Does religion have an influence on politics and votes

[Rabbi Daniel]

In the U.S, how much religious values make a difference on votes?
What are the main focuses for the voter?
Maybe: Number one: Money (economy, wages, taxes...)
Number 2: The charisma of the candidate who wants to become president
Number 3: Security
Number 4: Religious belief

 

[Rabbi Daniel]

I mean, for example, if someone believes in the Bible, is he going to vote more for republicans or democrats...?
Is the fact that he is a believer or non believer will have an impact on his votes. I personaly think it does.

 

[Orbit]

You might find this interesting: Americans' Views on Religion in Society, Politics

 

[PureX]

In the U.S, how much religious values make a difference on votes?

I don't think it's that simple. I think people choose their way of understanding religion because it "resonates" with their personality. And by "resonates", I mean it validates who they already feel they are, and what they already believe to be the truth of the matter, in life. So that when the proclaim that they are voting for so-and-so because he ascribes to their religious beliefs, what they really mean is that they are voting for so-and-so because he mirrors their own personal opinions, ideals, and desires. Religion may get the blame or credit, but in actually it the vote was cast for purely selfish reasons. Just as the voter's religion was adopted for purely selfish reasons.

Sorry to sound so cynical, but in the U.S., I think selfishness has reached epidemic proportions, and it's destroying our political systems, our religious systems, or economic systems, and our overall quality of life. The more decisions we make based on 'self', the worse things will continue to get.

 

[Wandering Monk]

For most people, I would say that their ethics come from their religion and that their politics comes from their ethics, so yes. Religion does affect politics, though indirectly.

 

[shunyadragon]

Religion has always played a role in American politics as with most countries of the world. Since World War II politics has become progressively more polarized over the religious issues of abortion/right to life, separation of church and state, and the accusation of socialist government. Billy Graham was in the vanguard early on in cultivating the Evangelical Christian movement. The no compromise stone wall of the Conservatives in Congress was in appart to advance this agenda.The evangelical Christians have become progressively united and mobilized to support their goals in politics. There main goal in recent years has been to acquire a Supreme Court to advance their agenda. They made a bargain with the devil Donald Trump to achieve their goals, and Trump rewarded them with very conservative appointments to the Supreme Court, and almost all appointments to his government Conservative Christians.

 

[sun rise]

I don't think it's that simple. I think people choose their way of understanding religion because it "resonates" with their personality. And by "resonates", I mean it validates who they already feel they are, and what they already believe to be the truth of the matter, in life. So that when the proclaim that they are voting for so-and-so because he ascribes to their religious beliefs, what they really mean is that they are voting for so-and-so because he mirrors their own personal opinions, ideals, and desires. Religion may get the blame or credit, but in actually it the vote was cast for purely selfish reasons. Just as the voter's religion was adopted for purely selfish reasons.

Sorry to sound so cynical, but in the U.S., I think selfishness has reached epidemic proportions, and it's destroying our political systems, our religious systems, or economic systems, and our overall quality of life. The more decisions we make based on 'self', the worse things will continue to get.

I see it in much the same way. There are enough inherent contradictions in every religion's scriptures that people find what they want to find that satisfies their nature. I'm most familiar with Western religion and can easily find scripture to support my point of view in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

 

[PureX]

I see it in much the same way. There are enough inherent contradictions in every religion's scriptures that people find what they want to find that satisfies their nature. I'm most familiar with Western religion and can easily find scripture to support my point of view in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

That being acknowledged, however, there are still a great many religious people who use their religion to honestly and sincerely try to become better human beings. That bias does not have to stop us from transcending it. Though it clearly does make transcending it, difficult. (Why religions are so often their own worst enemy.)

 

[dybmh]

In the U.S, how much religious values make a difference on votes?
What are the main focuses for the voter?
Maybe: Number one: Money (economy, wages, taxes...)
Number 2: The charisma of the candidate who wants to become president
Number 3: Security
Number 4: Religious belief

Is the fact that he is a believer or non believer will have an impact on his votes.

In my opinion, people seek comfort and pleasure. I think that is the prime motivator for most people not just in politics. Religious people ( Mostly Abrahamic religions ) find comfort in a G-d who is Authoritarian, a Monarch who can do no wrong. And they feel pleasure when their Authoritarian Monarch wins a battle on their behalf.

This easily translates to politics where a leader can be "strong but wrong" and still maintains support among Abrahamic religious people. The Authoritarian leader brings comfort and pleasure to these religious people by behaving like a Monarch and looking for opportunity to wage war. If the Authoritarian leader recognizes these motivations of their supporters, and if the leader themself is comforted and receives pleasure from being in power, it sets up a very unhealthy dynamic.

So yes, being a "believer" does make difference to elections, but not directly. I think it's indirect. It has to do with being human. Humans seek comfort and pleasure. And many religious people ( especially older people ) are comforted and receive pleasure from a leader who is strong... even if the leader is wrong... and is harmful to the world we all need to share.

 

[shunyadragon]

You might find this interesting: Americans' Views on Religion in Society, Politics

If you read the whole article the headlines are misleading as to the conclusion. The reality is the majority of Americans support their religious involvement in politics.

 

[Altfish]

Not much influence in UK; although antisemitism placed a part in last vote

 

[McBell]

In the U.S, how much religious values make a difference on votes?

For some people, a huge difference.
For some not at all.

Though a lot of it seems to be based upon what exactly is being voted on.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

I mean, for example, if someone believes in the Bible, is he going to vote more for republicans or democrats...?
Is the fact that he is a believer or non believer will have an impact on his votes. I personaly think it does.

I find Jesus believed in Scripture, and Jesus and his 1st-century followers were politically neutral.
They did Not even get involved in the issues of the day between the Jews and Romans but remained neutral.
So, if someone believes in the Bible, then they too would Not get involved in the affairs of the world.
The assignment Jesus gave his followers was to declare to the world about God's kingdom of Daniel 2:44.
That looking to Jesus, as King of God's Kingdom government, is the solution now and will be.- Matthew 24:14; Acts 1:8

 

[URAVIP2ME]

........ The reality is the majority of Americans support their religious involvement in politics.

Since Jesus had No involvement in politics then American's religious support is un-scriptural.
Jesus and his followers did Not even get involved in the issues of the day between Jews verses the Romans.
As first-century Christianity was politically neutral, then that neutral stand holds true for Christians today.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

In my opinion, people seek comfort and pleasure. I think that is the prime motivator for most people not just in politics...........................

I don't recall who said it, but I think it was a Roman idea to ' give people bread and a circus '.
Bread as to meaning people want food, and circus as to meaning people want entertainment.
That way the political could do what they want without much opposition.

 

[shunyadragon]

Since Jesus had No involvement in politics then American's religious support is un-scriptural.
Jesus and his followers did Not even get involved in the issues of the day between Jews verses the Romans.
As first-century Christianity was politically neutral, then that neutral stand holds true for Christians today.

This may be true, but it is not the subject of the thread.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Religion has always played a role in American politics as with most countries of the world. Since World War II politics has become progressively more polarized over the religious issues of abortion/right to life, separation of church and state, and the accusation of socialist government. Billy Graham was in the vanguard early on in cultivating the Evangelical Christian movement. The no compromise stone wall of the Conservatives in Congress was in appart to advance this agenda.The evangelical Christians have become progressively united and mobilized to support their goals in politics. There main goal in recent years has been to acquire a Supreme Court to advance their agenda. They made a bargain with the devil Donald Trump to achieve their goals, and Trump rewarded them with very conservative appointments to the Supreme Court, and almost all appointments to his government Conservative Christians.

Yes, the world's religions are often in bed with the political. (Rev. 17:1-2; Rev. 18:7)
Religion's major role is the union of church and state.
In other words, they want to crown or dethrone ' kings' (political rulers) .
Religious leaders don't go out to kill but send others out to kill.
They have used the pulpit so parents will sacrifice their young on the Altar of War as if that is the same as the Altar of God.
Meddling in world affairs causes attention to themselves.
Trouble-filled religion has created an anti-religious atmosphere in the United Nations.
Religious terrorism places such religion on the U.N.'s radar, so to speak.
While 'Christendom ' (so-called Christian ) corresponds to un-faithful Jerusalem of the year 70.
Religion has created a hauntingly dangerous religious climate brewing in today's world.
So, with backing the U.N. can be strengthened to become God's modern-day arm of the Law against religion.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Religion has always played a role in American politics as with most countries of the world. Since World War II politics has become progressively more polarized over the religious issues of abortion/right to life, separation of church and state, and the accusation of socialist government. Billy Graham was in the vanguard early on in cultivating the Evangelical Christian movement. The no compromise stone wall of the Conservatives in Congress was in appart to advance this agenda.The evangelical Christians have become progressively united and mobilized to support their goals in politics. There main goal in recent years has been to acquire a Supreme Court to advance their agenda. They made a bargain with the devil Donald Trump to achieve their goals, and Trump rewarded them with very conservative appointments to the Supreme Court, and almost all appointments to his government Conservative Christians.

I find they made a bargain with Pres. Reagan by his seeing a political push in the 80's by paying ' lip service ' to them.
Many have become distrustful of the political/religious operating a country as a free-religious market place.
Thus, I hear more about being a spiritual person but Not as religious, and more about what is popular ( New Age ? ).
Perhaps, now it will be more about a ' save the country ' vote _____________

 

[amorphous_constellation]

'Western' religions go beyond mere votes and politics and are reflected right in our culture and law. So the question you ask is, in my opinion, not nearly deep enough. We have an abrahamic culture, with an abrahamic time system, with language and general etiquette steeped in the same. Was there ever an atheist president, or one who trusted in something other than the bible? Do the americans have midnight dances around bonfires on the sabbath, or is it mostly illegal to go into nature areas after dusk? Do we generally put man above nature, like the bible says? Do we generally have buildings where worship takes place, or do americans have actual sacred outdoor locations?

 

[firedragon]

In the U.S, how much religious values make a difference on votes?
What are the main focuses for the voter?
Maybe: Number one: Money (economy, wages, taxes...)
Number 2: The charisma of the candidate who wants to become president
Number 3: Security
Number 4: Religious belief

I believe that votes, economy, wages, taxes, charisma of the candidate, security, etc etc have a huge influence on religion.