Poll: Religious Devotion High in U.S.

[bfp]

America [prays]:

Nearly all U.S. respondents said faith is important to them and only 2 percent said they do not believe in God. Almost 40 percent said religious leaders should try to sway policymakers, notably higher than in other countries.

"Our nation was founded on Judeo-Christian policies and religious leaders have an obligation to speak out on public policy, otherwise they're wimps," said David Black, a retiree from Osborne, Pa., who agreed to be interviewed after he was polled.

In contrast, 85 percent of French object to clergy activism — the strongest opposition of any nation surveyed. France has strict curbs on public religious expression and, according to the poll, 19 percent are atheists. South Korea is the only other nation with that high a percentage of nonbelievers.

[Edwin Watson]

nice.



makes me wanna move back to england real bad.

[bfp]

Originally Posted by Edwin Watson

nice.



makes me wanna move back to england real bad.

What, you don't like what Rick Perry did re the signing in of new legislation over the weekend?

[Edwin Watson]

Originally Posted by bfp

What, you don't like what Rick Perry did re the signing in of new legislation over the weekend?

shit, i missed this. what happened?

[bfp]

Originally Posted by Edwin Watson

shit, i missed this. what happened?

I do believe that he signed a parental notification bill in a church or a church college, something of that nature.

[Edwin Watson]

Originally Posted by bfp

I do believe that he signed a parental notification bill in a church or a church college, something of that nature.

what an asshole. fine, they win....I am moving....again.

[Satchel]

God we have some stupid people round these parts

[Element4040]

Originally Posted by Satchel

God we have some stupid people round these parts

Word

I hate people trying to push their beliefs on me, and that's just what these people are doing to us.

[bfp]

Originally Posted by Element4040

Word

I hate people trying to push their beliefs on me, and that's just what these people are doing to us.

When was a religion pushed upon you by a government official? There is no problem with a government official believing in god and having his/her belief system guide him to do, well, whatever. There is also no problem with them speaking publicly about their faith. That's what the 1st Amendment is all about. Freedom to speak publicly about religion, not freedom from religion.

Our founding fathers(some of them) spoke publicly about religion and used 'The Lord' and 'Holy Father' in their inaugural addresses.

I know you're an atheist, well I think I do, but when criticizing someone with different beliefs, suggesting that they are at all intolerant, make sure that you understand that your belief system diverts into equal sentiment re the conclusion that one belief system is better than the other. To equalize each religion in order to produce an argument that they're somehow irrelevant and behind in todays world because the tradition itself is archaic, is indeed pushing the very same arrogance that the religious individual supposedly carries with them.

I'm not a christian and it in no way offends me because I simply do not think that our politicos in Washington are trying to take our country into a theocracy, as some people say. They have the right to express those views, so long as the government doesn't back a certain religion with the state. I do not see a single state religion. Nor do I see anyone trying to impose such a thing.

[Adam D]

He signed a parental notification bill and legislation to put an anti-gay marriage amendment on the ballot at a Christian private school.

Then said if people didn't like it they should leave the state.

[Element4040]

Originally Posted by bfp

I know you're an atheist, well I think I do, but when criticizing someone with different beliefs, suggesting that they are at all intolerant, make sure that you understand that your belief system diverts into equal sentiment re the conclusion that one belief system is better than the other. To equalize each religion in order to produce an argument that they're somehow irrelevant and behind in todays world because the tradition itself is archaic, is indeed pushing the very same arrogance that the religious individual supposedly carries with them.

I'm not atheist, we've discussed this and you still don't get it. I'm Deist, and I've explained what that is, time and time again.

Anyway, you put too much into my statement. See Adam's comment for my reason.

However, more specifically this is what I was addressing:

Almost 40 percent said religious leaders should try to sway policymakers, notably higher than in other countries.

[HomoSexualPredator]

Originally Posted by bfp

I'm not a christian and it in no way offends me because I simply do not think that our politicos in Washington are trying to take our country into a theocracy, as some people say. They have the right to express those views, so long as the government doesn't back a certain religion with the state. I do not see a single state religion. Nor do I see anyone trying to impose such a thing.

I don't think they're trying to establish a theocracy either, I think they're just pandering to the religious right for a vote.

[HomoSexualPredator]

Originally Posted by Adam D

He signed a parental notification bill and legislation to put an anti-gay marriage amendment on the ballot at a Christian private school.

Then said if people didn't like it they should leave the state.

what are all the highland park ladies going to do when their hairdressers leave the state? He should be careful with what he asks for.

on a more positive note, the addon to the foster-care bill that would keep gays from being foster parents got nixed.

[bfp]

I'm not atheist, we've discussed this and you still don't get it. I'm Deist, and I've explained what that is, time and time again.

I don't need you to explain what a deist is. I obviously got you confused with the few atheists that attend AP.

Anyway, you put too much into my statement. See Adam's comment for my reason.

Adams comment is a mirror image of the statements I made earlier. I acknowledge what happened over the weekend.

Almost 40 percent said religious leaders should try to sway policymakers, notably higher than in other countries.

Fourty percent is actually higher than I expected, but it still doesn't relate to Perry's actions, mainly because it was a national poll of 1,000. Perry represents Texas. Don't mess with Texas. I would expect that number to be greater being that Texas largely consists of religious individuals.

If his religious views and the church itself were influencing policy and his present denomination was considered a state religion, then that would be a problem. That's what Jeffersons wall of seperation referred to.

[Element4040]

Originally Posted by bfp

Fourty percent is actually higher than I expected, but it still doesn't relate to Perry's actions, mainly because it was a national poll of 1,000. Perry represents Texas. Don't mess with Texas. I would expect that number to be greater being that Texas largely consists of religious individuals.

If his religious views and the church itself were influencing policy and his present denomination was considered a state religion, then that would be a problem. That's what Jeffersons wall of seperation referred to.

I'd agree with that.