Comments on: The Democratic Party’s Religious Base

By: P-niiice

P-niiice — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:00:19 +0000

The reason why Democrats have been beaten on religion is that religious Democrats don't believe in legislating their beliefs. We still have some respect for individual beliefs and rights, while republicans are just fine with promising evangelicals the moon and the stars of a God-run America, and have no ability or intention to do such a thing.

I'm religious* and I favor gay marriage. Why? Because there's no non-religious reason to oppose it, and I see no harm in allowing gays access to the civil and personal benefits of marriage.

*some people would question that, hehe.

By: P-niiice

P-niiice — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:00:19 +0000

By: ties to life

ties to life — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:11:11 +0000

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By: CraigHickman

CraigHickman — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 23:59:07 +0000

In Barack's case, it's not pandering at all.

It's who he is.

By: CraigHickman

CraigHickman — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 23:57:37 +0000

"One Nation, Under God...."

"In God We Trust"

::

I could go on. But religion and politics will always be intertwined.

I'm not at all religious, but there's never been a separation of church and state and there never will be.

By: Rev Ray Dubuque

Rev Ray Dubuque — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:33:28 +0000

"It’s been infuriating to watch Democrats run away from religion, as if believing in Jesus was a crime." Amen, brother. I've been on the www for 12+ years trying to persuade Liberals and Democrats to like Christ more and Christians to recognize that they should be "Liberals Like Christ". Check out my http://LiberalsLikeChrist.Org/ . You'll love it.

As for the separation of church & state, that's a very tricky subject, but so important that I published some great insights on that issue under a separate web site called http://churchvstate.org/ .

You might want to join the 290 other progressive web sites that link to us.

By: G.D.

G.D. — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:46:11 +0000

" It’s been infuriating to watch Democrats run away from religion, as if believing in Jesus was a crime."

Which Democrats are you referring to? Are you talking about the last two Democratic presidents, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, both Southern Baptists who didn't shy away from using religious language or blowing dog whistles to the people in the pews?

The argument that the Democratic Party has pandered less to religiosity doesn't hold a lot of water. Only Christians seem to complain that the Democratic Party panders insufficiently to Christians, which I get on one level. But as someone who has watched the religious neuroses of Jesus folks become the fulcrum on which so many of the issues of the day rest, I think there's a strong case to be made for *less* religiosity in American political life.

My concern with faith-based initiatives isn't just that they make me uneasy about the relationship between church and state, but also the way the decisions as to who gets what funds is made, and how effective those programs are. It smells like pandering.

By: Tish

Tish — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:07:47 +0000

Yes, your personal vote can be influenced by your religion, but I believe there is something wrong when you start to determine and intertwine the two as such that your vote is right because your religion led you to such, and the next person is wrong because it doesn't correspond with your beliefs.

A religious person is going to be influenced in all aspects of their life i suppose by religion. Even as a Christian it doesn't really truly affect my vote, because I've chosen such. How much influence is too much influence then?

By: rikyrah

rikyrah — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:50:40 +0000

I don't believe that there ever was a separation of church and state. We're not talking about a theocracy. But, there's nothing wrong with admitting that your views politically, are influenced by your religion (if they are). Giving up huge swaths of voters makes no sense to me.

By: ayersteach

ayersteach — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:32:11 +0000

Amen my brother. Keep preaching this message. Too often, my white liberal secular friends forgot about us poor black folks sitting in God's corner AFTER the election. They seem to confuse our socially liberal and inculsive views with EVERYTHING they believe.

Comments / thoughts?

By: Tish

Tish — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:28:20 +0000

Involving religion and politics, what makes us any different than Iraq?

I don't think the two should go hand in hand. Remember the controversy with the politician in Michigan who was Muslim and swore on the Quaran, this just causes confusion.

Too many denominations and intolerance for different religious doctrine.