Would They Be Elected Today??? (morals, reject, beliefs, attending)

[The Seeker]

Our first six presidents, George Washington thru John Quincy Adams, weren't church going Christians. Most, if not all of them, rejected the divinity of Christ. Given the current religious climate in this country, do you believe that any of them would be elected if they were currently running for President of the US? Do you believe that people place too much emphasis on a candidates religious beliefs?

[Jistyr]

Oh I believe that our citizens place way too much emphasis on a presdential candidates's religious beliefs nowadays.

George Washington is easily my favorite president, especially because of his beliefs to not form political parties, but today he would be left in the dust. In his Tripoli Treaty he stated the fact that the United States is not at all based on Christianity and if he were caught saying that today he would have no chance at all.

[Aqualung]

I don't think they would, but not from their religion. They wouldn't because people are so far astray of what the first few intended that everybody would see them as radicals.

[The Seeker]

Oh I believe that our citizens place way too much emphasis on a presdential candidates's religious beliefs nowadays.

No doubt. That's why almost every presidential candidate feels the need to voice their religious convictions. I saw a recent poll that showed 25% of those polled wouldn't vote for an atheist. Given this high number, I would doubt that many of our first presidents would be elected if they ran today. Just look how much people made a fuss over JFK being a catholic.

[lombas]

Originally Posted by The Seeker

Our first six presidents, George Washington thru John Quincy Adams, weren't church going Christians. Most, if not all of them, rejected the divinity of Christ. Given the current religious climate in this country, do you believe that any of them would be elected if they were currently running for President of the US? Do you believe that people place too much emphasis on a candidates religious beliefs?

Correct me if I am wrong.

• George Washington was never "elected" as he ran unopposed two times
• John Adams was an attending congregationalist
• Thomas Jefferson went to church if able to
• What Madison's concerned, Pinckney can hardly be called "opposition"
• The same goes for Monroe (, but indeed, doubts about his faith are serious)
• I have no idea about JQ Adams

While not an American, I do not believe that a nonreligious candidate could have serious claims on the presidency in the current climate.

[jimbob]

i'm not entirely sure. They had higher standards and morals that they actually followed then do a lot of "religious" candidates do nowadays. i guess we'll just have to ressurect them to find out :P

[PureX]

I really don't think religion is playing as big a role in elections as religionists and the news media like to claim. They were viewed as the swing votes in the last few elections, because the electorate has been so profoundly divided on so many issues. But that will not be the case in the next elections. The country is no longer so divided on the issue of Iraq, or on which party is the least incompetent in terms of national security, economics, and emergency preparedness. So a few religious fanatics voting entirely on banning abortion and gay marriage are not going to hold any significant number of swing votes. And the result will be that neither party will have to pander to them as they felt they did in the past elections.

My own concern regarding the religions of our politicians is that they be able to set their personal religious beliefs aside so that they can represent the people who elected them, instead of their gods. I don't want any politician doing God's will. I want them doing our will. And if they can't do that, they should be honest enough to resign, or refuse the office in the first place. And I sure will NOT vote for any politician who claims he's going to restore America to a "Godly nation" or that he has a mandate from God to set us all aright in God's eyes. And I doubt that many other Americans would, either. We may be a nation made up of mostly Christians, but we definitely are not a "Christian nation" and we never were.

Thank God!

[The Seeker]

I really don't think religion is playing as big a role in elections as religionists and the news media like to claim. They were viewed as the swing votes in the last few elections, because the electorate has been so profoundly divided on so many issues. But that will not be the case in the next elections. The country is no longer so divided on the issue of Iraq, or on which party is the least incompetent in terms of national security, economics, and emergency preparedness. So a few religious fanatics voting entirely on banning abortion and gay marriage are not going to hold any significant number of swing votes. And the result will be that neither party will have to pander to them as they felt they did in the past elections.

I have to disagree with you here. Abortion and gay marriage aren't just issues for religious fanatics. That's why all republican candidates with the exception of Guiliani are making sure that people understand that they're anti-abortion. Also, a Rasmussen survey indicated that 43% of those polled indicated that they would never vote for a Mormon (Mitt Romney). This to me is insane. I guess people think that if he's President that he'll make polygamy legal. Given that a large percentage of the population would never vote for a Mormon, I find it reasonable to believe that Thomas Jefferson, being that he rejected the divinity of Christ, wouldn't have a chance of being elected today.

[The Seeker]

My own concern regarding the religions of our politicians is that they be able to set their personal religious beliefs aside so that they can represent the people who elected them, instead of their gods. I don't want any politician doing God's will. I want them doing our will. And if they can't do that, they should be honest enough to resign, or refuse the office in the first place. And I sure will NOT vote for any politician who claims he's going to restore America to a "Godly nation" or that he has a mandate from God to set us all aright in God's eyes. And I doubt that many other Americans would, either. We may be a nation made up of mostly Christians, but we definitely are not a "Christian nation" and we never were.

I do agree with you on this point.