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

[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.

[Scuba Pete]

Definitely! I am Christian, so I am anti-War, anti-bigotry and am all for protecting God's creation.

I invite those who also believe in Jesus to do the same! C'mon Christians, let's show the world that we really LOVE!

[Storm]

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.

For now, I'll just pick one issue: the environment. Please note, I'm oversimplifying. If something doesn't make sense, mea culpa, point it out and I'll try to explain better.

How does your religion affect your views?

One facet of my beliefs is the World Mother. I believe that our planet is a living, sentient* entity, of which we are merely an aspect. This belief carries wth it a moral obligation not to cause harm to said entity.

Furthermore, I believe that the World Mother is capable of at least influencing the evolution of life on Her surface. The implication of this is that if we cause too much damage, She will simply eliminate us and start over. (I believe that AIDS was a "warning shot" in this vein.) We are desireable, but also imminently replaceable. This is the one aspect of my religion that makes me afraid.

[EDIT: I meant sapient, not sentient. I just committed one of my own pet peeves, so sorry.]

[The Voice of Reason]

This is a great thread, Midnight. As soon as I get frubal rights back, I'll be throwing a few in the pot for you.

For me, as an agnostic, my opinions are not shaped by my belief system at all. I base 100% of my opinions on whatever direction rational thought and logic take me.

I do think that if I were a theist, some of my views would change (some would probably change drastically).

For instance, if I were a theist, I would probably be against the death penalty (I'm 100% in favor).

I do have to say that as an agnostic, I place a VERY high importance on the separation of church and state, and I loathe the fact that some (many) religious leaders use the pulpit to promote a particular political agenda (left or right).

Like Storm, I have a great respect for the planet that we live on (although I wouldn't classify it as a sentient being).
Like Scuba Pete, I am strongly anti-War (unless it is absolutely necessary), and I am extremely anti-bigotry. Just as Pete did, I grew up in the south, when racism was commonplace (and it wasn't pretty).

[MidnightBlue]

I checked everything. Although I'm an atheist and reject all dogma, I do have beliefs and opinions. Those are always subject to change, but they are informed -- in part -- by both Buddhism and Quakerism. Looking at politics in terms of compassion, reason, simplicity, peace, justice, and integrity, all of which are good Buddhist and Quaker values, I find it difficult, if not impossible, to separate my religious beliefs from my political opinions.

It's to be hoped that my opinions will continue to change and mature as my understanding changes and matures, but my present level of understanding informs my opinions as they presently stand. I don't really distinguish between religious understanding and any other kind of understanding. I consider mathematics or history as religious an undertaking as meditation.

[Storm]

Originally Posted by MidnightBlue

I consider mathematics or history as religious an undertaking as meditation.

Well said. I agree completely.

[Scuba Pete]

Originally Posted by MidnightBlue

I consider mathematics or history as religious an undertaking as meditation.

I'm sorry, but that just doesn't add up.