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Should religion be combined with politics? Should laws be made according to religious viewpoints? Recent Gallup polls* show that the majority of Americans now approve of abortion and gay marriage, oddly there is an increase among outspoken religious politicians attempting to push laws against both of these. (let's not drag the thread off topic with discussions of these two topics, it's just to point out a trend).
It seems that even as we hear about the US becoming less religious that we see more politicians pandering to religious groups. Or even worse, IMO, they actually believe that they are the earthly implement of a deity.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/22/religion-politics-america_n_933395.html
Please read the entire article before posting so everyone is on the same page.
Let's keep personal religious beliefs out of this, the discussion should be if religion and politics should be combined. If you believe they should be combined, can you explain why it would be beneficial for the country? Do you think the heavy religious emphasis by some politicians is good or bad?
* Gallup polls
http://www.gallup.com/poll/147662/first-time-majority-americans-favor-legal-gay-marriage.aspx
http://www.gallup.com/poll/147734/americans-split-along-pro-choice-pro-life-lines.aspx
I know feelings on this are highly charged, so let's please stick to discussion about this trend without getting out of control.
It seems that even as we hear about the US becoming less religious that we see more politicians pandering to religious groups. Or even worse, IMO, they actually believe that they are the earthly implement of a deity.
Has America gotten more religious, or just American politics?
The country has grown less religious since the 1970s, while frequent churchgoers are now much more likely to vote Republican or support the Tea Party, according to recent studies.
As a result, faith-filled rhetoric and campaign stops make Americans appear more Christian than they really are, according Mark Chaves, a Duke University professor of sociology and religion.
"The Michele Bachmanns and Rick Perrys of the world are playing to a base that's much smaller than it was in the 1970s and 1980s," said Chaves, whose new book, "American Religion: Contemporary Trends," analyzes trends based on data from the General Social Survey and the National Congregations Study.
The Tea Party's sinking approval rating -- currently at 20 percent, below Republicans, Democrats, atheists and Muslims -- signals a growing discomfort with mingling faith and politics, including the kind of "overt religious language and imagery" recently used by Bachmann and Perry on the campaign trail, Putnam and Campbell recently wrote in The New York Times.
What's more, Putnam and Campbell say the Tea Party is much more religious than originally thought. "The Tea Party's generals may say their overriding concern is a smaller government," they concluded, "but not their rank and file, who are more concerned about putting God in government."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/22/religion-politics-america_n_933395.html
Please read the entire article before posting so everyone is on the same page.
Let's keep personal religious beliefs out of this, the discussion should be if religion and politics should be combined. If you believe they should be combined, can you explain why it would be beneficial for the country? Do you think the heavy religious emphasis by some politicians is good or bad?
* Gallup polls
http://www.gallup.com/poll/147662/first-time-majority-americans-favor-legal-gay-marriage.aspx
http://www.gallup.com/poll/147734/americans-split-along-pro-choice-pro-life-lines.aspx
I know feelings on this are highly charged, so let's please stick to discussion about this trend without getting out of control.
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