Originally posted by: Schmide
I voted based on the religions tolerance towards other religions.
Jews, Liberal Christians, Atheists, Buddhists, etc made the cut.
Muslims - if they had a liberal branch might get there.
Mormon , Evangelicals, Scientologists, Fundamentalists, etc - Nope get over your elitist ways.
So you won't vote for an individual because of a larger group of people who aren't necessarily consistent with what they identify with?
Riiiight...I would actually give an indivudal a chance. You are kidding me if you think there aren't elitist Jews, Liberal Christians, Atheists or Buddhists.
Originally posted by: spidey07
Belief in God and not wanting to destroy our nation = OK with me.
No muslims, no athiests, no gays.
So I want to destroy my country? Come on Spidey...have some logic. You got it right with guns, but you are totally failboating in everything else.
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As for me, I would of course vote for any person irrespective of their religious views. If they think that they need special underwear to get to heaven, or they have to pray to God 5x a day I am fine with it because it has no bearing on the actions that follow through. I don't care if they believe in the rapture and think we are all doomed to hell because we don't acknowledge the divinity of Jesus. Hell we already have senators who espouse that view.
What I look is to see how that religion influences their actions on a practical level where real decisions need to be made. Are they always looking to be just in their actions? Do they believe in helping the poor - regardless of whether help is 'self help' or through actual assistance to the poor? Do they want to bring honest and peaceful resolutions to any problem that exists be it domestic or not? Do they present themselves in a humble fashion and are willing to listen to others that they may disagree with? Are they willing to compromise with others to get things done?
I would much rather have a president with a character strongly defined through religion than a president who acts like a typical sleezebag but talks about being nominally religious. But I will support the former because of his character, not because it derives from religion. I will not support the latter for the same reasons.
The problem with the religious right is that in the political arena they seem to lose a lot of that. Some of the most religious Christians I know are incredibly nice and honest and people I'd want to be around, but when it comes to politics it is as if some people have completely forgotten what the Bible actually writes about.