[Debate] Religion and Politics should they mix?

[theRPGdude]

Many god-fearing people feel that religion should be involved in politics. They believe that religion can play a vital part in solving humankind's problems. However, other sincere believers think that religion and politics should be separate. What do you personally think of religion's role in politics? Should those powerful forces work hand-in-hand?

Jesus Christ has been described as "the most influential figure in the religious history of mankind. So, imagine if you could ask Jesus a question. Should religion be involved in politics? What would he say?

Reasons I believe in.

1. Human ability is limited.
2. Wicked sprit forces currently have an influence.
3. True Christians give allegiance only to God's Kingdom.

What do you think?

[Traffy]

No.

[Dormammu]

No they should stay separated.

[★saaaaaadpanda]

It really depends on the degree to which you value individual freedom.

[XxSageoftheSixpathsIIXx]

Religion or any church has no place in government, aside from moral obligation.

[Hipster Madara]

They should stay separate....

[Yusuke Urameshi]

Well let's see. American government was founded by Christian men, such as Ben Franklin. They seemingly created one of the best, if not the best, system of government in history. The fewest problem, rebellions, etc. I say yes, but to a certain degree.

[3MESSIAH]

hell no!!

[theRPGdude]

Well let's see. American government was founded by Christian men, such as Ben Franklin. They seemingly created one of the best, if not the best, system of government in history. The fewest problem, rebellions, etc. I say yes, but to a certain degree.

Good point. Like I said there's some influence in there choices.

[Ldude]

It depends what area you're talking about. I'm going to assume you mean the U.S. If that's the case:

No, because one of our national rights is the freedom of religion. Not everyone in the country is Christian, and frankly, don't care in the least bit about Jesus Christ. The U.S. does not practice caesaropapism, and I see no reason for this to change. Some people don't even believe in religion; separation between religion and politics remains quite necessary.

[Uchiha Legacy]

It depends what area you're talking about. I'm going to assume you mean the U.S. If that's the case:

No, because one of our national rights is the freedom of religion. Not everyone in the country is Christian, and frankly, don't care in the least bit about Jesus Christ. The U.S. does not practice caesaropapism, and I see no reason for this to change. Some people don't even believe in religion; separation between religion and politics remains quite necessary.

You take that back! =O

[YowYan]

No, not all. Religion equals ignorance imo. If you have the church influencing the government like in usa, your gonna have idiots who call themselves educated try to force us their moral standards. For example, gay marriage..something that govt shouldn't even be allowed to make decisions over. No, im not gay, but I don't think any authority should be allowed to make decisions that doesnt concern them.

[theRPGdude]

It depends what area you're talking about. I'm going to assume you mean the U.S. If that's the case:

No, because one of our national rights is the freedom of religion. Not everyone in the country is Christian, and frankly, don't care in the least bit about Jesus Christ. The U.S. does not practice caesaropapism, and I see no reason for this to change. Some people don't even believe in religion; separation between religion and politics remains quite necessary.

We see problems in today's system of things. People losing there jobs I recently got laid off from my job. The economy is not getting better. House prices are low. We can see that mans ability to rule this country has diminish. But your points are well. And yes I'm referring to the US.

[Yusuke Urameshi]

It depends what area you're talking about. I'm going to assume you mean the U.S. If that's the case:

No, because one of our national rights is the freedom of religion. Not everyone in the country is Christian, and frankly, don't care in the least bit about Jesus Christ. The U.S. does not practice caesaropapism, and I see no reason for this to change. Some people don't even believe in religion; separation between religion and politics remains quite necessary.

If no one really cares about Christiantity, like you say, then why do 90% of presidential candidates claim they're Christian, or at least that they believe in God? I'm not trying to be a douche or anything, I find that a legit question and feel that it deserves a legit answer.

[Hipster Madara]

Well let's see. American government was founded by Christian men, such as Ben Franklin. They seemingly created one of the best, if not the best, system of government in history. The fewest problem, rebellions, etc. I say yes, but to a certain degree.

Good points.
I would say influence in a more distant way where it's more of trying to get the best from religion, not try to force upon religion....

[Yusuke Urameshi]

Good points.
I would say influence in a more distant way where it's more of trying to get the best from religion, not try to force upon religion....

Exactly. The church shouldn't be in control of the government (The Anglican Church), because that feeds rebellion. Look at the pilgrims for instance. On the other end of the spectrum, government shouldn't be without some guidance of religion. That would form anarchy. There has to be a balance in between these two sides of the spectrum.

[theRPGdude]

Yeah this question is most common asked by people.

[Ldude]

If no one really cares about Christiantity, like you say, then why do 90% of presidential candidates claim they're Christian, or at least that they believe in God? I'm not trying to be a douche or anything, I find that a legit question and feel that it deserves a legit answer.

I'm questioning from where you get your statistics. The majority of the country's population is Christian. :shrug:

And I didn't say no one cares about Christianity; I said not everyone does... because they're not Christian, like myself.
Another problem with Christianity (in this case) having an influence over the government is the fact that Christianity is also divided up into many sects. They don't keep all of the same principles/traditions anymore. Adding religion to the influence over government would probably create more trouble amongst these divisions.

[Yusuke Urameshi]

I'm questioning from where you get your statistics. The majority of the country's population is Christian. :shrug:

And I didn't say no one cares about Christianity; I said not everyone does... because they're not Christian, like myself.
Another problem with Christianity (in this case) having an influence over the government is the fact that Christianity is also divided up into many sects. They don't keep all of the same principles/traditions anymore. Adding religion to the influence over government would probably create more trouble amongst these divisions.

Addressing these denominations of Christianity, that's why the First Amendment (freedom of religion) was brought into existence. The pilgrims didn't want to persecute others as they were persecuted by the Anglican church, so they created this amendment. (People think this meant that Islam, Muslim, Atheism, etc., were what it entailed, but nope). That's kind of off topic but meh. I'm not expert on all denominations, or very many for that fact, but I wanna say it's safe to say that the fundamentals of the denominations are roughly the same.
Ex:Baptists don't believe in dancing. I'm a Baptist and I find that stupid. So....

[sasori345]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_100

[theRPGdude]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_100

Haha love it!

[narutokage99]

Let me use the outdated cliché of “religions are the cause war and conflict” and show how war and conflict are not unique to religions. In the relatively short history of secularism the following massacres have committed in the name of non-religious ideologies such a communism, nationalism and social-Darwinism:

70,000,000 under chairman Mao
20,000,000 under Stalin
2,000,000 no longer exist because of Pol Pot
700,000 innocent Iraqi’s in the current occupation
500,000 Iraqi children in the 10 year sanctions

So it can be clearly seen above that war and conflict are not religious monopolies, rather they are human phenomena and not unique to religion. As Professor Stephen L. Carter argues in “Civility”:

“[T]he statement that wars have been fought in the name of God is a non sequitur. As the theologian Walter Wink once pointed out, more people have died in the twentieth century’s secular wars than in the preceding fifty centuries of fighting combined…. No religious war in history, not all the religious wars of history added together, did as much damage as this century’s wars of nationalism and ideology.”

[Black Adam]

Let me use the outdated cliché of “religions are the cause war and conflict” and show how war and conflict are not unique to religions. In the relatively short history of secularism the following massacres have committed in the name of non-religious ideologies such a communism, nationalism and social-Darwinism:

70,000,000 under chairman Mao
20,000,000 under Stalin
2,000,000 no longer exist because of Pol Pot
700,000 innocent Iraqi’s in the current occupation
500,000 Iraqi children in the 10 year sanctions

So it can be clearly seen above that war and conflict are not religious monopolies, rather they are human phenomena and not unique to religion. As Professor Stephen L. Carter argues in “Civility”:

“[T]he statement that wars have been fought in the name of God is a non sequitur. As the theologian Walter Wink once pointed out, more people have died in the twentieth century’s secular wars than in the preceding fifty centuries of fighting combined…. No religious war in history, not all the religious wars of history added together, did as much damage as this century’s wars of nationalism and ideology.”

Don't forget Imperialism another country encroaching on foreign lands by enslaving and killing the natives then pillaging all of the natural resources then leaving said country a desiccated husk of it's former self.

But in any case if the church were to take an even bigger role in politics than it already does then they gotta give up that tax exemption.

[drknght]

Religions may be different but they share the same principles. It's praising the God or someone special. It's obeying the rules. It's opposite to making everyone equal.

Politics and religion don't mix.

[Germanicus]

This has probably been brought up, but to reinforce it, separation of church and state is the best thing that should be happening to politics ever. You can end the thread right here. That should sum it up.