It also just so happens that he is NOT a Christian of any sort. I won't argue what religion he calls himself as that's irrelevant to my point, as anyone can call themselves any religion they want. What I mean is his views do not line up with Christianity, nor do they line up with the foundation laid by the forefathers.

And the main reason religion has been such an issue in recent elections is because everyone wants to harp on about same sex marriage and abortion (both of which are contrary to traditional Christianity). So Republicans feel the need to speak out about their religion while democrats feel the need to call Christians nuts and various other slanders (thanks Hilary. :3 I'm glad you feel that way about me, because I've seen your ideas of good judgment and sanity xD).

However, slightly off topic though it may be, I would like to point out that, despite me thinking homosexuality is a sin because the Bible expressly condemns it, and despite me thinking that abortion is a sin because again, the Bible expressly condemns killing, and even prescribed the death penalty for killing an unborn child (though thankfully, as Ferdinand pointed out Jesus' sacrifice did away with the death penalty for reasons that are too doctrinal and deep to get into in this particular thread), a TRUE Christian does NOT hate homosexuals or people who get or perform an abortion. This is left wing extremist garbage. Yeah there are some hateful "Christians" but there are also fakes that call themselves Christians...correlation? And there are hateful atheists, so what? Every point of view is going to have it's fair share of jerks that claim it as their own.

Labels ensure wrong assumptions, not all religious people are jerks, not all atheists are jerks, and the media is a bunch of hateful idiotic babble with a left wing extremist agenda. Doesn't everyone know this by now? ;p

Ferdinand : Pretty much, yes. Even so-called conservatives like W of Reagan raped the constitution constantly by expanding government and indebting it like crazy.

Eirinn : to be fair, he merely continued what most of his predecessors did. It is not like W was the epitome of a constitutionalist (he expanded Medicare, created No Child Left Behind). Also, the GOP's attachement to religion, while not good nor bad in itself, seems kind of hypocrite since they supposedly want smaller government... except in the bedroom. Instead of wanting to constitutionalize whatever definition of marriage they wish - it changed since Henry VIII, by the way - why don't they just take government out of it?

janus :

Yes they do. Kinda. I won't vote for a guy that's pro-choice. I won't vote for someone that would actively promote something I find morally abhorrent. But, if they don't label themselves as "Christian", it's not a count against them. I simply want someone with at least slightly similar morals.

I am in the same boat as Zlinqx and this is just my opinion feel free to disagree. I don' care what religion or who they believe in as long as I agree with the policies and that it benefits those around me (not really that bothered if it doesn't benefit me personally but that is just me and how I think) I'll vote for them. Again I am really only talking about Scotland as we have an election next year as well as you guys in America. The UK Parliament is a different story and can't say much for England, Wales and N Ireland but I think for the most part it is pretty much the same but I understand where you guys are coming from.

PS If this comment turns out garbage please tell me as I am on holiday in the boiling hot country that is Cyprus dying from the heat (how can people live in this heat) and I am typing on a Tablet so I can pretty much be typing any old nonsense. I'll try and edit it on Thursday if need be.

Txgangsta : Even though I am not a believer, I have to admit I would be more hesitant to vote for someone who claims to be atheist. In my experience these people have replaced the supernatural God with the God State, which is about as bad as someone wanting a theocracy.

tornadocam : he does strike me as a conservative, but is he "professing" his faith that much? I guess the selective mainstream media filters that away because he never "seemed" the Mike Huckabee type (or even Ted Cruz).

Time for me to put my two cents. IN NO PLACE IN THE CONSTITUTION, is there the word god! Some states have altered the federal version I think to add something like our father or "our supreme overlord and ruler" (which does NOT deem it God exactly) This country was founded on freedom, no more no less. Mind you, as a man who firmly believes in God I think this- YES, today's politics, if not OUR WORLD, is trying to be founded on, and set by God and in many bad ways. Need I say more than your average Facebook post of "Type amen and you get money/riches/your fantasy?" Sorry, but though the book says Ask and it shall be given, it does take EFFORT. STILL, to paraphrase my point, it's not the politicians that make God a necessity on us all, but a lot of people. If one believes that should suffice, should it not? THAT'S FAITH!


(A note to the site, if I ain't posting quality stuff let me know. I love any feedback and I DO HAVE a comment bar. But I hope what I have been doing lately suffices however.)

The answer to this is simple: separation of church and state.

Leave religion out of the equation.