Do your religious beliefs affect your political opinions? (Jesus, moral)

[Jaiket]

Originally Posted by MidnightBlue

Regardless of your religion or lack thereof, do your religious beliefs affect your views on social and political issues? Are your views on abortion or gay rights informed by the teachings of your religion? Are you able to accept human suffering because "they had it coming," either because they defied the law of God or because of their karma?

The system doesn't allow me to set up a poll as complex as I'd like, so I've just listed various issues. Please check the ones where your opinion is informed by the teachings of your religion, then discuss.

How does your religion affect your views?

Would your views be different if it weren't for your religious beliefs?

How?

Since the poll is necessarily ambiguous, I expect the discussion to be more revealing than the poll itself.

Please note that this thread is not in a debate forum, and that it's not the place for debating any of these issues. Please limit discussion to the effect religious beliefs has on opinions about these issues.

I'm unsure. I think my Catholic upbringing may have had some part in radicalising me. It had a completely different affect on many of my peers who developed into racists, bigots and generally unpleasant people.

EDIT: That is, we shared the same religious upbringing, yet turned out differently. I suppose that is evidence to suggest that Catholicism played a minor, or no, role in developing my political views.

[Bouncing Ball]

I don't believe in free will and still vote for democracy. But that's a bit different

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by Jaiket

I think my Catholic upbringing may have had some part in radicalising me. It had a completely different affect on many of my peers who developed into racists, bigots and generally unpleasant people.

Amazing how that works, huh?

[Zephyr]

It affected most of those pretty heavily. I prefer the old way for dealing with a lot of things.

[Theocan]

Somewhat... I believe in fundamentally helping and loving "thy neighbor" Specifically people who are far less off than I am, I feel I have an extreme obligation to help them. And my extreme respect for other cultures and religions. (I'm a Liberal)

[The Voice of Reason]

Originally Posted by Theocan

... And my extreme respect for other cultures and religions. (I'm a Liberal)

You realize, of course, that this dooms you to having to wear the scarlet "U" on your shirt.

That's "U" as in "U"npatriotic, as defined by the right wing.

[Theocan]

Originally Posted by The Voice of Reason

You realize, of course, that this dooms you to having to wear the scarlet "U" on your shirt.

That's "U" as in "U"npatriotic, as defined by the right wing.

Yes, I believe that muslims are not evil... I am not patriotic, and I do not wear a flag pin on a daily basis like 99.9% of the people. I must hate America.