If our country is to regain its prominence and prosperity then we the governed need to consider getting God back into our government. We should feel comfortable asking those that want to govern us what their spiritual beliefs are and to let that be a real guide as to how we choose to vote. We should feel comfortable asking about their moral beliefs. I think it’s safe to say that our govt has veered away from a moral anchor that comes from a foundation of God.
I know religion in politics is a polarizing topic but that doesn’t mean it isn’t an important one that shouldn’t be discussed. Religion to me are your core spiritual beliefs and what guides you as to right and wrong on a moral level. Politics to me is the practical governing of the collective populous and your surroundings but for this conversation let’s say it’s our local, state, and federal govt.
Since our govt makes the laws we as a society live by, why wouldn’t you want those people in govt to make those laws based on their moral beliefs? Before you say because those in govt are worthless pieces of crap remember that you elected them to be there! Think about that the next time you go to vote.
Religion always has and always should be in the practical governing of this country. This country was formed because of people looking for religious freedom. There is no way to separate religion and politics, nor should it be attempted. There is NOTHING in our founding documents stating we should not have religion in politics. It does state that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the exercise thereof…” What I read there is that the govt can’t adopt an official religious denomination but I also read that there is total freedom to draw strength and guidance from it as well. We are governed by our peers in a representative form and since that be the case we can’t ask those that govern us to not draw their opinions from their religious (moral) beliefs.
Laws should be based in morality. We create laws to protect each other and to maintain civility. It is morally wrong to kill someone so we make laws against murder. It’s morally wrong to be a thief so we make laws against stealing. The point is we govern ourselves based on our collective perception of right and wrong. That perception is formed from our beliefs. One of the primary ways we gain our beliefs is from our religion. Since the majority of the people in this country claim a Christian faith it is only natural that the law of the land would be influenced by Christianity. To ignore religion in the process of making laws is not realistic. I dare say it’s not ethical to do so either.
If a politician can leave his/her religion at the door when he enters congress, White House, etc, then I certainly don’t want anything to do with them. If they can check their morality at the door then that means they will have the ability and inclination to make immoral laws.
George Washington had a quote that seemed to speak to this quite well. It is “Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”
Ask yourself if those that we have elected govern us with God or morality… If the answer is no maybe we should change who’s governing us?
March 15, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Are you saying that, in order to have a strong moral fortitude, you need to be a vocal, church going Christian?
It seems to me that justice, integrity, and a great work ethic are not exclusive to a religion or the religious. A great argument AGAINST the mix of Church and state is the Muslim societies which are a clerical hierarchy. I’m not so sure true justice can exist in a non-secular state.
March 16, 2010 at 12:43 am
Eric, thanks for esponding. Since I havent written on here in so long I’m suprised anyone would respond
It’s really interesting the visceral reaction people have over embracing a Christian based govt. You asked if I think you need to be a vocal church going Christian. No, I’m not saying that at all. I am not a vocal one and I understand the discomfort level of those that are not Christian listening to those that are. I feel there is a real misconception that all Christians are very judgmental. Truth be known quite the opposite is true because the realization of our own shortcomings humble us. A true personal submission to Jesus as our savior, by nothing other than the grace of God, is also a realization that judgment is ultimately not in our hands but in God’s.
The push to get God and anything religious out of our Govt has left a moral void in the government. My point is you cant have a moral guide without some acknowledgment of faith. Notice I didn’t say a public, Bible pounding, pulpit, acknowledgment of faith. Our founding fathers were not Muslim, they were more inclined to believe what the Christian faith has to offer. They may not have all been Christian but they followed Christian morals. In fact, they understood that not everyone was Christian and consequently made the provisions they did about religion in our founding documents. It would have been easy for them to make it perfectly clear that there not be any faith in government if that was their intent but they chose to include freedom to use religion to govern, hence “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the exercise thereof…”
Comparing the Muslim faith to the Christian faith is not an apples to apples comparison. In fact that’s a whole different discussion altogether.
Again, thanks for reading and responding!!
March 24, 2010 at 6:45 pm
My only issue with religion in general is that people use it as a shield. I know plenty of people who go to church every sunday, but during the week they dont practice what they hear on sunday. Then they will turn around and spout their righteousness to people who DONT go to church, but live their lives in a more spiritual manner. I’d rather know someones values and beliefs than their religion.
That being said, religion is one of the first places in life you learn about values, morals and principles. Without religion many of us would get off to a bad start in life. So religion is a good thing, but I’d rather know what your values are than how many sundays you go to church.