SOME QUESTIONS FOR ATS MEMBERS:

1). Do the religious beliefs of political candidates influence your vote?

2). Do you believe a person's religious beliefs should influence their vote or do you get irritated by such admissions?

3). Do you think an American candidate's chances become slim based if they admit to believing something other than mainstream Christianity?

4). Do you think this is acceptable or biased?

5). Do you think a candidates personal religious views should be brought up in the media or during presidential debates or should this be a private and personal issue?

6). Do you ever get suspicious of candidates, aware of the fact that Christians seem to have a better chance, sometimes profess false beliefs?

Judging by my signature, it's pretty obvious what I believe but it would be nice to hear everyone else's thoughts.

reply to post by AshleyD

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The ONLY time I have a problem with their beliefs is when it hinders our progress. For example stem cells and G.W.

Another post I also read, and I don't know if it's accurate or not, but someone said they don't want to vote for Ron Paul because he believes in Creationism and not Evolution, and I can kind of see what they mean. As long as their beliefs don't hurt our science or technology or anything else, I couldn't care less.

But mainly, for the most part, NO, I don't care if someone's Islamic, Jewish, Christian, or Hindu. Don't care.

only if their religious beliefs fly in the face of reality. if they believe that the earth is flat or at the center of the universe, i'm not voting for them.
if they believe the earth rides around on the back of a turtle, i'm not voting for them
if they don't believe in evolution, i'm not voting for them



i don't think their religious beliefs should influence their vote in a secular deomcratic republic



yes...at least for the presidency. they actually did a poll recently that showed that only 45% of americans would vote for an atheist...



insanely biased.



well...not really. unless it's a specific belief that pertains to a political issue...but then the candidates tend to bring it up themselves.



not really.



eh, it's ok. wonderful thread, by the way.

reply to post by bigbert81

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Thanks for replying. Yes, MIMS made a thread saying he would not vote for Ron Paul due to the fact he does not believe in Evolution. But he made it clear on his thread it had more to do with science instead of religion. So, I thought it would be nice to start a thread to see what everyone thinks about it.

reply to post by madnessinmysoul

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Thanks for the reply and compliment, MIMS. Hopefully others will throw in their two cents as well.

Everything a candidate says or does influences my vote.

When I see them pandering to any group and changing their stance depending on who they are trying to influence; brings up the question of
HONOR.

When a candidate adopts an ideological stance, just to garner votes also brings up the question of Honor.

Usually I end up voting against a particular candidate than actually voting for anyone.

Just to be a politician in the first place, brings up the question of honor.
I like the mayor of my small village though. I know him and he is a man of HONOR!

but on topic, I couldn't vote for a cult member and most religions fall under that category in my opinion.

"Lesser of two Evils"

[edit on 11-2-2008 by whaaa]

Excellent reply, Whaaa.



Here's a question (and I admit it influences me): What do you think of faux pas in their personal life? Like having an affair or tax scandal? Do you believe someone's morals should be taken into consideration? I don't remember who said it (Patrick Henry, maybe? Someone like that, at least.) but the quote goes something like this:

"A man cannot govern a nation if he cannot govern a state. A man cannot govern a state if he cannot govern a city. A man cannot govern a city if he cannot govern his home. A man cannot govern his home if he cannot govern himself."



Agreed. Flip-floppers lose all respect in my opinion.

Great thread AshleyD, flag and star

I too am very interested in how individuals decide their votes.

It reveals a lot about the person on many levels.

Hi Ashley.

I pretty much agree with whaaa. Watch what they do, pay attention to how they speak and wait for the cock-ups and inconsistencies. I remember a quote, something along the lines of "Anyone who wishes to be a politician should be shot". I can't remember who said it and can't find it right now, but this one's for you...



MonKey

Yep!



A persons religious beliefs should influence their vote, IMO.



No, McCain professed to being an atheist in the first fox news debate and he is the front runner. Later, in other debates, it listed him as being an Episcopalian.... What a joke!



I would say it is acceptable, but obviously means very little at this point...



I think it should be discussed. Most people of faith, regardless what belief they may hold, shapes their decision making process on some level.



Suspicious? It's totally obvious! For example, how can one truly be pro-abortion or pro-gay marriage and yet profess their "deep relationship" with Christ and/or God? That is hypocrisy! Or McCain saying he is an atheist, then immediately saying afterwards when he looked into the canyon sunset, he knew the hand of God was there

All I can say, is that I am deeply disappointed with all the front runners. I do like Mike Huckabee (what a suprise), but he won't get it.

Not sound conspiritorial, but I do believe it comes down to who has the CFR, IMF, Bilderberg, and Tri-latteral connections. If I am right, you will see a Hillary vs. McCain ticket in the end with Hillary taking the White House. That is ofcourse if the rapture doesn't happen first or Bush suspends the Constitution

I am sitting this one out personally. I vote my conscience and if there is no one I feel that deserves it, no one gets it!

reply to post by defcon365

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um...McCain never said he's an atheist..
where did you get that from?

Thank you for pointing that out and correcting me madnes... He is an evolutionist! To me though, it is the same differencel. He is still a hypocrite and is obviously speaking out of both side of his mouth to win votes. However, I thought the question was athiest:

YouTube Link

[edit on 13-2-2008 by defcon365]

reply to post by defcon365

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um...you can be a practicing christian and still believe in science, they're not mutually exclusive.

in fact, he pretty much falls in line with the rest of his denomination on that one.

I could careless if they believed the easter bunny is god...

As long as the easter bunny doesn't tell them how to run the country, their personal beliefs are just that, personal..

The only thing I care about is that nice little document called the Constitution and the nice little oath all of our leaders take to protect it...

Its such a simple document really, Its purpose is to limit the power of Government, to the point that Governments only purpose is to protect our rights, thats it plain and simple...

What someone, Does, Says, Owns, or Believes is not the Governments business and Government has no right to regulate these things, No Man, No Majority, and No Government has the right to change this, And the only limitations on a Citizen is when he uses his freedoms to violate another Citizens freedoms...

Its so simple not even a child could screw it up... unless of course he screwed it up on purpose... and that of course takes us into the present...


Religious views need never to coincide with such a simple system, it was made simple so we could avoid these issues we have today...

[edit on 13-2-2008 by C0le]

Yep .



Well for me a couple things stand out as a key test . I would not vote for any candidate that does not support the separation of the church and the state and/or supports creationism .



Its clear that at the presidential level a candidate who isnt a Christian would stand no chance what so ever. Other wise that and related issues are for Americans to deal with.





It all depends on a candidate policy's . For example if they support the teaching of such BS as ID in schools then clearly there religious views will be a public matter.



Not locally the fruit cake who goes by the name of Brian Tamaki and his supporters have really caused damage to any Christian political movement here in NZ. This year is an election so it remains to be seen what will happen on this front.

Yeah,, when he was running here, he attended North Phoenix Baptist (my Church) Then some friends I know at Tommy Barnets Valley Cathedral said he was attending ther church but it was the noon service. Those two Church's are HUGE, Tommy Barnet is Pentecostal so, I guess old McCain was trying to put us all together.

Then after elections,, we never saw him again. Then I heard some things on Talk Radio about him that really makes me wonder.

Geeez thats all we need.


sigh



[edit on 14-2-2008 by Conspiriology]

Damn now I am really confused,, what denomination IS HE?

I think he is a panthiest.

LOL I just watched that video,, very clever way to ask him if he believes in God. Ya know though, you could tell he was put on the spot with that one yet he answered it. He always says what he means whether ya like it or not he says some controversial things.

Bomb Bomb Bomb,,bomb bomb Iran


Wow guess I spoke too soon

www.abovetopsecret.com...
- Con

[edit on 14-2-2008 by Conspiriology]

reply to post by Conspiriology

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Mccain is an Episcopalian. he has never said other wise...

and again, you continue to spew the ignorance that evolution = atheism
that's simply not the case.

That was a good McCain video Conspiriology!!! Thanks for that link :-)

That is an excellent video, Con. Seems true for the way so many politicians act and flip flop around but it is humorous to catch it all on tape. The candidates are simply awful this time around. Thompson is now gone, Paul is almost gone it seems, and Huckabee will probably end up by the wayside as well. That pretty much leaves McCain, Clinton, and Obama. Why doesn't PTS have the puke smilie like BTS?

[edit on 2/14/2008 by AshleyD]

reply to post by AshleyD

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Even though I am a Christian fanatic, I am also a firm believer in the Republic.

1. Most people's moral compass are set by there personal beliefs, so a candidate of Christian beliefs (as long as it's not just a ploy, or lip service) is more likely to serve the interests of the people.

However there beliefs should not enter the arguments of politics, as this can be seen as a violation of the religious rights of the non-Christian American. Even some Christians both personally and through there sect (Catholicism, Lutheran etc.) can have differing opinion on beliefs in God, and the interpretation of scripture.

2. I think most of the candidates’ more intimate details should be used our decision.

3. Yes, even those who just give lip service to God, because they were brought up that way would (in my opinion) sway there decision. Though I think this is becoming less the case all the time.

4. Oh I do believe it is biased, but it is our right to choose our vote this way if we want.

5. See # 2

6. Yes!