Religion in the 21st century

In recent elections (in America) religion has become more and more a topic of intense discussion ranging form candidates personal religious status to gay marriage.  So, does religion have any place in modern day politics?

I don't believe religion should be a variable in anything besides how one feels and believes.

It's going to have to, considering I believe religion is not much more than a specific iteration of a worldview. I think irrational religious beliefs will dwindle in the face of globalization. However, I believe that we will be faced with an even more lethal form of ideological furvor.

It's going to have to, considering I believe religion is not much more than a specific iteration of a worldview. I think irrational religious beliefs will dwindle in the face of globalization. However, I believe that we will be faced with an even more lethal form of ideological furvor.

But radicals of all religions have been around for thousands of years, why do you believe fundamentalism will die out?

I don't believe fundamentalism will die out, I believe that the advent of global communication will slowly transform irrational ideology into "rational" ideology. Ideology itself will most likely suffer somewhat of a weakening blow with the spread of critical analysis, though not a complete removal.

True Christians bring faith into aspect of our lives, as we all should. But religion will always have its place.

True Christians bring faith into aspect of our lives, as we all should. But religion will always have its place.

But why should religion be involved in a Democracy?  Why should we pick a leader based on whether he goes to church or not?

You can't question the motives of a voting population. This is one of the biggest flaws of Democracy.

Quote from: KingMan on January 07, 2009, 08:30:33 PM

True Christians bring faith into aspect of our lives, as we all should. But religion will always have its place.

But why should religion be involved in a Democracy?  Why should we pick a leader based on whether he goes to church or not?

Because God exists and we should involve him in every aspect of our lives.

Quote from: Wakka Wakka on January 07, 2009, 08:31:20 PM

Quote from: KingMan on January 07, 2009, 08:30:33 PM

True Christians bring faith into aspect of our lives, as we all should. But religion will always have its place.

But why should religion be involved in a Democracy?  Why should we pick a leader based on whether he goes to church or not?

Because God exists and we should involve him in every aspect of our lives.

Even when we agree in our conclusion, your arguments are always wrong.

True Christians bring faith into aspect of our lives, as we all should. But religion will always have its place.

I disagree. I think we should base our decisions on rational thought, not faith. Would it be a good idea to jump of a cliff if you had faith that God would not let you die? Or would it be better to not jump of a cliff (despite having faith in God) because you know that you will fall to your death?

This is why I don't think Faith should be brought to all aspects of your life, there are some aspects that are too important to leave to faith and are better to use rational thought to solve.

Religion does have a place, and that is in social cohesion. Religion is a good mechanism by which we, as social animals, can establish a group identity and bond.

In recent elections (in America) religion has become more and more a topic of intense discussion ranging form candidates personal religious status to gay marriage.  So, does religion have any place in modern day politics?

Religion has no place in the decision making of the US government.  If the voters insist on using religion as one of their criteria, that is their right, no matter how ignorant I think that position is.

Religion, in my view, is a political thing. To me, you cannot separate religion and politics because they are the same beast.

Interestingly, I have just started a class called "religion and politics" and our first lecture was on their distinctness...

Religion, in my view, is a political thing. To me, you cannot separate religion and politics because they are the same beast.

How?  The Christian Right in the US claims that the US was founded on 'christian morals" but only two of the  ten commandments are laws.  Other then a theocracy, how is religion tied into gov't?

The real question is: why do people succumb to the god delusion? why would you believe with all your heart in something that the only reason you believe it is because thats what your parents believed? (You in general, not person-specific.) What makes people so sure about the factual accuracy of a book with no evidence for its accuracy, yet there is skeptism among these same people about quantifiable, substantiated science. Its called fear. As I believe fear will exist well into this century, so to may religion.

why would you believe with all your heart in something that the only reason you believe it is because thats what your parents believed?

not all religious people believe in their religion because their parents did. You're forgetting converts.

Most people convert in either a state of fear, stress or grief. Add this to the drummed-into-children option, and nobody is made to become a religion in a particularly logical state of mind.

The real question is: why do people succumb to the god delusion? why would you believe with all your heart in something that the only reason you believe it is because thats what your parents believed? (You in general, not person-specific.) What makes people so sure about the factual accuracy of a book with no evidence for its accuracy, yet there is skeptism among these same people about quantifiable, substantiated science. Its called fear. As I believe fear will exist well into this century, so to may religion.

Hey, back, off, buddy, that's my post!   

This is close to what I would have posted had it been later in the day.  As it is, it's morning, and I'm not a morning person.

It really is amazing that once one removes the 'god exists' goggles and looks at the world, it becomes so obvious - the similarities in how religions run despite the differences in their worldviews, how totally ridiculous the whole concept of a sentient deity is in the face of the facts as we understand them, what a perfect tool for control religion is...  the thought of faith quickly becomes laughable once one frees oneself of it.

I believe that in general, leaders don't believe this crap.  It's just a tool to them.  I don't think any of the popes have been true believers, nor any president before Dubyah.  I do believe Dubyah was chosen because he is a believer, and therefore more easily manipulated by Daddy, Cheney, Ashcroft, and their ilk.

I believe religion may be with us for the long haul, but also believe that the world would be best served by its demise.  It is an antiquated concept responsible for the vast majority of the more morally reprehensible activities of the human race - a tool of subjugation and control so horrible it defies description.

Colonel Gaydafi, you are correct that there are converts. But, the vast majority of religious people inherited their beliefs from their parents.

Colonel Gaydafi, you are correct that there are converts. But, the vast majority of religious people inherited their beliefs from their parents.

Still makes that sentence incorrect.

Quote from: KingMan on January 07, 2009, 08:30:33 PM

True Christians bring faith into aspect of our lives, as we all should. But religion will always have its place.

But why should religion be involved in a Democracy?  Why should we pick a leader based on whether he goes to church or not?

Because fundamentalists want a leader who will give favor to their religion.

Quote from: cramerian1 on January 10, 2009, 08:28:25 PM

Colonel Gaydafi, you are correct that there are converts. But, the vast majority of religious people inherited their beliefs from their parents.

Still makes that sentence incorrect.

How so?

Quote from: Colonel Gaydafi on January 11, 2009, 03:38:29 AM

Quote from: cramerian1 on January 10, 2009, 08:28:25 PM

Colonel Gaydafi, you are correct that there are converts. But, the vast majority of religious people inherited their beliefs from their parents.

Still makes that sentence incorrect.

How so?

It would only be correct if every religious person inherited their beliefs from their parents.

Quote from: cramerian1 on January 11, 2009, 12:06:25 PM

Quote from: Colonel Gaydafi on January 11, 2009, 03:38:29 AM

Quote from: cramerian1 on January 10, 2009, 08:28:25 PM

Colonel Gaydafi, you are correct that there are converts. But, the vast majority of religious people inherited their beliefs from their parents.

Still makes that sentence incorrect.

How so?

It would only be correct if every religious person inherited their beliefs from their parents.

I explained though that what I meant was those who had inherited their religion, which is the vast majority. The sentence may still make no sense in its original form, but when I say the vast majority, it makes it correct.

But you didn't say that, did you?

The real question is: why do people succumb to the god delusion? why would you believe with all your heart in something that the only reason you believe it is because thats what your parents believed? (You in general, not person-specific.) What makes people so sure about the factual accuracy of a book with no evidence for its accuracy, yet there is skeptism among these same people about quantifiable, substantiated science. Its called fear. As I believe fear will exist well into this century, so to may religion.

I don't see the phrase "tha vast majority" in here

Quote from: cramerian1 on January 09, 2009, 10:15:32 PM

The real question is: why do people succumb to the god delusion? why would you believe with all your heart in something that the only reason you believe it is because thats what your parents believed? (You in general, not person-specific.) What makes people so sure about the factual accuracy of a book with no evidence for its accuracy, yet there is skeptism among these same people about quantifiable, substantiated science. Its called fear. As I believe fear will exist well into this century, so to may religion.

I don't see the phrase "tha vast majority" in here

I corrected myself in future posts.

Quote from: Colonel Gaydafi on January 11, 2009, 12:22:14 PM

Quote from: cramerian1 on January 09, 2009, 10:15:32 PM

The real question is: why do people succumb to the god delusion? why would you believe with all your heart in something that the only reason you believe it is because thats what your parents believed? (You in general, not person-specific.) What makes people so sure about the factual accuracy of a book with no evidence for its accuracy, yet there is skeptism among these same people about quantifiable, substantiated science. Its called fear. As I believe fear will exist well into this century, so to may religion.

I don't see the phrase "tha vast majority" in here

I corrected myself in future posts.

In future, try being correct in all your posts before you start posting.

In the future, try being correct in all your posts before you start posting.

maybe you should tell this to FEers...
Also, how could I be correct in multiple posts before ever posting? are you having causality issues?