https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 13:26:27 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices/page/2#post-382913 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 04:44:48 +0000 loveisstrange 382913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Religion has no place in my government. Period. The population of the US is religiously and culturally diverse. Imposing the beliefs and morals of one religion (in the US, Christianity) on the entire diverse population is an infringement on my freedom of religion.</p> <p>I don't need someone else's god telling me what I can and cannot do. Religion and the religion of a candidate should be a non-issue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices/page/2#post-382911 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 04:34:27 +0000 erinpye 382911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with you. I am a religious person. I'm also a feminist and believe in equality for all. I am mostly liberal in my politics, and butt heads with many other religious people in my life because of it. I don't really understand why being religious these days automatically means one must vote conservatively--I personally believe truly faithful people have compassion, love, and do not judge others, and that seems to me, like that type of person would be more politically liberal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices/page/2#post-382850 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 01:20:14 +0000 banana 382850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Blue: Yes!!!! Well said! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices/page/2#post-382849 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 01:12:28 +0000 banana 382849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsBrewer: I'm with you 100%! I vote based on my moral beliefs. Whether those beliefs were formed by my religion, family values or cultural influences, my beliefs are my beliefs and I wouldn't be able to separate those out. I'm sure that alot of my beliefs are centered around my religion but it's not something I can just separate out. So I vote for the candidate that most closely matches my beliefs. Done and done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices#post-382559 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 20:46:35 +0000 Weagle 382559@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My faith informs all of my opinions and life decisions. Why would I exclude my political outlook from that? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices#post-382542 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 20:36:35 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 382542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My faith is a big part of who I am, it shapes my beliefs. It influences everything I do, including how I vote. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices#post-382537 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 20:34:34 +0000 pinkcupcake 382537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: oh, wow. I think that was one of the most eloquent posts I've read. Your post truly embodies Christianity and Christ-like love :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices#post-382391 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 18:45:58 +0000 MrsBucky 382391@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Blue: This. Thanks :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices#post-382387 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 18:41:09 +0000 mamimami 382387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My "religious" beliefs are a part of who I am and cannot be separated from any of my other beliefs. It's hard for me to understand how people can put their faith in a box when it's time to vote. But, different strokes, right? </p> <p>Anyway, one thing I really don't understand is Biden's stand on abortion. If you believe abortion is murder (not saying that I do), wouldn't you insist it be outlawed? If some other religions believed in infanticide, or honor killings, etc., am I required to support that in order to respect other religions? Just food for thought.</p> <p>Having said all that, I don't vote based on one issue... Like PP I think you have to look at the whole picture. </p> <p>PS @Mrs. Blue: you are very correct regarding "church and state!" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices#post-382366 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 18:25:09 +0000 ShootingStar 382366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The issue of religion influencing politics is something that DH and I have discussed a lot and drives us crazy. We are both vehemently opposed to religious morality trumping everything else. The biggest thing to us is the issue of gay marriage. I have no problem with a given religion refusing to perform marriages for same sex couples. But for people to think that the American government shouldn't sanction such relationships makes me so angry. I just honestly can't understand why people feel the need to stop others from having this right when it has no effect on their own lives. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices#post-382333 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 17:37:16 +0000 Cherrybee 382333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes. My religious beliefs strongly affect my political choices. I believe that God put us on this earth to be caretakers of it and of each other. I believe in looking after our environment. I believe in helping the poor, the vulnerable and the needy. I believe that God is the ultimate judge - it's not my job to judge the choices other's make but to love them and support them through their choices. </p> <p>Our current government in the UK have made some decisions that have made my middle class life a little easier..... but they are also making the lives of millions of people miserable through cuts to welfare benefits and essential public spending. You know what? I'd rather my taxes were higher so that everyone here can have a decent quality of life, decent healthcare and essential life chances. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices#post-382323 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 17:28:38 +0000 Mrs. Blue 382323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sometimes I think the phrase "separation of church and state" is one of the most misunderstood concepts in the Bill of Rights. The phrase that this comes from says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; . . ." Bill of Rights, Amd. 1. Congress is, therefore, not permitted to legislate a country-wide religion or demand that any of us do or don't practice a particular religion in a particular way (within limits). This has to do with state action, not individual action. It in no way addresses whether an individual's faith should or should not shape their political views and votes. Innumerable documents, creeds, statements, etc. written by our founding fathers have references to their faith, and many clearly relied on their faith as a guiding factor. </p> <p>Whether you are religious or not, most people base their voting decisions on their moral compass combined with their economic and world views. People who deeply believe in any religion will almost unquestionably be influenced by their religion in their vote because it impacts their moral compass to go one way or the other. For different people of the same religion, this may lead to a different vote depending on their own personal convictions and interpretations of their religion. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices#post-382232 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:30:13 +0000 tororojo 382232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a Christian and honestly, neither candidate or party lines up with my beliefs in particular. I get annoyed when people try to convince me to vote Republican strictly because of the Bible--I think you could make the same argument about voting Democrat if you pick and choose issues. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices#post-382179 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:13:02 +0000 oliviaoblivia 382179@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: I completely agree with everything you've said.<br /> My rights end at the end of my nose and yours begin at the end of yours. I cannot fathom taking rights away from someone else because of my own beliefs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices#post-382173 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:11:06 +0000 lemondrop 382173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: agreed! Church and state should absolutely be separate. </p> <p>I have big problems with politicians pushing their "moral" beliefs on me, especially when most have big problems with morals and ethics. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices#post-382103 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:58:18 +0000 boiledpnut 382103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: I completely agree with you. I think using your religious beliefs forces those beliefs on others. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices#post-382094 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:57:13 +0000 Arden 382094@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rock n Roll: I actually believe in the legalization of all drugs, although I know this isn't a popular viewpoint. I believe think we should be doing similar to what is happening in Switzerland. A favorite book of mine, Travel as a Political Act, talks about their system - </p> <p>"The last time I was in Switzerland, I dropped into a Starbucks in downtown Zürich, went downstairs into the bathroom...and it was all blue. I had stumbled into another example of a creative European drug policy. The Swiss, who don't want their junkies shooting up in public bathrooms, install blue lights. I couldn't see my veins...you couldn't shoot up if you wanted to.</p> <p>Of course, this minor frustration wouldn't stop junkies from finding a fix. Across the street is a machine that once sold cigarettes. Now it sells hygienic, government-subsidized syringes — three for two francs, about a buck apiece. The Swiss recognize that heroin doesn't spread HIV/AIDS or other deadly diseases. Dirty needles do.</p> <p>If addicts need more than just sterile needles, they know they can go down the street to a heroin-maintenance clinic for their fix. Rather than steal (or worse) to finance their addiction, they get the services of a nurse and a counselor. Swiss society is working to help addicts stay alive, get off of welfare, and rejoin the workforce. Clinic workers told me that in Switzerland, crime and AIDS cases related to heroin use have decreased, while recovery and employment rates among their clients have increased.</p> <p>When addicts aren't nervous about where they'll get their next fix, consumption goes down (as do overdoses). When demand on the streets goes down, so does the price. This brings down street violence...and is bad news for a pusher's bottom line. With clean needles and a source providing reliable purity, potency, and quantity, maintaining the addiction becomes less dangerous. With these provisions, you still have an addict — but you remove crime, violence, money, and disease from the equation, so you can treat it as what it is: a health problem for mixed-up people who are screwing up their lives and need help. As Swiss addicts are safely dosed to maintenance levels, they begin to reclaim their lives, get jobs, pay taxes, and — in many cases — kick their habit altogether. Switzerland's heroin maintenance centers (now also in Germany and the Netherlands) succeed in reducing the harm caused by drug abuse." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices#post-382076 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:52:54 +0000 Rock n Roll 382076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: Do you believe in the legalization of all drugs, or just marijuana? This is an argument my husband and I have all the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices#post-382018 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:42:09 +0000 MrsTiz 382018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, no no. Separation of church and state, and separation of church and schools.</p> <p>Coming from a Christian. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices#post-382011 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:41:08 +0000 ladyfingers 382011@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can see why citizens' votes are informed by their faith. However, I do not believe that the federal government should be making decisions for the populace based on religious tenets. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices#post-381992 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:37:42 +0000 immabeetoo 381992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. I identify as agnostic and believe strongly in the separate of church and state. My beliefs are a result of personal experience and research. I certainly won't be holding my breath for a mainstream candidate that is not religious, which is fine by me :) (re: <a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=in-atheists-we-distrust)" rel="nofollow">http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=in-atheists-we-distrust)</a> </p> <p>I have no problem with a politician's religion or lack thereof as long as they keep it separate from how they make political decisions. To me, Joe Biden's answer from the debate epitomizes that, in regards to abortion at least.</p> <p>"“My religion defines who I am,” he said, “and I’ve been a practicing Catholic my whole life….With regard to abortion, I accept my church’s position on abortion…life begins at conception in the church’s judgement. I accept it in my personal life. But I refuse to impose it on equally devout Christians and Muslims and Jews. I do not believe that we have a right to tell other people that – women – they can’t control their body. It’s a decision between them and their doctor. In my view, and in the Supreme Court, I’m not going to interfere with that.” </p> <p>Even though I think this discussion extends beyond a woman's right to choose, it seemed fitting to share that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices#post-381981 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:34:44 +0000 MrsBrewer 381981@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Maysprout: I guess I don't know how else to state it. But my beliefs are how I feel life should be lived. So if that means not allowing people to do things that they deem right (but I see as immoral) That's what I believe in. I'm trying to be kind in how I choose my words because I don't want to offend anyone and their beliefs, this is not my intent at all. </p> <p>I think I'm done with political posts now! I have an uncommon view here it seems, and I might just keep to myself </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices#post-381962 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:28:45 +0000 Maysprout 381962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsBrewer: Do you separate how you choose to live your life though with how others are allowed to live their life? I have many religious beliefs that I would never want to be enforced on others, it's not a choice and a belief if it's government enforced. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices#post-381961 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:28:35 +0000 Arden 381961@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If I believed in passing laws based on my religious beliefs, I would support outlawing unfaithfulness in marriage. But that is ridiculous, how could the government outlaw affairs? It's a personal thing, none of their business, right?</p> <p>That's how I look at outlawing things like gay marriage. How can the government have a say in something as personal as a relationship? Regardless of whether or not I believe it's right or wrong, it's still a deeply personal choice - that I, and the government, should stay out of. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices#post-381951 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:26:23 +0000 mrsjazz 381951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not religious, so I vote on what I think is right morally, for our society, and for our future. I would vote against a candidate based on his/her religion if they're religious views heavily influenced their policies. I highly believe in a separation of church and state, not everyone is X religion. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices#post-381950 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:25:50 +0000 MrsBrewer 381950@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rock n Roll: Agreed, its hard to call them my "religious beliefs" because it's my personal beliefs, it's how I feel 100% and what I agree with. I'm not going to vote anyway else from how I believe and what I know to be right. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices#post-381944 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:23:32 +0000 Rock n Roll 381944@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel the same as you, but I know it differs for different people. For example, my MIL is very pro-life due to her religious beliefs. In my opinion, abortion should be legal because it gives people more freedom, despite my personal feelings on the issue. But, in hers, she thinks of abortion as actual murder of a human being, so in that instance, it would make sense that she would think it should be illegal. (I mean I'm all for freedom, but I don't think murder should be legal.)</p> <p>I think it can be difficult to separate the ideas of religious beliefs and personal beliefs, and people vote based on their personal beliefs all the time. So, I don't think it's always a case of someone trying to push their beliefs on others as much as it is of people having different ideas of right and wrong and trying to figure out how that should fit in to the legal framework. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices#post-381932 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:19:56 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 381932@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well said @Arden! I have the same perspective. I also believe in the separation of church and state, so it doesn't influence me too much. In fact, sometimes I struggle with reconciling what I "should" believe as a Christian vs what I personally think is right. For example, homosexuality and marriage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices#post-381918 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:15:07 +0000 jedeve 381918@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes. I am catholic and believe in the dignity of every person and protecting the rights of the poor and marginalized. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-your-religious-beliefs-dictate-your-political-choices#post-381916 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:15:03 +0000 Mrsbells 381916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also believe the should be separate. I am in christian, I believe in the biblical definition of marriage between a man and a woman, I also believe in sanctity of life. I however don't beleive that the government should have the power to outlaw abortion, gay marriage or impose their religious ideas on everyone, because religion is not a black and white issue. Its a personal thing, each man/woman for themselves </p>