Pence's self-identification

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

takoma wrote:Was anyone else bothered when, in accepting the nomination for VP, Mike Pence declared that above all else, he is a Christian. This despite the fact that the Constitution states "but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." I have no quarrel with the fact that Christianity is an important part of his life, but it bothers me greatly that he considers it relevant to his candidacy for a public office. I must admit, though, that I am not surprised, since his stand on every social issue seems to be dictated by a fundamentalist reading of the Bible.

How does this differ from Iran or ISIS being governed by sharia law?

Not bothered at all that he is a Christian but if he enforces his views, that is a problem.

Yes....this is it exactly. I've had experiences with evangelical Christians, and while some keep their beliefs that I'm going to hell to themselves, others will keep warning me - repeatedly! - about how wrong my religious beliefs are and that I'll be damned for all eternity unless I convert to Christianity. (The only "true" religion, in their eyes.) Thankfully, they have no authority over me, but what happens if someone like that becomes president and starts trying to push the narrative that we are a Christian nation (I hear that all the time from evangelicals) and wants to have prayers to Jesus in school? (As one example.) We will in effect be marginalizing Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and every non-Christian. So, yes, it does concern me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

takoma wrote:Was anyone else bothered when, in accepting the nomination for VP, Mike Pence declared that above all else, he is a Christian. This despite the fact that the Constitution states "but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." I have no quarrel with the fact that Christianity is an important part of his life, but it bothers me greatly that he considers it relevant to his candidacy for a public office. I must admit, though, that I am not surprised, since his stand on every social issue seems to be dictated by a fundamentalist reading of the Bible.

How does this differ from Iran or ISIS being governed by sharia law?

Not bothered at all that he is a Christian but if he enforces his views, that is a problem.

Yes....this is it exactly. I've had experiences with evangelical Christians, and while some keep their beliefs that I'm going to hell to themselves, others will keep warning me - repeatedly! - about how wrong my religious beliefs are and that I'll be damned for all eternity unless I convert to Christianity. (The only "true" religion, in their eyes.) Thankfully, they have no authority over me, but what happens if someone like that becomes president and starts trying to push the narrative that we are a Christian nation (I hear that all the time from evangelicals) and wants to have prayers to Jesus in school? (As one example.) We will in effect be marginalizing Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and every non-Christian. So, yes, it does concern me.

"A new Pew Research Center study of the ways religion influences the daily lives of Americans finds that people who are highly religious are more engaged with their extended families, more likely to volunteer, more involved in their communities and happier with the way things are going in their lives.

Highly religious adults not distinctive in interpersonal interactions, health, social consciousnessFor example, nearly half of highly religious Americans – defined as those who say they pray every day and attend religious services each weekerally happier with the way things are going in their lives.

Roughly two-thirds of highly religious adults (65%) say they have donated money, time or goods to help the poor in the past week, compared with 41% who are less religious. And 40% of highly religious U.S. adults describe themselves as “very happy,” compared with 29% of those who are less religious."

There is an established causal relationship between religious values and community values, no matter what your religious tradition - Muslim, Jewish, Christian, or Buddhist. I don't know why liberals want to deny this, but then, if you hold any other opinions other than the liberal agenda, you're called either a racist, stupid or illiterate. This has been one of the biggest turn offs to HRC for me. I'll vote third party.

[Anonymous]

takoma wrote:Was anyone else bothered when, in accepting the nomination for VP, Mike Pence declared that above all else, he is a Christian. This despite the fact that the Constitution states "but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." I have no quarrel with the fact that Christianity is an important part of his life, but it bothers me greatly that he considers it relevant to his candidacy for a public office. I must admit, though, that I am not surprised, since his stand on every social issue seems to be dictated by a fundamentalist reading of the Bible.

How does this differ from Iran or ISIS being governed by sharia law?

I am an atheist so I may also take notice when someone professes their Christianity while running for public office. But lets be very clear that the separation of church and state does not and is not intended to stop or even discourage civil servants from practicing or professing a religion. The establishment clause and free exercise cause of the first amendment is the basis of all associated US code. Of course it is relevant for a candidate to be vocal about his religious beliefs because it communicates that he/she subscribes of ethics and morals, which voters find important. Even as an atheist, I don't find any issues with this.

As for difference between Sharia Law, you can't be serious that you don't see a difference. First of all, there is no separation of church and state with ISIS. Their goal is to establish Islam as the official religion of the state. Second, they are anti-free practice - Sharia Law would apply to muslims and non-muslims alike.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

takoma wrote:Was anyone else bothered when, in accepting the nomination for VP, Mike Pence declared that above all else, he is a Christian. This despite the fact that the Constitution states "but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." I have no quarrel with the fact that Christianity is an important part of his life, but it bothers me greatly that he considers it relevant to his candidacy for a public office. I must admit, though, that I am not surprised, since his stand on every social issue seems to be dictated by a fundamentalist reading of the Bible.

How does this differ from Iran or ISIS being governed by sharia law?

Not bothered at all that he is a Christian but if he enforces his views, that is a problem.

Yes....this is it exactly. I've had experiences with evangelical Christians, and while some keep their beliefs that I'm going to hell to themselves, others will keep warning me - repeatedly! - about how wrong my religious beliefs are and that I'll be damned for all eternity unless I convert to Christianity. (The only "true" religion, in their eyes.) Thankfully, they have no authority over me, but what happens if someone like that becomes president and starts trying to push the narrative that we are a Christian nation (I hear that all the time from evangelicals) and wants to have prayers to Jesus in school? (As one example.) We will in effect be marginalizing Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and every non-Christian. So, yes, it does concern me.

Stop hyperventilating. Regardless of how many times they claim that this is a christian nation, they cannot legislate their religion on to me unless they put through a constitutional amendment first. You think this is the first time a Christian became a president? The US is far less religious than it has ever been in the past. Our country's secular constitution is at no risk of being compromised by religion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't recall any beheadings nor did I hear of any gay people being thrown off buildings while Pence governed. I guess that's what distinguishes him from ISIS.

Not for lack of trying. Those who shout loudest about "sharia law!" seem to be the ones who most desperately want this country to become a Christian theocracy. For example: defend his loony anti-abortion law.

There is a very big difference bewteen legislating a religious belief onto others, versus having a religious belief behind a proposed legislation. For example:

- Okay Law: the penalty for eating green and red apples at the same time shall be death.
- Not Okay Law: in accordance with our holy book, the penalty for eating green and red apples at the same time shall be death.

The benefit with the American system of law is that you could very well have a majority of religious believers who believe that eating red and green apples at the same time is a crime punishable by death, but the legislative process will self correct and prevent having such laws on the books.

For example, many Christians found justifications in the bible for holding slaves. This did not prevent the US from passing the 13th amendment making slavery illegal.