Faith Based Politics

Unfortunately, when we used the term “faith based”, images of conservative Christians who want to jam their particular religious values down the throats of all with the aid of government, come to mind. This drives me absolutely crazy (some of you believe that may be a short drive.) I am further irked that when religious arguments in general are invoked they do not represent the reasoned religious thinkers of the past and present that have benefited society. Without the church and other religious institutions during the dark ages, we’d all be stumbling around as ignorant boobs and most of past intellectual work would not exist.

When I think of “faith based politics” it means to me that people of faith, all faiths, actively using their religious belief systems to inform their political understanding. The phrase, trite as it is, “What would Jesus do?” would be helpful in debating today political issues. Where would Jesus, or Mohammed, or Confucius, or Buddha, the eternal Atman and the like bear witness in the political arena? Do you believe these folk would be all for cutting social welfare programs? Do you think that they would go along with skewing the truth or just plain lying is justified in making your position appealing? Do you think they would condemn the poor for being poor and stupid? Do you think they would praise the rich and wealthy, who got rich and wealthy at the expense of others as heroic? Do you think they would believe that slander is perfectly alright as long as it is used about public figures?

I believe in the separation of church and state. And I think that churches have no business telling you what party you should belong to or which politician you should vote for. But churches, synagogues, mosques and their leaders do have the responsibility of encouraging their followers to use their religious beliefs in engaging in political debate. The founding fathers did and most political leaders in history have used their belief systems for good or ill. I believe that when we use our belief systems to inform ourselves we make better decisions. I respect those who stand up for their religious beliefs and inform the public of them without trying to make them wishy washy platitudes.

Unfortunately, today, I see a lot of functionally atheistic, amoral pundits who have sold their souls for the better poll results.