Date: 3/23/2003 9:13:00 PM
From Authorid: 13609
i think it would be more comforting if my leader believed in a god! I'm not religious either, but it still seems like i would be more safe in my country if they did believe in a god..lol dont ask y, that just what i think! Luv,  |
Date: 3/23/2003 9:15:00 PM
From Authorid: 35160
no it wouldnt bother me a bit. 8^) huggs shay  |
Date: 3/23/2003 9:17:00 PM
From Authorid: 24924
Belief in a God or being religious is NOT number one on MY list of criteria for a Leader. High moral standards; honesty, experience and dedication to uphold the Constitution ARE more important.  |
Date: 3/23/2003 9:18:00 PM
From Authorid: 45630
It wouldn't bother me to be honest!  |
Date: 3/23/2003 9:21:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 7341
Silverwolf...I think in a sense it would be comforting as well...thanks for reading and replying.  |
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Date: 3/23/2003 9:21:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 7341
Shay & Kurt Vedder..thanks for reading and replying you guys! |
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Date: 3/23/2003 9:22:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 7341
Thinker...those are some good points and agree that they are EXTREMELY important for a politician to have. Thank you for reading... |
Date: 3/23/2003 9:23:00 PM
From Authorid: 11528
I would prefer an athiest leader. I would be very nervous if I knew that my prime minister worshipped,,, oh lets say a 20 foot statue of an owl at Bohemian Grove or somewhere.  |
Date: 3/23/2003 9:24:00 PM
From Authorid: 21435
Hiya Corky  Funny that you should mention such a thing. I noticed that our posts were a couple of minutes apart..Too weird. As for your question: I've known atheists that were totally wonderful people. I've also know christians that I could care less about. Hard to say, I guess. I believe in a God and it's right for me, but who's to say that the whole world would benefit from my views and beliefs, if I were president. I think that a lot has to do with the individual. Nice to read you again, my friend. Write on  |
Date: 3/23/2003 9:30:00 PM
From Authorid: 31255
That's a really interesting question Corky. I don't consider myself religious but I do consider myself to be spiritual. I think I would hope that a leader would have some level of that. I have a hard time seeing spiritual as being something where a God or higher being was not involved so in a way I guess it would bother me, even though it probably shouldn't.  |
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Date: 3/23/2003 9:47:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 7341
lol...Enki! |
Date: 3/23/2003 9:50:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 7341
Good reply Kronk...and I agree with you...I also have friends who are atheists as well, and they are just as wonderful as my religious friends. If a leader were religious though, I also agree with you that I'm not sure I'd want them to put their beliefs onto me (if that is what you are saying!  ) Thanks for reading friend...I will head over to your post! |
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Date: 3/23/2003 9:51:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 7341
Toodles..it's a hard question...isn't it! I think you and I are alot alike when it comes to this...thanks for reading and replying |
Date: 3/23/2003 9:52:00 PM
From Authorid: 17204
Naw, I don't care really. I question a lot myself...my heart tells me there is a good, but my mind and logic say another. So I could understand if he or she didn't either. great post, good debate.  |
Date: 3/23/2003 10:57:00 PM
From Authorid: 45551
I am always wary of leaders who profess to believing in a god, right off the bat they are stating they are delusional and believe in an invisable being who they try to talk to but never talks back to them(or hopefully )doesn't talk back to them. here in the US we have people in mental hospitals for less.  |
Date: 3/23/2003 11:10:00 PM
From Authorid: 16671
Its nice to see that some have answered this post without bashing God, or calling us that do believe delusional, which basically I just call them un=informed. But Thinker is right about the moral fiber of a person in office as one can say they believe in God and yet do horrible things. I think we know them by their fruits, not their beliefs, I would like a Godly person in office, but then we dont always get what we want.  |
Date: 3/23/2003 11:13:00 PM
From Authorid: 53961
<listens to can of worms being opened with K-Mart can opener> Um... well... seeings how the Pledge of Allegiance uses the word "God", it would only seem right that they be of a religious nature. I cannot imagine a president taking the oath of office and not swearing on the Bible to uphold the office of president or saying the Pledge and leaving out "under God". Just doesn't make sense to me. But, then, that's just me. But then from the constitution we read, "No religious test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public trust under the United States." We all have the right to freedom of belief, or nonbelief, in God.  |
Date: 3/23/2003 11:17:00 PM
From Authorid: 55967
I don't think I would want someone leading "the most powerful country the world has ever known" who didn't think there was any power above him. ~GypsyHawk~  |
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Date: 3/23/2003 11:23:00 PM
From Authorid: 55967
Paula, I agree with your position. That quote you gave as well as the separation of church and state and freedom of religion, to me, says that we are free to choose our religion, but we should still have one. We are free not too of course, but in personal letters between the founding fathers, they did feel that people needed some form of religion as well as morals, responsibilities, and vigilance to make this new government work. In that regard, I think they did have in mind that leaders should have a religion. This last sentence is just me taking the evidence a little further, but that's the way I believe they thought. ~GypsyHawk~ |
Date: 3/23/2003 11:37:00 PM
From Authorid: 28946
Hiya Corky Sis! I've read all the comments and everyone has made some great points. For me personally, I agree the leader of my country should have: High moral standards, honesty, integrity and dedication to uphold the Constitution. I'd want him or her to have a military background and an understanding that some men are corrupt and cannot be trusted. I would want to know that when he swore on the Bible the day he took office, to believe in all that it represents. So far, every president we have had has been a religious/spiritual man, so why mess up over 200 years of something that has worked.  |
Date: 3/24/2003 12:15:00 AM
From Authorid: 47218
It bothers when our leaders are so strongly affiliated with *any* sort of religion (including athiesm), that they feel compelled to shove their religious views down everyone else's throats by creating laws based on them (see our current president). This country is composed of people from a vast variety of religious backgrounds and convictions. It's one of our great distinctions. No one appreciates being coerced into following someone else's faith. I wish some of our leaders would show more respect for that. And to answer your question, no, I wouldn't mind if an athiest were in office, as long as they kept their athiestic views to themselves. Since I am not an apocalyptic Christian, I would not conceive of such a person as being the Anti-Christ. Afterall, history proves that depraved individuals come from all sorts of religious backgrounds.  |
Date: 3/24/2003 1:00:00 AM
From Authorid: 21867
I may believe in God...but like Thinker I would prefer that my leader had high morals, honesty and dedication...regardless of any belief or non-belief. It wouldn't necessarily make me feel any easier knowing my Leader believed in God...gee...some of the most tyranical and bloodthirsty leaders in history (and present day) had a God Belief of some description and often saw their religious teachings as providing legitimate reasons for their abhorant actions. Peace,  |
Date: 3/24/2003 1:29:00 AM
From Authorid: 53052
i think if they are a strong enough person to live without a "god" in thier life or any other religious form and they are a family man/woman or atleast a man/woman with a strong ethical/moral background i don't think there is need for a religous background  |
Date: 3/24/2003 3:46:00 AM
From Authorid: 1799
i don't see how it would matter much.. my brother is an athiest, but if he was to ever go for a leader, i think he'd do a good job. so it wouldn't really bother me unless their heart was made of stone.  |
Date: 3/24/2003 8:08:00 AM
From Authorid: 34487
I'm a Christian and for me to say that I wouldn't prefer a Leader that believes in God, would be a lie. However, if a leader is an Atheist but does nothing to infringe upon my beliefs or ability through the constitution to practice them, I'll most likely have few issues with him.  |
Date: 3/24/2003 8:11:00 AM
From Authorid: 54532
No because politics and religion have absolutely nothing to do with each other. ~Lilliana~
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Date: 3/24/2003 8:20:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 7341
Wow! There are some really great points that have been made here. First of all, for everyone who has said that they would want their leader to have high morals, honesty, integrity, and dedication, I believe that we would all hope that our leaders possess these qualities. Second, I am happy to see that everyone here has for the most part, been respectful of everyone else's opinions. I appreciate everyone who has read this and replied - it is helpful to see other people's points of view. Thanks you guys... |
Date: 3/24/2003 2:36:00 PM
From Authorid: 57830
Gosh no  I too am Atheist, so it wouldn't bother me at all *shrugs*  |
Date: 3/24/2003 6:20:00 PM
From Authorid: 15070
I would rather have an athiest in office, than a fake-"whatever", who professes belief, while causing great evil. Make sense?  |
Date: 3/24/2003 8:50:00 PM
From Authorid: 22080
i dont let religon decide who the leaders are, they could be satanist but if they show they are good leaders ill vote  |
Date: 3/24/2003 9:16:00 PM
From Authorid: 37900
I would prefer to have leaders that believed in God. Although there is an inherent possibility of religious fanaticism, there exists a greater danger from people who believe humans possess the highest authority. If absolute power corrupts absolutely, I'd rather have leaders who feel a sense of accountability to something or someone higher; the worst leaders in history were those who believed and acted as if there were no God.  |
Date: 3/25/2003 6:17:00 PM
From Authorid: 58030
wouldn't bother me, i'd MUCH rather someone who has no beliefs, who respects other peoples beliefs (so far all the atheists i have met do this) that the current presidents who would rather think that it's their way or the highway, i don't think president bush respects others religious views very well, but that's just me  |
Date: 3/25/2003 8:14:00 PM
From Authorid: 27403
Yes, it would bother me if my president was an atheist; it would bother me a very great deal! lOVE AND lIGHT  |
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Date: 3/25/2003 10:03:00 PM
From Authorid: 24924
The problem is, with the vast majority of people who feel like you do, Light Worker, is that it makes hypocrites out of our politicians and those who run for public office. REGARDLESS of what their REAL, TRUE beliefs are; they HAVE to at least give lip service; they know that they HAVE TO at least put up a good front, or they wouldn't get elected. They know that sprinkling their campaign speeches with lots of references to "God" WILL GET THE VOTES. THAT is reality. |
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Date: 3/25/2003 10:22:00 PM
From Authorid: 24924
Here are a few quotes by John F. Kennedy: "Whatever one's religion in his private life maybe, for the office holder, nothing takes precedence over his oath to uphold the Constitution and all its parts....including the 1st Admendment and strict seperation of church and state." "I believe the American people are more concerned with a man's views and abilities than with the particular church to which he belongs. The founding fathers meant it when they provided in Article VI of the Constitution that there should be no religious test for public office". |
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Date: 3/26/2003 10:21:00 AM
From Authorid: 27403
I only have a moment, Thinker, so I will be brief. I do agree with you that the religion card can be vastly abused. But, if I had a choice between a candidate throwing around the phrase "god", or throwing around the phrase "there is no god", I know that the "no god" person would be frightening to me. And, I am not a religious person. Spiritual, I like to think, but not religious. But, the few true atheists I have know feel there is no power greater than themselves, neither to make moral decisions or conditions, and I just don't care for that idea. Kind of like putting scientists in charge of the morality of the world. Scientists are brilliant and we could not live without them, but their desire for knowledge at any cost, sometimes puts them in moral quandries that only a "Greater Power" for the good of all can help them out of. I have more on this, I am sure, but am in a big big hurry right now. I was just seriously disturbed by this post last nite, and wanted to check back and see if anything new had been said. Love and Light to you |
Date: 3/26/2003 10:36:00 AM
From Authorid: 15394
You know I don't think it would bother me... I don't believe a particular religion is appropriate in the government...it would rather depend on the person, their track record and the adgenda they set forth...  |
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Date: 3/26/2003 11:19:00 AM
From Authorid: 24924
LightWorker, NO public official should ever "throw around the phrase there is no god". THAT is just being in as much violation of seperation of church and state, as those who do what Bush has been doing. He sounds more like a preacher every day. Also, it appears that you are "frightened" by "a no god person" because you really do not know what MORALITY really is; and you're drawing upon that which you've always heard about atheists? An atheist is simply someone without a god belief; and it does not mean that they are without morals, without vision; without wisdom and abilities to LEAD a nation. There are many people who believe and insist that ONLY those who have a god belief are moral, spiritual, and possess good qualities. This is OLD ways of thinking; and is NOT reality; not the truth. ALL People, VOTERS, are much more than LABELS of blacks, whites, indians, catholics, protestants or Jews, etc.; They should make up their minds for many devisive reasons, good or bad; whether to vote for a man who can present the best answers; the best vision, the best credentials and experience, and conducts him or herself with the utmost professionalism, and who possesses clearly leadership qualities, and above all, someone who KNOWS the LAWS of the land; who KNOWS what is stated in the Constitution, and who vows to uphold those laws. HISTORY has shown that it is not always the man who claims to be a christian, really in fact, IS, the best man for the job. IF you insist that ONLY a god believer seek public office, and you only want someone who is (at least SAYS so publicly) a god believer; then, like I said before, that forces them to lie, to be a hypocrite. There have been some great men in our countries history, that it was believed that they were christian, but in private life they were a Deist, or more closely associated with atheistic beliefs; but they knew very well that they HAD to accomodate many different people of faith, for that is what the public WANTS and or demands. I hope this sheds some light on the matter. |
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Date: 3/26/2003 11:25:00 AM
From Authorid: 24924
Your statement "Scientists desire for knowledge at "any cost" is TOTALLY 100% misleading. Would you care to expound on this FALSE statement? |
Date: 3/26/2003 12:19:00 PM
From Authorid: 61104
I would not care one way or the other as long as he was a good person and did not intentionally hurt people. I also think ther would be less war and more equa;ity and more thinking about the lives of others instead of thinking about whether God approved of something. I myself am Wiccan and I welcome a president that is less god oriented and cared more about people instead of his place in so called heaven.  |
Date: 3/27/2003 10:42:00 AM
From Authorid: 57404
Hmm, I think I would feel more comfortable with a leader who believes in God. However, at the same time, someone can beleive in God and do cruel things thinking that they are doing God's work. So maybe it doesn't matter either way. LOL
It is the mind set of the person elected.
and LOL@ Enki.
God Bless  |
Date: 3/27/2003 10:46:00 AM
From Authorid: 30051
Good post Corky..I love the left behind series..It's my favorite..And to answer your question..Yes,it would bother me..But then again I am a "christian"  |
Date: 4/11/2003 4:46:00 PM
From Authorid: 58923
I think as long as the person excepts all people's beliefs, it doesn't really matter what they personally believe.  |
Date: 5/26/2003 11:58:00 AM
From Authorid: 28363
it woudn't bother me if his/her agenda was well stated and identifiable and if they were the same criteria desired by the majority of the nation. imo, I don't see it happening soon because one typically doesn't become president unless you are member of 'specific' social organizations. These potential leaders (in general) are chosen from elite and powerful families (usually ) and when required, they are put in position of president by the members of the electoral college.  |
Date: 1/30/2005 7:07:00 PM
From Authorid: 12709
I wish our president WAS atheist, actually.  |
