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Religion and Politics
- Thread starter rojse
- Start date
jam.bar
Mr
The two are mutually exclusive as far as i'm concerned. I don't let my opinion of one effect the other. I'm not all that up on politics so mixing it with religion would confuse me further I think :drool:
SHANMAC
Member
Prior to becoming a believer, my political views were completely separate from my religious views. After becoming a believer, I have had some difficulty resolving my religious views with the general platform and views of my particular political party. Currently, I don't think any political party will live up to my religious views.
rojse
RF Addict
What religious views do you hold that you believe the major parties fail with?
SHANMAC
Member
I'll try to answer your question, but I don't want to get too deep into politics. I agree with many social programs of the democrats. However, I've been disappointed in the party's waffling over issues such as abortion (an issue which I struggle with anyway). While the republican party seems to have a firm, no-waffling, stance on the abortion issue, I disagree with decisions they've made in the recent past. I don't think I'll ever be completely happy with any particular candidate from a religious perspective because they, like every other human, are not perfect. Moreover, if they have any interest in becoming elected, they have no choice but to cave on certain issues.
rojse
RF Addict
So, do you see picking a political party as seeing who least compromises on your own religious beliefs?
SHANMAC
Member
That's pretty much what it boils down to for me - which candidate is going to do the greater good given his/her position on the issues. What about you?
rojse
RF Addict
Me? I'm an atheist. I don't have any religious beliefs that I believe a political candidate or party must meet.
DadBurnett
Instigator
Can you put on colored glasses and not see everything somehow tinted? Our views, religious or political are processed by out brain/mind construct and there can be nio clear separation. I like what Jesus said about our seeing through a glass darkly - the glass being a mirror which reflects a reverse image and the "glass" of Jesus' time was cloudy and distorted. I think that is is possible for an individual to have a clear picture of their religious and political "knowings," but the greater reality is that the pictures held in mind do not faithfully reflect reality ...
rojse
RF Addict
So, it would be fair to say, in your case, that both are affected by your own views and opinions?
Caladan
Agnostic Pantheist
Do you really feel that way? would you be OK with neo conservative domination of all politics then?
rojse
RF Addict
I don't have any religious beliefs that a candidate must meet. However, I do have moral values, and am also opposed to blatant stupidity and hypocriscy. :yes:
Caladan
Agnostic Pantheist
Would you rather secular elements or religious elements being politically spread?
rojse
RF Addict
It is not whether a candidate is religious or not, but what values they hold, and whether they want to impose their beliefs on me or not.
DadBurnett
Instigator
Absolutely!
The other aspect of this is that in seven decades, both have changed, evolved.
BruceDLimber
Well-Known Member
Greetings! 
The central purpose of the Baha'i is unity, as expressed in our central teaching we call the "Three Onenesses":
And it's worth noting that our own internal administrative system functions world-wide (and at levels from local to international) via a democratic process which is both maximally unific and completely non-political! (For example, nominations, campaigning, and discussion of individual personailties are all forbidden.)
Works great for us!
Best regards,
Bruce
The central purpose of the Baha'i is unity, as expressed in our central teaching we call the "Three Onenesses":
- the Oneness of God,
- the oneness of humanity, and
- the common foundation of all the great religions (which are all God-sent).
And it's worth noting that our own internal administrative system functions world-wide (and at levels from local to international) via a democratic process which is both maximally unific and completely non-political! (For example, nominations, campaigning, and discussion of individual personailties are all forbidden.)
Works great for us!
Best regards,
Bruce
Kilgore Trout
Misanthropic Humanist
My religious and political views are connected in that the both are conclusions resulting from the same consistent worldview.
rojse
RF Addict
Greetings!
The central purpose of the Baha'i is unity, as expressed in our central teaching we call the "Three Onenesses":
As a result, particpation in partisan politics is condemned as retrograde to our goals, and membership is political parties is prohibited. (Baha'is can serve in non-partisan occupations such as judges.)
- the Oneness of God,
- the oneness of humanity, and
- the common foundation of all the great religions (which are all God-sent).
And it's worth noting that our own internal administrative system functions world-wide (and at levels from local to international) via a democratic process which is both maximally unific and completely non-political! (For example, nominations, campaigning, and discussion of individual personailties are all forbidden.)
Works great for us!
Best regards,
Bruce
What if you saw one particular political party as being counter-productive to your goals of the one-ness of humanity, for example? Would you be compelled to intervene, Bruce?
BruceDLimber
Well-Known Member
Most assuredly!
We are allowed to vote, and take such things into consideration when we do!
Best regards,
Bruce
rojse
RF Addict
Most assuredly!
We are allowed to vote, and take such things into consideration when we do!
Best regards,
Bruce
You're allowed to vote, but you will not actively participate - you won't work for one particular political party, you won't hand out fliers or the like? Do I have that correct?